Innovating Maths Learning with Fun and Happiness
Finding a way of teaching maths, which appeals to & engages students who don’t respond to standard teaching methods.
The Funkey Maths cards also help children make richer connections between numbers; master multiplication and division facts simultaneously; and make links between factor pairs. Plus, they help embed the meaning of prime, square, factor, multiple and product.
Instead of learning 132 unique multiplication facts, there are just 53 products to learn! The Funkey Maths cards also help children make richer connections between numbers; master multiplication and division facts simultaneously; and make links between factor pairs. Plus, they help embed the meaning of prime, square, factor, multiple and product.
FunKey Maths has developed innovative and effective peer mentoring programme for schools which develops number sense in KS1 children and a range of hugely important soft skills in KS2 mentors. The intervention is fun, effective and affordable. Mentors and mentees love it, as do schools who are looking to improve their maths results.
Peer Mentoring session – young children gain hugely by working with an older child. They improve their maths skills but also the positive 1:1 attention helps their self-esteem and confidence to soar.
CONTEXT
FunKey Maths operates within the broader challenge of ensuring children master numeracy skills, which are vital for success in today’s technological world. The educational system, however, faces significant difficulties in engaging students, especially those who do not thrive under traditional teaching methods. FunKey Maths aims to overcome this gap by creating an engaging, game-based learning environment where children can develop and enjoy learning mathematics
CHALLENGE
The primary challenge was developing a way to teach mathematics, specifically in the context of the FunKey mentoring programme, that could effectively engage students who struggled to respond to standard, conventional teaching methods. Many children in this category find it difficult to relate to traditional maths lessons, and a new approach was needed.
APPROACH
Prototyping&testing: You used a dual approach of low- and high-fidelity prototyping. This allowed you to test ideas quickly and refine them based on feedback from actual classroom environments.
Iteration & Refinement: Through collaboration with Maggie and testing the games in schools, you carefully refined the products, ensuring they met the needs of both the end users (students) and educators. The iterative process helped to fine-tune the design and functionality, allowing for a more effective and engaging educational resource.
LEARNINGS
Dual Role: You learned how to blend the strategic and design aspects of the project, balancing both the broader vision of the programme and the details that make a product truly effective.
Stakeholder Engagement: The project required you to navigate and align a range of stakeholders, from educators to the innovation funders, emphasizing the importance of patience and communication in large, multifaceted projects.
Incremental Progress: The approach of taking small, incremental steps was invaluable, especially for a project that involved long-term development and the need for buy-in from many different groups.
COMMENDATION & FEEDBACK
Recognition: The FunKey Maths game was a finalist in the Small Business of the Year category at the 2017 Education Resources Awards, highlighting the success and impact of the project on the education sector. Additionally, Oxford University Press expressed interest in publishing our cards, further validating the quality and potential of the resources.
Academic Endorsement: An evaluation by Dr. Marcus Witt from the University of the West of England found that FunKey Maths provides a “very low-cost and highly effective peer-teaching intervention,” which underscores its potential for scalability and further investment.
“I’ve worked with Monika for over three years. She has the highest standards and strives for excellence. She is careful and measured in her approach and always seeks to understand the end user. Her designs for the FunKey Maths Tables Cards are universally liked by teachers and students. Monika’s thoughtful, questioning approach was helpful in delivering optimal functionality with beautiful, appealing designs. Monika is honest, compassionate and works with integrity. Her creative flair would be an asset to any company.”
Maggie Steel, Founder & Director, FunKey Maths