A90: MATHIVITY: MATHEMATICAL TOWER DEFENSE 2D GAME FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS USING GODOT 4

Ireen Munira Binti Ibrahim UiTM Cawangan Perak Kampus Tapah

Difficulties in learning mathematics can be heard at every stage of being a student. Even tough, mathematics has been introduced since early age, student in elementary school started experiencing poor understanding when it comes to the topics of fractions, ratios and arithmetics. According to Piagetian theory of cognitive development in learning mathematics, student in elementary school are in the third group aged 7-11 years old. This group age particularly need to develop high logical thinking to let them perform operations on numbers and understanding of quantity, driving them to engage for more complex mathematical problems. In order to have strong grasp mastering of these topics, conventional teaching and learning is insufficient. Student need more than one way delivering to increase understanding and sustain their focus. Thus, this project offered Tower Defence 2D game named Mathivity as teaching assistance for student to learn fractions, ratios and arithmetic. This game-based learning is developed using Godot Engine 4 platform where Godot’s node-based modular architecture allows for seamless expansions and able to cover additional programming languages such as Python, Java and C#. This game was created to have challenges to encourage players to solve math questions in order to defeat waves of enemies. The theorical game play of Mathivity is student used their primary knowledge learned in class, porting into the game to reinforce immediate application. Students indirectly enhances retention and conceptual understanding through continuous trial, error and feedback loops.  In other words, Mathivity translates abstract mathematical concepts directly into the game's defense mechanics. Players must solve math tasks to master defense strategies such as converting fractions into percentages to generate tower defense power or solving ratios to adjust cannon targeting to defeat waves of enemies. Mathivity also integrates a tiered guidance system (scaffolded hints) that provides conceptual clues when players make mistakes, thereby creating a low-stress learning environment. This game has passed functionality tests and User Acceptance Testing (UAT). UAT results showed that 90.9% of participants found this interactive game is more effective than traditional textbook exercises. Mathivity can be potentially marketable trough EdTech Software-as-a-Service (SAAS) subscription model for schools. With the subscriptions, teachers can monitor student progress vis its dashboards. Due to its lightweight and flexible architecture, the game also has the potential to be expanded to mobile platforms (iOS/Android) for the B2C (parents) market, as well as expanding its subject content modules to other topics or subjects like Science in the future. Overall, Mathivity was created to integrate and enhance elementary school student in understanding mathematics. the tower defense genre serves as an appropriate pedagogical tool to bridge the gap between mathematics and its application in primary schools. It is hope with strong grasp of understanding these topics, student will enjoy learning and feel less demotivated to learn other new topics.