October 30, 2024, 8:04 PM
October 30, 2024, 8:04 PM
Teaching mathematics has historically been a challenge at both school and university. However, technological advances have allowed the development of at least five innovative digital games that transform mathematical learning into a fun and accessible experience.
These games, according to Génesis Selaya Ticona, systems engineer and member of the Teaching and Learning Headquarters (JEA) at the Franz Tamayo University, Unifranz, are designed for children and adolescents to solve mathematical operations in a simpler way, keeping them motivated and entertained. .
“In the educational field, these games are not simply teaching tools, but rather they function as an accessible guide so that students can solve exercises and acquire knowledge in an interactive and attractive way,” he points out.
For the academic, online educational games represent an effective alternative to capture the attention of students, avoiding monotony and facilitating the work of teachers.
Technology, he highlights, “is increasingly integrated into classrooms, becoming a fundamental tool for teaching mathematical concepts in a fun, effective and pedagogical way.”
For his part, Rodrigo Ávalos, a professor of Business Administration, also at Unifranz, emphasizes the value of these digital tools.
“The use of digital platforms in mathematical learning allows students to better understand the long-term impact of their decisions, preparing them both academically and professionally,” he says.
Access to these digital platforms by students not only facilitates the understanding of mathematical exercises, but also becomes a useful resource to apply in their future. However, each student can choose the tool that best suits their learning style and needs.
In the same line, Euroinnova International Online Educationspecialized in open, online and distance teaching, assures that “mathematical games will develop mathematical and logical thinking, which are of vital importance in educational activities making a connection with recreational activities” and explains the five mathematical games that have proven to be more effective:
1 Prodigy Math Game: an online game that combines adventure elements with mathematical problems and allows students to customize their avatars and participate in quests while solving exercises tailored to their skill level.
2Mmath Playground: offers a wide range of interactive games, puzzles and challenges covering various mathematical concepts, from basic arithmetic to geometry.
3 DragonBox: are applications designed to teach complex mathematical concepts, such as algebra, through visual and intuitive games.
4 Kahoot!: platform that allows educators to create interactive quizzes that can include math questions. Although it is not an exclusively math game, its competitive and collaborative nature makes it popular in the classroom.
5 Cool Math Games: this platform offers a variety of games that reinforce basic mathematical concepts, from arithmetic operations to logic problems.
Benefits of learning mathematics through play
The implementation of the game in the classroom, also known as gamification (a learning technique that transfers the mechanics of games to the educational-professional field in order to achieve better results), not only facilitates learning, but also creates a collaborative and stimulating.
For Selaya, it allows “identifying the level of knowledge and skill that the student has with respect to the exact topic or area of mathematics, physics or chemistry.”
Through play you can help reduce the anxiety that many students feel about mathematics, making the concepts more understandable. Additionally, these types of games are motivational elements for meaningful learning.
In the article “Importance of playful games in mathematics”, the Lumbreras Editores portal states that many teaching professionals, psychologists and researchers suggest that mathematical games are a powerful training tool to stimulate and motivate learning-teaching.
“It is not only about making the student play at different levels in an improvised way, but also doing it in a deliberate and planned way to achieve results. Mathematical games are an element of motivation for meaningful learning of mathematics,” he maintains, while also highlighting some of their characteristics:
● Promotes the understanding and use of mathematical content, in general, and the development of logical thinking, in particular.
● Helps develop self-esteem in students at each stage or level they are in
● Relate mathematics to a fun-generating situation
● Develops the aspect of collaboration and teamwork through peer interaction
● Allows mental calculations
● Generates self-preparation in the student
● Practitioners acquire flexibility and mental agility
● Promotes ingenuity, creativity and imagination
● Stimulates inductive-deductive reasoning
Integrating play into mathematics teaching provides educators with a valuable tool that not only improves student academic performance, but transforms learning into a fun and memorable experience.
