Development and Validation of Integer Boggler: A Basis for a Mobile Game-Based Application

The study aimed to develop and validate the integer boggler as an instrument for the retention and improvement of freshman high school students’ skills in integers to draw its implications to mathematics education and its potential for a mobile game-based application. The Research and development method was employed. Questionnaires were given to five mathematics teachers to evaluate the game’s feasibility, objectives, rules, procedures, and relevance. The experts gave a strong agreement on the easy and affordable construction of the equipment, clarity, and attainability of its objectives, rules and procedures, and the relevance of the game. Fifty (50) students who participated in the experiment were classified as average and below average performers in operations on integers based on their pretest and percentage. The pretest results of the participants revealed a wide range of errors among students, with an overall error rate exceeding 50%. After the intervention, the post-test results showed a significant reduction in errors across all categories, with the overall error rate decreasing by 29%. This indicates that the intervention was effective in addressing student misconceptions and improving their understanding of the topic. The mean score of students significantly enhanced from the pretest to the posttest, increasing from 44.98 to 47.62. A t-test confirmed this significant difference. This suggests that the intervention effectively improved student retention in the four operations. The t-test for independent samples explains a more substantial increase in the gain scores of the below-average group in multiplication and division of integers. Employing the t-test for correlated samples, the delayed post-test showed the game’s effectiveness in the student’s retention of the rules and operations on integers. It was concluded that the boggler can be used as a remediation or enhancement activity in integer operations. Thus, it encourages mobile app developers to use the game as a basis for a new application while urging teachers, students, school heads, curriculum developers, and other math enthusiasts to play and promote the game.