Abstract:

The use of digital materials for learning is increasing in the last years but, how these materials improve the students learning? In this research we explore the relation of how digital material, that include game elements, motivates our students and develop a cognitive performance. The use of game elements is also knowing as gamification. Previous research support digital material which offer an active learning and involve gamification can develop learning skills and improve their performance (Zepeda-Hernández et al., 2016). Also, we need to consider to keep student’s engagement is a combination of challenge, stimulation and reward to not get burnt, bored or blunt (Fox, 2014). We focus on student’s motivation through the goal motivation theory (Dweck, 1986; Elliott y Dweck, 1988) to study the way students follow and get their learning objectives. As well, we explore how the use of digital material has an effect to cognitive performance. Base on previous studies the use of this kind of material could help to develop students’ skills that involves cognitive performance (Lipina, Sigman, Slezak, 2016).

The sample of this study are 367 elementary school students between 8 and 11 years old, from a public centre in the Community of Madrid. The instrument of measurement select for the variable of motivation is the questionnaire of Motivation towards Learning (MAPE-I) that evaluates the types of goals towards academic tasks (Tapia & Ferrer, 1992). For the variables of academic performance on school tasks that are measured according the development of cognitive level we use is the battery of Neuropsychological Assessment test of the Executive Functions in Children (ENFEN) (Portellano, Martínez-Arias y Zumárraga, 2011). We applied the questionnaires at the beginning or the academic course in October and at the end, in May. During the academic course teachers were training in the use of this material and use it as task in their classes. We analyse the data with a general lineal model repeated measure statistic.

According to the review of the literature, it is expected to find an effect between the use of the digital material to motivation and cognitive performance. Implications of our research to students' learning is discussed. We propose new future fields as how this material can be progressing and what are the teacher’s needs.

Keywords:

Motivation, cognitive performance, digital material, learning, elementary education.