Comparing the Effectiveness of Computer Games with Traditional Iranian Games on Critical Thinking of Students with Mathematical Disability

Given that learning disabilities are the most important poor academic performance and traditional teaching methods are no longer responsive to current and future educational needs, the purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of computer games with traditional Iranian games on the critical thinking of students with mathematical disabilities.

The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest design with control group. The statistical population of the present study included all fourth to sixth grade students in Tehran between the ages of 10 and 12 years who had mathematical disabilities in the academic year 96-97. For this purpose, 30 subjects were selected by purposive sampling method and then divided into 3 groups (control group, traditional games experimental group and computer games experimental group). Research tools were the revised Wexler children's intelligence test WISC-R (1949) and the KeyMath mathematical test (1976) for initial screening and the Cornell X Critical Thinking Questionnaire (1985) for the main review. Data analysis was performed using MANOVA and SPSS-24 software.

Based on the results, both traditional Iranian and computer games were effective in improving students' critical thinking. It is one of the traditional Iranian games (p <0.01).

Based on the findings of the study, it was observed that the strategic computer game was very attractive to the participants and this could be one of the reasons for the success of this program.