Using Video Games to Combine Learning and Assessment in Mathematics Education

Video games function as both powerful pedagogical interventions and sophisticated assessment instruments within mathematics education. By leveraging the Evidence-Centered Design framework, digital environments such as Semideus and Wuzzit Trouble provide a robust platform for measuring complex competencies, including magnitude estimation, algorithmic reasoning, and rational number conceptualization. These games effectively bridge the gap between traditional instruction and evaluation, offering a data-rich alternative to conventional paper-based testing that captures a more granular view of student progress and cognitive development.

Empirical analysis confirms that game-based assessment is both valid and reliable, showing strong correlations with established metrics like the Rational Number Test. Short-term interventions using these digital tools yield significant improvements in student performance, with effect sizes reaching as high as 1.61 in areas such as density and ordering tasks. Beyond academic gains, the immersive nature of these games mitigates the anxiety often associated with formal testing, allowing students to demonstrate their mathematical proficiency in a low-pressure, engaging environment that highlights specific misconceptions that might otherwise remain hidden.

This research, which draws on foundational principles from psychology and educational theory, underscores the potential for integrating learning analytics into classroom settings. By transforming gameplay logs into actionable insights, educators can utilize these tools for real-time formative assessment. The findings suggest that well-designed digital games are not merely supplementary activities but essential components of a modern educational strategy, capable of fostering deeper conceptual understanding while simultaneously providing teachers with the diagnostic data necessary to support diverse learning needs.