THE STUDY ON LEARNING MATHEMATICS THROUGH ART BY USING EDUCATION

GAMES AMONG STUDENTS AT SECONDARY SCHOOL

BY

NUR NABIHAH BINTI MOHAMAD NIZAR

Contents
CHAPTER 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 3
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Background Of Study............................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Statement of the research....................................................................................................... 5
1.3 Research Objectives ................................................................................................................ 7
1.4 Research Questions ...................................................................................................................... 7
1.5 Hypothesis ...................................................................................................................................... 7
1.6 Operational Definition ................................................................................................................... 8
1.6.1 Learning ................................................................................................................................... 8
1.6.2 Mathematics ............................................................................................................................ 8
1.6.3 Art ............................................................................................................................................. 9
1.6.4 Games...................................................................................................................................... 9
1.7 Limitation of the Study ........................................................................................................... 10
1.8 Significant of the Study .......................................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 13
LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 13
2.0 Literature Review ................................................................................................................... 13
2.1 Learning Process ............................................................................................................... 13
2.2 The important of Mathematics .......................................................................................... 13
2.3 The important of Art ........................................................................................................... 13
2.4 Learning mathematics using art ....................................................................................... 13
2.5 Learning through games ................................................................................................... 13
2.6 Framework........................................................................................................................... 13
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 14
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

The advanced of digital technology now make major changes to the world, the birth

of a variety of digital technology are getting progressive. Human being is the inventor

of the technology and whether we ourselves were under the control and shaped by

technology? Undoubtedly, with the help of technology making life better and easier.

As Wu (2006) mentions at the same time, it has been transforming the ways people

live, think, learn, communicate, work and this transformation that brings problems to

be address.

Multimedia is one of the advanced technology nowadays. The combination of

graphic, text, sound, audio and video are called multimedia. Multimedia can be

divided into two which are linear and non-linear multimedia. The different between

these two is interactive. Linear multimedia can be define as a something that we

can't interact. For example, when we watching a movie at cinema. We just watch the

movie until the end without giving a chance to change the ending or any part that we

dislike. Its different with non-linear multimedia, while designing game using Adobe

Flash for example, we can interact with the games and the score and lives is

depends on how we control it. In short, it Is something that not fixed, something that

we can interact or change according to what we want.

By using multimedia, we can use visual in the process of learning to make students

more understand about certain topic. In U.S they believe the uses of art in education

is important to help student in learning process. Institute Education of Sciences (IES)

in U.S recommended the uses of visual widely in mathematics. We recommend that

interventionists use such abstract visual representations extensively and consistently

 in mathematics (IES, 2009). In 21st century there are a lots of changes in technology

thereby the way of learning also should be improve to help students in learning

process.

Games is one of the digital technology and as reported in Entertainment Software

Association (2012), the most gamers player are teenagers around 12-14 years old.

There are games that designs for the educational purpose to help student in process

of learning. Usually educational games is the purpose to develop their skill in certain

subject and introduced the students to the technologies in effort to make them

prepare for the future. Games can be your best friends to get the meaningful content

in information without throw away the traditional method.

1.1 Background Of Study

This paper focuses on the technologies used in academic context and specially

focuses on learning mathematics through art by using video game. Presently,

traditional educational approaches have resulted in a mismatch between what is

taught to the students and what the industry needs (Neo M, T.K.Neo, 2001). As we

can see, technologies increase rapidly so that the learning process also should run

parallel with the increases of technology. Some educators see games as a useful

and perhaps even necessary learning environment suitable for learners of all ages

(Blunt, 2008).

Regarding the role in teaching learning process, Barbara & Chu (2008) stated,

“Games are effective tools for learning because they offer students a hypothetical

environment in which they can explore alternative decisions without the risk of failure”

(Javed Mustafam, Alam Khan, Atta Ullah, 2011). In his research, he find out the

difference in students' performance for those who are use video games in learning

and who are not. Based on the result, the students that use videos games as their
 learning aids got good achievement compare for those are not use it and it proved

that video games can help students to get good academic achievement (Blunt,

2008)

Thus, this paper deal with a question on how the uses of art through educational

games can fit into the mathematics subjects among students at secondary school in

order to improve students' academic achievement.

1.2 Statement of the research

The purpose of education through art is to make students aware of their environment

and more understanding of themselves and others (Pattemore, 1974). Video games

are related with art which is in process on producing video games there will be the

uses of art or visual. Video games is one of the educational approach that can be

use as learning aids to improve students' achievement. Games can be used as a tool

in the classroom to engage students (Javed Mustafam, Alam Khan, Atta Ullah, 2011).

As according to Corti (2006) cited by (Javed Mustafam, Alam Khan, Atta Ullah, 2011)

games engage people psychologically and physiologically and the people engaged in

the games can have emotional experiences.

In this 21st century, we are a modern society with rapid technological and technology

comes with mathematics. Over the years, mathematics becoming one of the subject

that important and compulsory in school curriculum. In the development of highly

technological societies, competencies for setting up, analysing, and criticising

mathematical models are of crucial importance (Blomhøj, 2009). Based on result of

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2013, there are reduction of achievement in

Mathematics while all other subjects increased. In addition, Minister of Education

state in Berita Harian Online (20 March 2013), that it might due on method of

teacher's teaching and the understanding of students towards the subject itself.
Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in playing games. The

Entertainment Software Association (SAE, 2012) carried out a gamer demographics

which are 47% of game players is female while the balance 53% are male which are

the gamers have been playing for an average of 14 years. In Malaysia, 14 years old

are among secondary school students.

In this report, SAE analysed that 70% of households have their own console to

playing a games, while 65% reported playing games on their pc. Besides, 38% are

reported using their smart phone to playing games while 26% using their own

wireless device such as ipad and tablets. 90% parents feels that, games its fun for

the entire family while 52% of parents say video games are a positive part of their

child's life and 66% agree that games can provide mental stimulation in education

(SAE, 2012)

The report show that games are familiar among the society especially towards

teenagers. It can help people to discover ideas with each other. By playing games we

can learn new skills and interact with other people in order to learn something news

(Forsyth, 2012). Educators already start using multimedia as a teaching aids but it is

more towards linear multimedia.

Since in Malaysia, there are reduction of achievement in Mathematics subject

among secondary school and games are proved as effectives learning aids, so that

games can be another purpose in learning process in improving students'

performance in mathematics subject. Thus, another study should be carried out to

determine the effectiveness on learning mathematics through art by using

educational games among students at secondary school.

1.3 Research Objectives

The research objectives of this study are :

1. To determine the factors of reduction performance in mathematics subjects

among secondary school students

2. To evaluate the effect of educational game as learning aids on students’

achievement in mathematics.

3. To investigate the difference of students' achievement in learning mathematics

through art by using educational game and conventional way.

1.4 Research Questions

The research questions of this study are :

1. What is the factors of reduction performance in mathematics subjects among

secondary school students ?

2. What is the effect of educational game as learning aids on students’

achievement in mathematics ?

3. What is the difference of students' achievement in learning mathematics

through art by using educational game and conventional way ?

1.5 Hypothesis

The hypothesis for this research is :

H1 : There is a significant difference of students' performance in learning mathematics

through art by using educational games compare with using conventional way.

H2 : Students can perform better in learning mathematics by through art by using

educational games
1.6 Operational Definition

1.6.1 Learning

Learning is a complex process due to the complexity of human nature (Javed

Mustafam, Alam Khan, Atta Ullah, 2011). Difference in the human nature causes

different learning requirements for learning. They cited from Ediger & Rao

(2000), in order to improve students’ performance having various learning styles,

there is often a need .to explore various learning opportunities which can address

the 152 complexity of learners in the classroom to capture pupils’ interest and

purpose and it should be for fast, average and slow learners . For the purpose of this

study, it is focusing towards the learning process that fill with joy and excitement

through games in mathematics subject.

1.6.2 Mathematics

According to (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 1989) as cited

by Burton (1992) mathematics is a complex and compact symbol system, and unless

meanings are attached to those symbols. Burton (1992) stated that personal

experience, years of observation and reading the autobiographies of over 750 pre

service teachers have convinced me that the typical mathematics lesson in

elementary school is more often characterized by teacher presentations and

independent silent work than by group discussions.

Mathematics is largely taught as an abstract subject in the traditional 'chalk and

board' manner (Ghosh, 2012). Teaching and learning process of mathematics in

secondary school is important to prepare students for their future and fit careers'

requirements in Malaysia. In this paper, mathematics can be defined as a teaching

and learning by using art through games in order to improve students academic

achievement based on school's syllybus.

1.6.3 Art

Pearl Greenberg, in his book entitled Art and Ideas for Young People stated that Joe

Demarais said " Philosophers define art in many ways. Some describe it as an

insight into reality. Picasso says it is a lie and some say it is an escape. Others

compare it to an adult form of children's game (Greenberg, 1970).

The term of art embraces a vast array of diverse expression and activities all of which

share one central attribute which is creativity (Greenberg, 1970). Different people

will define as different meaning according to their own understanding. For the

purpose of this study, art refers to visual creativity are use as one of the way to learn

mathematics subject.

1.6.4 Games

Games are considered to be unavoidable factor for enhancing and accelerating the

teaching learning process (Javed Mustafam, Alam Khan, Atta Ullah, 2011). They also

cited that games can help to create and provide and environment for the users in

which they learn the process of explaination, description, construction, assessment

and the evaluation of advanced problem solving skills (Corti, 2005).

(Javed Mustafam, Alam Khan, Atta Ullah, 2011) cited from Corti (2006), games

engage people psychologically and physiologically and the people engaged in the

games can have emotional experiences. From the above discussion, it can be

concluded that games can be used as a learning aid tool in the classroom to

engage students. For the purpose of study, games in this paper are used as a

learning aid to improve students' academic achievement among secondary school.

1.7 Limitation of the Study

The first limitation is the respondents of this study. The respondents is only limited to

secondary schools students only. Males and females from other contexts such as

who are not playing games may be affected differently when they are using games

as a learning aid. As example, students who are a game players maybe easily can

adapt the learning process compare with those are not playing a games. Students

who are not playing a games might take time to adapt the process.

The second limitation of this study is the sample size. The sample size is only limited

to 150 respondents consists of student from Government's secondary school only.

The sample size is too small in order to make a general conclusion based the

effectiveness on learning mathematics through art by using education games among

students at secondary school in students' academic performance. The sample size

should be in large amount in order to make a general conclusion based on how art

through educational games can help students to improve academics' performance

towards mathematics subject.

The third limitation is the place that this study will be conducted. The samples were

only takes from Government's secondary school in few schools at Perak and

Selangor only that will choose randomly. Because of this study is only conducted for

students from Government's secondary school in few schools at Perak, Johor and

Selangor only, thus the sample cannot be the representative of the rest of the

population. Students in other school such as others Government's secondary school

and Private's secondary school because it might show different results from the

samples that chosen. Furthermore, the study only focuses in Malaysian context only

because this study is only conducted for secondary school students in Malaysia. The

result will be conclude based on the sample and it might be not same for others
 country but it can be used worldwide if there is any further or related study regarding

the effectiveness on learning mathematics through art by using education games

among students at secondary school in students' academic performance.

1.8 Significant of the Study

Firstly, the study on learning mathematics through art by using education games is to

identify whether the uses of art through educational games can helps in improving

secondary school students' academic performance in mathematics subject. The

significance of the study is to determine either the use of educational games in

mathematics can help or not in improving students' academic achievement. If the use

of educational games in mathematics can helps in improving secondary school

students' academic leaning process is proven, thus students can apply these

educational games as their learning aid and will benefit to all students. Thus, it is very

crucial to identify whether educational games can helps in improving secondary

school students' academic performance in mathematics subject.

Besides that, this study tends to determine how educational games can help

secondary school students' to improve their academic performance. For example,

with the learning aid of educational games, the students manage to improve their

thinking skill, creativity skills and help to understand the lesson easily compare using

conventional ways. Therefore, it is necessary for the students to know how

educational games can helps in improving secondary school students' academic

performance in mathematics subject

In addition, the study on learning mathematics through art by using education games

in mathematics subjects will help students to know the exact effects of using

educational games and the benefits. The study to determine whether the uses of

educational games in learning process can help or not students to gain better results
in their examination. For example, it is necessarily to students to know whether the

educational games in learning can help them to get high score in examination. If the

theory is proven, students have new alternatives of learning aid since they can score

high marks in their examination with the aid of educational games instead of using

the conventional ways. From the result the researcher can make a comparison when

students used educational games as learning aid and when are not used based on a

test will given.

Thus, the students would have the opportunity to use educational games as learning

aid in mathematics subjects to enhance their academic performance through the

innovative learning process.

 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Learning Process

2.2 The important of Mathematics

2.3 The important of Art

2.4 Learning mathematics using art

2.5 Learning through games

2.6 Framework
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