Teachable agent game environment combining learning-by-doing and learning-by-teaching for arithmetic¶

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

A digital learning game environment of 48 two-player card and board games where "the mathematical content is intrinsically interwoven with the game idea". Students play games based on a graphical model of arithmetic and can teach an agent to play via show-mode and try-mode. The agent asks situation-specific multiple-choice questions organized into five categories reflecting progression in mathematical thinking, from game idea to advanced strategic thinking. The design combines the motivational power of games with the reflective power of a teachable agent posing deep questions.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

Students must be able to play the games and respond to the agent's multiple-choice questions during regular math classes

Constraints¶

Question difficulty follows the agent's knowledge level; progression requires satisfactory answers
The agent looks ahead at most two steps to simulate human rather than optimal play

Target Learners¶

primary school students grades 1-6
students with difficulties in mathematics grades 7-8

Learning Goals¶

conceptual understanding of the base-10 number system
arithmetic operations and their connections
causal and strategic mathematical reasoning

Claims¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

Pareto, L. (2014). A Teachable Agent Game Engaging Primary School Children to Learn Arithmetic Concepts and Reasoning. Int J Artif Intell Educ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-014-0018-8

Page metadata

Field	Value
`type`	`design`
`id`	`teachable-agent-arithmetic-game-environment`
`title`	`Teachable agent game environment combining learning-by-doing and learning-by-teaching for arithmetic`
`description`	`A digital learning game environment of 48 two-player card and board games where "the mathematical content is intrinsically interwoven with the game idea".`
`status`	`review`
`generated`	by `process:settle-candidates` on `2026-10-28`
`trust`	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
`sources`	1 — `pareto-2014`

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