Making Early Mathematics Learning Available and Fun
by Edin Liđan & Bojana Pantić
The end goal of the project was the creation of an entertaining, yet educational (android-based) game aimed specifically at supporting the development of early mathematics competencies in preschool children (aged 3-7). The motivation stems from the current lack of opportunities in B&H to gain these invaluable skills outside of a formal preschool system, which can have a detrimental effect on their prospects in life. The percentage of children being enrolled in the former is devastatingly small. Therefore, with a desire to make an actual difference, Edin and Bojana gathered a multidisciplinary team (comprised of two mathematicians, an early maths education specialist, and a psychologist) and set the ball rolling.
In the end, an outstanding amount of work has been carried out on the creation and subsequent development of the demo version of the app. It is well worth noting, however, that app development does not end at launch, let alone at a demo version. Nonetheless, they have certainly laid solid foundations for our original vision. With further investment, they believe that their app could become an impactful resource for children, parents, and educators all alike. Through this project, they have gained precious experience and have considerably improved their project management skills. More experienced team members equally welcomed the possibility to collaborate on a truly meaningful project with their enthusiastic team leader, as did the younger ones.
