Dissertation Summary/Critique

1. Dissertation Summary/Critique • Mario Math with Millennials:The Impact of Playing the Nintendo DS on Student Achievement

2. Summary of Dissertation Motivation for Study • It is important that studies be conducted to determine what impact video games have on student achievement. • Significance of study: Not a lot of research has been done on the Nintendo DS and its impact on student achievement.

3. Summary of Dissertation Research Questions • What impact does playing Brain Age 2 on a Nintendo DS have on student achievement in a (7th grade) math class (as measured by the MAP test)? • What are students’ (a) attitudes toward classes and teachers, (b) attitude toward school, (c) goal valuation, (d) motivation and self-regulation, and (e) academic self-perceptions.

4. Summary of Dissertation Methodology • Quasi-experimental design • Northwest Evaluation Association’s (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) • School Attitude Assessment Survey-Revised (SAAS-R) • Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)

5. Summary of Dissertation Methodology • Convenience Sample • Forty students randomly assigned to technology elective played Nintendo DS daily for fifteen minutes • Researcher taught technology elective; no math covered

6. Summary of Dissertation Limitations of Study • Results may not be similar in other grades or districts with varying demographics • Researcher taught class where students played Nintendo DS daily • Students had freedom to choose minigames • Some students had never used Nintendo DS • Some students had never taken computer-based assessments

7. Summary of Dissertation Major Findings • No evidence to show that there is significant difference between pre and post examination • Academic self-perception is low among students whether in treatment or control • Attitude toward classes and teachers more positive in treatment than control • Attitude toward school more favorable in treatment than control

8. Summary of Dissertation Major Findings • Attitude toward goal valuation similar in both groups • Attitude toward motivation and self-regulation similar in both groups • Findings not consistent with similar study

9. Summary of Dissertation Areas for Future Research • Study where the Nintendo DS is integrated into the math class • Study of different video games for the Nintendo DS that support middle school curriculum • Study that examines barriers preventing teachers from integrating video games • Study that looks at best practices for integrating video games into the classroom

10. Summary of Literature Review • Theoretical framework: “Engagement” • Millennials • Math Instruction in the United States • Innovation • Video Games as Instructional Tools • Video Games in Education • Summary

11. Critique of Literature Review Topic and Importance • No overview of topics being reviewed • No justification of importance • Theoretical framework: “Engagement” • Does not address how literature is related to research questions

12. Critique of Literature Review Cohesion/Logical • Categories disjointed • Unclear what argument author is trying to make

13. Critique of Literature Review Define, illustrate, advance theory • Explanation of how studies helped to define and illustrate theory • No discussion of how studies contributed to advancement of theory • Multiple references to games used in business, military, politics, and healthcare without relevance to research questions

14. Critique of Literature Review Interpreted/Critiqued • Failure to interpret and critique literature • Fails to provide multiple perspectives

15. Critique of Literature Review Areas in need of research • Direct impact of video games on student achievement

16. Critique of Literature Review Conclusions/Implications • Conclusion does not summarize findings from review of literature • Conclusions appear unfounded based on literature selected for review

17. Personal Reflection • Helped to expand database • Gained confidence in ability to complete dissertation • Forced me to realize I could spend months doing research only to realize there is not significant evidence to support my hypothesis • I want to read a well-written dissertation related to my topic