Video games as a support for strengthening arithmetic skills in primary school students: A description of their development

Abstract

This study aims to describe the design, development, and evaluation process of three serious educational video games intended to strengthen arithmetic skills among fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade elementary school students. The project was developed within the framework of the New Mexican School educational model and aligned with the mathematics learning objectives established by the Mexican Ministry of Public Education (SEP), with the goal of providing curriculum-based digital resources that promote meaningful and motivating learning experiences. A design-based research approach was adopted, following a structured methodology for the development of serious educational games. The process comprised four sequential phases: initiation, design, production, and testing. During the evaluation stage, the games were implemented with 150 students enrolled in a public elementary school. Usability, functionality, perceived usefulness, and student engagement were assessed using an eight-item Likert-scale questionnaire designed to measure students' perceptions of their learning experience and interaction with the games. The findings revealed a high level of acceptance and a positive user experience. Overall, 89% of participants considered the games useful for reinforcing mental calculation skills, 78% reported successfully practicing fraction operations and equivalent fractions, and 92% indicated that the challenges maintained their interest and motivation throughout the activities. These results suggest that the proposed games effectively support arithmetic practice while fostering active participation and sustained engagement.