‘New Directions for Traditional Lessons’ - Can Handheld Game Consoles Enhance Mental Mathematics Skills?

Oct 15, 2026

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Pilot study comparing commercial off-the-shelf handheld game consoles (HGCs) with traditional teaching methods for Year 4 students in two metropolitan schools. The intervention used daily sessions with HGCs and Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training software, targeting automaticity of mathematical calculations and students’ self-concept toward mathematics. Pre- and post-term standardized assessments showed significant improvements in speed and accuracy and in self-concept versus the control class.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Australian Journal of Teacher Education Volume 36 | Issue 2 Article 4 2011 ‘New Directions for Traditional Lessons’: Can Handheld Game Consoles Enhance Mental Mathematics Skills? Susan Main Edith Cowan University John O’Rourke Edith Cowan University Recommended Citation Main, Susan and O’Rourke, John (2011) "‘New Directions for Traditional Lessons’: Can Handheld Game Consoles Enhance Mental Mathematics Skills?,"Australian Journal of Teacher Education: Vol. 36: Iss. 2, Article 4. Available at: [http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol36/iss2/4](http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol36/iss2/4) This Journal Article is posted at Research Online. [http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol36/iss2/4](http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol36/iss2/4) Australian Journal of Teacher Education ‘New Directions for Traditional Lessons’: Can Handheld Game Consoles Enhance Mental Mathematics Skills? Susan Main John O’Rourke Edith Cowan University Abstract: This paper reports on a pilot study that compared the use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) handheld game consoles (HGCs) with traditional teaching methods to develop the automaticity of mathematical calculations and self-concept towards mathematics for year 4 students in two metropolitan schools. One class conducted daily sessions using the HGCs and the Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training software to enhance their mental maths skills while the comparison class engaged in mental maths lessons using more traditional classroom approaches. Students were assessed using standardised tests at the beginning and completion of the term and findings indicated that students who undertook the Brain Training pilot study using the HGCs showed significant improvement in both the speed and accuracy of their mathematical calculations and selfconcept compared to students in the control school. An exploration of the intervention, discussion of methodology and the implications of the use of HGCs in the primary classroom arepresented. Introduction Recent findings ofthe Review Panel of the National Numeracy Review Report (Commonwealth of Australia, 2008) highlighted that mathematics in Australia is at a critical juncture. The panel suggested that many Australian students are: (1) not learning the basics of mathematics, nor are they being equipped for further study or future employment,(2) not performing well relative to other countries,(3) part of a long tail of underachievement in international tests, and (4) part of pockets oflow achievement that reflect socio-economic, geographical, cultural and racial/ethnic factors. Professor Gordon Stanley, Chairman of the Review Panel, suggested part of the reason for the poor performance of Australian students is that mathematics “is not generally perceived as a popular subject among young people”(p.1), nor is it “recognised as an easy subject to learn or to teach (p.1)”. While much emphasis in recent times has been placed on lifting literacy levels of primary aged students, numeracy has been somewhat neglected in Australian schools (Commonwealth of Australia, 2003) . Further, Garcia, Jiminez and Hess (2006) point out that it is not easy to identifying students who have difficulties with mathematics because struggling with mathematics is considered‘normal’and therefore problems in this area are more socially acceptable than literacy difficulties. The authors of this paper consider engagement to be a significant factor in student achievement. Lack of engagement is increasingly identified with poor student performance in schools (Greenwood, Horton & Utley, 2002); without it there is little possibility that students will make the classroom gains expected of them (Bulgren & Carta, 1992) . The authors are therefore interested in pedagogies that engage students as well as factors that interfere with Vol 36, 2, March 2011 43 Australian Journal of Teacher Education engagement. One factor that impacts on students’ability to engage with a learning experience is anxiety and Garg

FAQs

What does the pilot study compare in terms of teaching approaches?

It compares commercial off-the-shelf handheld game consoles (HGCs) with traditional teaching methods for developing mental mathematics skills.

How were students assessed in the study?

Students were assessed using standardized tests at the beginning and completion of the term.

What were the main findings regarding speed and accuracy?

Students using the Brain Training pilot study with HGCs showed significant improvement in both the speed and accuracy of mathematical calculations compared with the control group.

Oct 15, 2026

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