ERIC Number: EJ1170372
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Jan
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0731-9258
EISSN: N/A
The Brain's Response to Digital Math Apps: A Pilot Study Examining Children's Cortical Responses during Touch-Screen Interactions
Baker, Joseph M.; Moyer-Packenham, Patricia S.; Tucker, Stephen I.; Shumway, Jessica F.; Jordan, Kerry E.; Gillam, Ronald B.
Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, v37 n1 p69-86 Jan 2018
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an easy to use neuroimaging technique that is portable and maintains a liberal tolerance to movement. As such, fNIRS represents an ideal tool to observe children's neural activity as they engage in real-world classroom activities, such as the interaction with digital math apps on an iPad. Here, we provide the results of an initial hypothesis-generating pilot study designed to assess patterns of cortical activity that occur when children interact with digital math apps, that contained virtual manipulatives, on a touch-screen device. Our results highlight cortical activity within the bilateral intraparietal sulci and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices as children interacted with three different digital math apps, but not during rest. Our results provide valuable proof-of-concept that fNIRS may be used to assess math-related cortical activity during children's naturalistic use of digital math apps on a touch-screen device.
Descriptors: Brain, Mathematics Instruction, Computer Oriented Programs, Pilot Projects, Manipulative Materials, Spectroscopy, Telecommunications, Handheld Devices, Neurosciences, Grade 2, Computer Uses in Education, Mathematics Activities
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. P.O. Box 1545, Chesapeake, VA 23327. Tel: 757-366-5606; Fax: 703-997-8760; e-mail: info@aace.org; Web site: http://www.aace.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 2
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A