Meet the University of Lagos (UNILAG)
student that invented a basic mathematics demystifying board game. He is
a 400 level student of Mathematics Education, University of Lagos
(UNILAG) and goes by the name, Olatunji Moshood Abiola.
Meet UNILAG Student That Invented Mathematics Board Game
FROM early childhood through to
adulthood, generations of Nigerians have live with something akin to a
morbid fear for Mathematics as a subject. This condition, many people
refer to as mathematics anxiety.
According to Chair of the Department of
Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, United States, Mark
H. Ashcraft, mathematics anxiety, is “a feeling of tension,
apprehension, or fear that interferes with mathematics performance.”
It is on record that Richardson and
Suinn developed the first mathematics anxiety measurement scale in 1972.
Since this development, several researchers have examined mathematics
anxiety in empirical studies with the reports receiving wide publicity.
These studies are deemed very important
because of the importance of the subject to the technological
advancement of any nation as well as its ability to bolster the critical
and creative thinking of learners at early stage of learning.
These among many other reasons
perhaps, are what prompted 400 level student of Mathematics Education,
University of Lagos (UNILAG), Olatunji Moshood Abiola, to invent a
mathematics board game.
According to Abiola, the new board
game would not only enrich learners’ mathematical knowledge, but also
further improve their love for the subject.
He further added that using the board
game as teaching aids in schools especially at the basic education
level, or as an extra curricular activity would demystify mathematics
and stimulate students’ interest in the subject.
“The idea of developing the board game
started when I was in senior secondary one, which was when I started
wondering about the possibility of coming up with something just like
the Ludo game because I know children love to have fun by playing games.
Since then, I have been working on it. Fortunately for me, I got the
right pattern and design of the game when I went to use the lavatory at
the Elkanemi Hall of our institution. In fact, the design of the floor
tiles in the toilet that gave a clue of how the pattern should look
like,” Abiola recalled.
“The board game, which is mainly for
children between the ages of two and six, was designed to solve the
problems posed by the abstract nature of Mathematics; allow kids get
excited about the subject; enhance and stimulate their interest in the
subject; allow them learn while having fun and also ensure a sound
mathematical foundation for everybody,” the inventor said of its
intended benefits.
He described how an aspect of the game
works thus: “Math Race 1 (MR1), is a mathematics game for primary
school children. It enhances pupils’ ability to know addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division while having fun. A maximum of 6
players can play at a time.”
I the game, he explained, “the colour
denotes the action to perform. For instance green is for addition,
yellow is for multiplication, blue for subtraction, black for division
while red is pick a card, and there are twelve cards a player can select
from. And the player performs the action on the card, (like subtract
11). It can also be played by one player, but the more the players the
more interesting it becomes. It is also a family game that parents can
play with their kids. Additionally, it can also be used for adult
education and also be included in the competitions menu of inter-house
sport competition in schools. The sweetest thing is that it keeps
getting easier.
“After MR1, I have also invented, “Math
Race 2,” which is a modified version of MR1, with the introduction of
negative numbers. The third game, “Math War”, enhances users’ ability to
master the multiplication table from one to 12. A maximum of four and
minimum of two pupils can play this at a time. The game has been
play-tested by over 40 kids. Currently, I’m working on a new board game,
Math Race 3, which will be played without a dice.
“During the process of inventing MR1,
my mum started complaining as a result of the dice she saw with me
because she thought I had started gambling. So, I had to isolate myself
while play-testing the game. However, it was the addition and
subtraction challenge that were first solved and I wanted to stop there.
But I later introduced colour in order for the multiplication and
division parts of the game to be brought in. However, in a situation
where players get stuck in the middle of it all and go for onwards of
four hours without a winner, the red card comes into play. This is the
reason I introduced the action cards for colour red, which tells a
player to perform some specific action, like add 20,” he said of some of
the processes he went through to create an enjoyable game for pupils.
On how he joggled developing the board
game and devoting adequate time for his academic activities he said,
“It wasn’t easy considering the fact that we do a lot of courses in my
faculty. So, I spent one hour in the “laboratory” everyday. For me, the
laboratory is anywhere. It may be in my hostel, in the lecture room, at
home or around the faculty. I just make sure, I spend one hour a day
thinking about a problem and finding a solution to it. “
For now, Abiola’s invention is still a
distance away from being on sale in educational shops or being enjoyed
by pupils in schools because it is still in prototype. “For now, schools
cannot access it because all I have with me is a prototype. That is why
I’m seeking the help of corporate organisations and investors to
sponsor this new invention.”
The Education Secretary, Ifako Ijaiye
Local Government District, Mr. Taiwo Balogun, who has play-tested the
game had this to say said, “The invention is a practical experimentation
of teaching and learning of mathematics at basic education level.
Knowing that mathematics is a core subject, it would assist and enhance
learning for users. I have tested it and I can recommend it for all
schools.”
Also, a lecturer at the Mathematics
Education Department of UNILAG, Dr. Adeneye Awofala said, “The board
game would be of immense benefit to Nigerian students. It would help
them to see mathematics as a practical thing and guide them to the
realisation that mathematics is not a fearful subject. It would sharpen
their understanding at least at the basic level, and cause them to see
the subject as something they can do, something around them; something
available anywhere, at any time.”
