Visuospatial Abilities Training with Digital Games in a Primary School

The A me gli occhi project establishes a clear link between targeted visuospatial training via digital games and enhanced mathematical performance among primary school students. By focusing on children aged nine to eleven, the study tests the hypothesis that spatial reasoning exercises facilitate a cognitive transfer effect, ultimately improving proficiency in STEM-related academic tasks. The findings confirm that structured game-based interventions serve as an effective pedagogical tool, consistently outperforming traditional curriculum methods in standardized mathematical assessments.

Data collected over the course of one academic year reveals statistically significant gains in key areas such as numeric knowledge, word problems, and written operations. While fourth and fifth-grade students demonstrated broad improvements, the fifth-grade cohort exhibited particularly notable progress in complex written operations. These results suggest that integrating digital gaming into the classroom environment provides a measurable advantage over standard educational practices within the Italian primary school system.

Beyond quantitative academic gains, the project highlights the critical role of student engagement in the learning process. Participants displayed a marked preference for creative, sandbox-style gaming environments, which has shifted the focus of ongoing research toward game creation and programming. Although the study provides compelling evidence for the efficacy of visuospatial training, the authors acknowledge that the current sample size requires further validation across more diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Future efforts will continue to explore how these digital interventions can be scaled and adapted to foster long-term cognitive development in primary education.