Project Details
Description
Happy Maths was a program designed for primary school students, teachers, and parents to raise awareness about math anxiety and demonstrate how game-based learning can alleviate its negative effects.
Math anxiety is defined as a debilitating negative emotional reaction toward mathematics. It affected one in six students and impacted more primary school girls than boys, worsening gender inequality in STEM education.
Happy Maths had two main components:
- A six-week program where primary school pupils engaged with educational digital math games. This aimed to improve students' math performance and leverage the engagement power of games, particularly for disadvantaged and anxious pupils.
- Activities for teachers and parents, including workshops to facilitate the independent adoption of game-based learning in the classroom, and multimedia informational materials for children and parents.
The uniqueness of Happy Maths lay in its games, which were entirely developed by the team. These games received three international awards and were piloted in four Dublin primary schools. Thirty-five primary schools in Ireland expressed interest in joining the program.
The Discover fund:
- Supported the delivery of the program in fifteen schools
- Created a web portal as a central reference point for Ireland on math anxiety and game-based learning. This portal included games, continuing professional development (CPD) materials for teachers, and multimedia information for parents.
- Organized the first All-Ireland Happy Maths Cup.
Math anxiety is defined as a debilitating negative emotional reaction toward mathematics. It affected one in six students and impacted more primary school girls than boys, worsening gender inequality in STEM education.
Happy Maths had two main components:
- A six-week program where primary school pupils engaged with educational digital math games. This aimed to improve students' math performance and leverage the engagement power of games, particularly for disadvantaged and anxious pupils.
- Activities for teachers and parents, including workshops to facilitate the independent adoption of game-based learning in the classroom, and multimedia informational materials for children and parents.
The uniqueness of Happy Maths lay in its games, which were entirely developed by the team. These games received three international awards and were piloted in four Dublin primary schools. Thirty-five primary schools in Ireland expressed interest in joining the program.
The Discover fund:
- Supported the delivery of the program in fifteen schools
- Created a web portal as a central reference point for Ireland on math anxiety and game-based learning. This portal included games, continuing professional development (CPD) materials for teachers, and multimedia information for parents.
- Organized the first All-Ireland Happy Maths Cup.
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 1/01/22 → 31/12/22 |
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