The effect of digital game design using metacognitive strategies on mathematics achievement

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of digital game design process with metacognitive strategies on academic success in mathematics course, the level of metacognition awareness and its relationship with game design. The importance of the research is to combine metacognitive skills with digital game design through code block programs, thus supporting classroom environments with developing technology. In this study, where the action research method was used, a study group was formed with the purposeful sampling method. Within the scope of the Information Technologies and Software course in a public school, two classes with the closest characteristics and willing to develop digital game design were selected among the fifth grade students who designed digital games through the code block program. The sample of the research consists of 40 students in total, 20 of which are in the experimental group and 20 in the control group.After determining the groups, mathematics academic achievement and metacognitive awareness tests were applied to the experimental and control groups as a pre-test. The experimental group designed a game using a block coding program called Scratch to solve a different problem situation every week for six weeks. In order to observe this process in depth, a three-stage multiple measurement tool developed by the researcher was used. These stages consist of metacognitive scores, game design scores and scores created according to Scratch designs. At the end of the application process, academic achievement and metacognitive awareness tests were applied to the experimental and control groups again. As a result of the analyzes, it was observed that there was a positive change in the academic success of the digital game design process and the metacognitive awareness scores of the mathematics course. In addition, it has been determined that there are significant and positive relationships between metacognition, digital game design and Scratch. This study emphasizes the importance of digital game design in the development of metacognitive skills and stands out as an effective method that can be used in mathematics lessons.