Angle Asteroids: How Relationships Between Children’s Interactions with Design Features Contribute to Learning Gains
Abstract: This study focused on how relationships between the quality of design features within the Angle Asteroids digital math game (DMG) and children’s interactions with these design features, and their awareness of the mathematics content learning goal (MCLG) of the DMG, contributed to their learning gains. This study used a parallel conversion, mixed methods design with 41 children, in Grades 3 and 4 (ages 9-10), who participated in one-hour clinical interviews with a pre- and posttest. Findings suggest a moderated mediation relationship in which the quality of the design features moderated the mediating impact of children’s awareness of the game’s design features, specifically when the child was aware of the mathematics content MCLG of the game. Implications include the importance of high quality design features in a DMG, and how this is intertwined with children’s awareness of the features and the MCLG.