Effectiveness of computerized drill and practice games in teaching basic math facts

Abstract

This study investigates the effects on learning‐disabled students of embedding a drill and practice task within an arcade game‐like context. We identified 30 learning‐disabled and 30 nondisabled students who had conceptual understanding of addition but had not achieved automaticity in addition facts. We trained students on either a drill‐and‐practice game or an unadorned, straightforward drill (i.e., “plain vanilla") program. We assessed automaticity in three modes of responding—oral, computer keyboard, and written response. There was a significant interaction effect indicating that the learning‐disabled students were relatively disadvantaged by repeated practice in the game format. We infer learning‐disabled students' lower performance is attributed to attentional difficulties, particularly selective attention problems, when potentially distracting elements of a game environment are present.