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Design of the Game-Based Learning Environment “Dudeman & Sidegirl: Operation Clean World,” a Numerical Magnitude Processing Training

  • Chapter
Describing and Studying Domain-Specific Serious Games

Part of the book series: Advances in Game-Based Learning ((AGBL))

Abstract

Numerical magnitude processing has been shown to play a crucial role in the development of mathematical ability and intervention studies have revealed that training children’s numerical magnitude processing has positive effects on their numerical magnitude processing skills and mathematics achievement. However, from these intervention studies, it remains unclear whether numerical magnitude processing interventions should focus on training with a numerical magnitude comparison or a number line estimation task. It also remains to be determined whether there is a different impact of training symbolic versus nonsymbolic numerical magnitude processing skills. In order to answer these two questions, we developed four game-based learning environments, using the storyline of “Dudeman & Sidegirl: Operation clean world”. The first two game-based learning environments comprise either a numerical magnitude comparison or a number line estimation training and the last two game-based learning environments stimulate either the processing of symbolic or nonsymbolic numerical magnitudes.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Learning environment is used in the broad sense of the term in this contribution. The games described in this contribution are just one type of learning environment, namely a training environment.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by grant GOA 2012/010 of the Research Fund KU Leuven, Belgium. We would like to thank all participating children and teachers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Sarah Linsen, Bert De Smedt, Lieven Verschaffel & Jan Elen

  2. Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, L. Vanderkelenstraat 32, 3765, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Sarah Linsen

  3. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences @ KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium

    Bieke Maertens & Bert Reynvoet

  4. Brain and Cognition, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, Kortrijk, 8500, Belgium

    Bieke Maertens & Bert Reynvoet

  5. e-Media Lab, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Jelle Husson, Lieven Van den Audenaeren & Jeroen Wauters

Authors
  1. Sarah Linsen
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  2. Bieke Maertens
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  3. Jelle Husson
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  4. Lieven Van den Audenaeren
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  5. Jeroen Wauters
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  6. Bert Reynvoet
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  7. Bert De Smedt
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  8. Lieven Verschaffel
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  9. Jan Elen
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sarah Linsen or Bieke Maertens .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Education and Training, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Joke Torbeyns

  2. Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Erno Lehtinen

  3. Education and Training, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Jan Elen

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Linsen, S. et al. (2015). Design of the Game-Based Learning Environment “Dudeman & Sidegirl: Operation Clean World,” a Numerical Magnitude Processing Training. In: Torbeyns, J., Lehtinen, E., Elen, J. (eds) Describing and Studying Domain-Specific Serious Games. Advances in Game-Based Learning. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20276-1_2

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