ERIC Number: EJ1122359
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1042-0541
EISSN: N/A
How a Serious Digital Game Affected Students' Animal Science and Mathematical Competence in Agricultural Education
Bunch, J. C.; Robinson, J. Shane; Edwards, M. Craig; Antonenko, Pavlo D.
Journal of Agricultural Education, v55 n3 p57-71 2014
The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the lecture and discussion teaching methods and digital game-based learning on student achievement in agriculture and mathematics regarding a unit on swine diseases in animal science courses offered through secondary agricultural education programs in Oklahoma. Three research questions guided the study, which utilized a quasi-experimental, between-groups design. No statistically significant differences (p >0.05) were found between the counterfactual group and the treatment group regarding animal science competency and mathematics achievement. As such, the researcher failed to reject the null hypotheses aligned with the study's research questions. However, this study demonstrated that teachers using a serious digital game in the context of animal science did not diminish their students' achievement. As a result, it can be recommended that teachers should consider incorporating this teaching method into their existing pedagogical practices without fear of decreasing student learning and achievement. Another implication for practice is the importance of providing prolonged and sustained professional development opportunities for in-service teachers to learn how to use a digital game-based delivery method effectively to increase student achievement in agriculture and mathematics.
Descriptors: Computer Games, Animal Husbandry, Mathematics Achievement, Agricultural Education, Lecture Method, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Teaching Methods, Instructional Effectiveness, Diseases, Secondary School Curriculum, Quasiexperimental Design, Statistical Significance, Control Groups, Experimental Groups, Student Characteristics, Delivery Systems, Standardized Tests, Multiple Choice Tests, Multivariate Analysis, Statistical Analysis
American Association for Agricultural Education. P.O. Box 7607, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Raleigh, NC 27695. Web site: http://www.aaaeonline.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Oklahoma
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A