Created by Sanjana D M, Lok-See Lam, and Akshara Mahalingam
MathExplorers is a digital platform we designed to help 3rd-grade students see how math connects to the world around them. We were inspired to create it after noticing how young learners struggle to understand the “why” behind math, which can make it difficult for them to stay engaged and can even lead to math anxiety. MathExplorers serves as a bridge between classroom concepts and real-world applications, giving students a reason to get excited about math beyond the textbook.
Key Highlights:
- Theme-Based Adventures: Students can choose from themes like “Nature,” “Space Exploration,” or “Origami,” each placing math in a real-life context to boost engagement.
- Interactive Learning Buddy: A friendly, animated buddy guides students through each activity, offering hints and celebrating wins. This character adds a sense of familiarity and support to build student confidence.
- Integrated Missions and Activities: Each adventure situates math within a meaningful, real-life context, drawing on situated learning to spark motivation and engagement.They can dive into different applications of each topic, experiment, and discover new ways to use math.
We wanted the platform to feel open and curiosity-driven, so that students could learn at their own pace and take on challenges as they felt ready.
Design Journey:
We started by outlining the platform’s core learning objectives, focusing on foundational 3rd-grade math concepts. From there, we built a design that would keep students engaged through a mix of exploration and storytelling.
One of the hardest decisions was whether to focus more on directly improving math skills, with progressively challenging problems and extensive feedback, or on fostering exploration. We ultimately chose exploration to create an experience where students aren’t immediately aware they’re “learning math.” Instead, they encounter real-life scenarios that happen to require math, which allows them to reach the conclusion of math’s relevance on their own terms. We wanted math to feel like part of their adventure rather than a task. To reduce anxiety and make learning feel approachable, we also made a decision to add an animated learning buddy who acts as a personal guide and motivator. The buddy helps students feel supported, so they’re more comfortable taking on challenges and problem-solving on their own. This character is a core part of making the app feel like a safe, encouraging space.
Future Scope:
The future scope of MathExplorers envisions an expansion beyond elementary school to support middle and high school students as well, adapting the platform to accommodate more complex math concepts. As students progress, the learning buddy will evolve from a character to real-life professionals across various fields, such as engineers, data scientists, architects, and environmentalists. These career-focused mentors will introduce students to advanced math applications relevant to diverse career paths, helping them see the practical and professional significance of their studies.
Logo adapted from Revolutionize Your Social Studies Classroom with Depth and Complexity
