Dissertation Summary/Critique

Mario Math with Millennials:The Impact of Playing the Nintendo DS on

Student Achievement

Summary of Dissertation

It is important that studies be conducted to determine what impact video games have on student achievement.

Significance of study: Not a lot of research has been done on the Nintendo DS and its impact on student achievement.

Motivation for Study

Summary of Dissertation

What impact does playing Brain Age 2 on a Nintendo DS have on student achievement in a (7th grade) math class (as measured by the MAP test)?

What are students’ (a) attitudes toward classes and teachers, (b) attitude toward school, (c) goal valuation, (d) motivation and self-regulation, and (e) academic self-perceptions.

Research Questions

Summary of Dissertation

Quasi-experimental design

Northwest Evaluation Association’s (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

School Attitude Assessment Survey-Revised (SAAS-R)

Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)

Methodology

Summary of Dissertation

Convenience Sample

Forty students randomly assigned to technology elective played Nintendo DS daily for fifteen minutes

Researcher taught technology elective; no math covered

Methodology

Summary of Dissertation

Results may not be similar in other grades or districts with varying demographics

Researcher taught class where students played Nintendo DS daily

Students had freedom to choose minigames

Some students had never used Nintendo DS

Some students had never taken computer-based assessments

Limitations of Study

Summary of Dissertation

No evidence to show that there is significant difference between pre and post examination

Academic self-perception is low among students whether in treatment or control

Attitude toward classes and teachers more positive in treatment than control

Attitude toward school more favorable in treatment than control

Major Findings

Summary of Dissertation

Attitude toward goal valuation similar in both groups

Attitude toward motivation and self-regulation similar in both groups

Findings not consistent with similar study

Major Findings

Summary of Dissertation

Study where the Nintendo DS is integrated into the math class

Study of different video games for the Nintendo DS that support middle school curriculum

Study that examines barriers preventing teachers from integrating video games

Study that looks at best practices for integrating video games into the classroom

Areas for Future Research

Summary of Literature Review

Theoretical framework: “Engagement”

Millennials

Math Instruction in the United States

Innovation

Video Games as Instructional Tools

Video Games in Education

Summary

Critique of Literature Review

No overview of topics being reviewed

No justification of importance

Theoretical framework: “Engagement”

Does not address how literature is related to research questions

Topic and Importance

Critique of Literature Review

Categories disjointed

Unclear what argument author is trying to make

Cohesion/Logical

Critique of Literature Review

Explanation of how studies helped to define and illustrate theory

No discussion of how studies contributed to advancement of theory

Multiple references to games used in business, military, politics, and healthcare without relevance to research questions

Define, illustrate, advance theory

Critique of Literature Review

Failure to interpret and critique literature

Fails to provide multiple perspectives

Interpreted/Critiqued

Critique of Literature Review

Direct impact of video games on student achievement

Areas in need of research

Critique of Literature Review

Conclusion does not summarize findings from review of literature

Conclusions appear unfounded based on literature selected for review

Conclusions/Implications

Personal ReflectionHelped to expand database

Gained confidence in ability to complete dissertation

Forced me to realize I could spend months doing research only to realize there is not significant evidence to support my hypothesis

I want to read a well-written dissertation related to my topic