Pushing the Limits of Game-Based Instruction in Calculus

Calculus is the foundation for any STEM degree, yet a large percentage of students fail calculus. Very little is known about the effect purposefully designed video games can have on STEM students studying calculus. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact a purposefully designed educational video game has on freshmen college students in an introductory calculus class. The researchers administered the intervention to students in an introductory engineering calculus class. A random sample was selected from the total course enrollment to participate in the study (N = 2,083). Using propensity score matching, they selected 111 well-matched pairs and compared their pretest and posttest scores using ANOVA. Results indicated that students who played an educational video game had significantly better learning outcomes than those students who did traditional homework assignments. Based on the results of this study, there is potential for more strategic game-based interventions using educational video games to support calculus learning and student success in STEM.