EXPLORING EMBODIED MATHEMATICAL COGNITION THROUGH FROM HERE TO THERE!

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to investigate how digital gestures connect to students’ mathematical understanding when playing From Here to There! (FH2T). This investigation explores the intersection of three fields, game-based learning, embodied cognition, and mathematics education. I used three studies which break down the different aspects of the overall research: Study 1 (The Game Interaction Study) covers the interaction between the game and the researcher; Study 2 (The Quantitative Gesture Study) is based on an analysis of the quantitative data gathered by the developers; and Study 3 (The Student Observations Study) focuses on collecting qualitative data and analyzing it through embodied mathematical cognition and failure and feedback lenses. These three studies illuminate the understanding of digital gestures and mathematical learning.