MainHeadlines:PlayingtheRubyReigame:

1. Improvedchildren’slanguageunderstandingsignificantlymorethanthosewhodidnotplayit.RubyReiexperimentalgroupimprovedintheirSpanishlanguageproficiency(22.5%improvement)twicethatofthechildrenwhousedtheonlineinteractiveflashcards(11.5%improvement).

2. Wassignificantlymoreengagingthangoingonlinewithinteractiveflashcards.

ChildrenplayingtheRubyReigamevoluntarilyengagedinthisactivityfourtimesmore(5.5hours)thanthechildrenusingtheonlineinteractiveflashcards(only1.4hours)

3. Wassignificantlymorefun(asself-ratedbythechildren)thangoingonlinewith

interactiveflashcards.ThechildrenexposedtoRubyReiratedthemselvesashavingtwiceasmuchfun(6.8ona10-pointscale)thantheflashcardcontrolchildren(ratingthemselvesonly3.9).

Graph1:AverageSpanishtestimprovementsofthechildrenintheRubyRei

ExperimentalGroupAsyoucanseefromtheabovetablesthereweresignificantimprovements(baronechild)intheirlanguageabilityafterplayingtheRubyReigameforaweek.ThechildreninthisgroupimprovedintheirSpanishlanguageabilitybyanaverageof22.5%,twiceasmuchasthechildrenintheothergroup.

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Graph2:AverageSpanishtestimprovementsofthechildrenintheonlineflashcard

ControlGroupIncomparison,asyoucanseeitwaslessobviousthatlanguageimprovementsoccurredinthecontrolgroup(comparedtotheRubyReigamegroup).Asleastfivechildreninthisgroupeitherdidn'tprogressintheirabilityatallorworseperformedmorepoorlyaftertheweekinteractingwiththeonlineflashcards.ThechildreninthisgroupimprovedintheirSpanishlanguageabilitybyanaverageof11.5%-halfofthatoftheRubyReiexperimentalchildren.

Graph3:AveragehoursspenteitherplayingtheRubyReigameorinteracting

WiththeonlineflashcardsAsyoucanseethereisasignificantdifferencebetweentheamountofvoluntaryengagementwiththedifferentlanguagepackages.ChildrenintheRubyReiexperimentalgroupactivelyengagedwiththegamefourtimesasmuchaschildrenintheonlineflashcardcondition.

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Graph4:SelfratingofhowmuchfunthechildreninteractingwitheitherRubyRei

Ortheonlineflashcards.AsyoucanseethechildrenintheRubyReiexperimentalgroupratedthemselvesashavingmorefun(ona10-pointscale)thanthoseusingtheonlineFlashcards.TheRubyReiexposedchildrenratedthemselvesashavingtwiceasmuchfun(6.8ona10pointscale)thantheflashcardcontrolchildren(ratingthemselvesonly3.9).Indicatequotesfromchildren:ChildrenintheRubyReiExperimentalGroup“Thegamewasfunandhardinplaces–butthatmademewanttowin,soIstuckwithit.IdefinitelyhavelearnednewSpanishwordsandfounditmuchmoreinterestingthansimplyreadingwordsorhearingthem”“BeforethisIfoundlearningalanguageabitboring.PlayingRubyReithoughmademehavefunandconcentrateonthegameratherthanthelanguage.IthinkplayingthegamedistractedmefromfindingitboringsoIprobablylearnedmuchmorefromdoingit”“IlovedthewaythegamewasinSpanishandyoucouldtryandworkoutwhatitmeantandthenifyougotstuckyoucouldclickonthewordanditwouldchangetoEnglish.IthelpedhearingtheSpanishtoo.Idefinitelyhavelearnedmorewordsandenjoyeditatthesametime”“IwasabitfrustratedwehadtostopatleveltenasIwasreallyenjoyingit–Ifoundthesecondtestslightlyeasier–asIlearnednewwordsplayingthegameout”“DespitesomeglitchesIfounditmuchmorefunthanthenormalwayoflearningalanguage–havingastorytofollowandapurposekeptmeconcentrating”

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