BANDA ACEH – A student from the Department of Mathematics at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) has developed an Android educational game entitled “MRG Fraction Hunt.”
The game was created as the undergraduate thesis project of Williams Chiari, a student of the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), USK. It combines a maze game concept with fraction arithmetic operations. The choice of fractions and maze themes was inspired by previous studies conducted by Mathematics students at FMIPA USK, namely fraction-based games and learning media using non-perfect maze generators, which heavily involve Graph Theory concepts in mathematics. The integration of these two themes became the foundation of this final project, where a non-perfect maze serves as the game arena and fraction arithmetic operations form the core gameplay. Notably, this study, along with the two earlier studies, was conducted under the Multimedia Research Group (MRG).
“MRG Fraction Hunt is designed as a platform for students to learn fraction arithmetic operations in a more engaging way, where players must explore a maze arena to collect fraction objects while finding the exit,” explained Williams. Elementary school (SD) students were chosen as the primary target users, with the expectation that this game would provide a new and unique learning platform for fractions and their operations. Previously, students mainly learned from textbooks; now, they can learn while playing. Nevertheless, the game is suitable for all players, not only elementary school students.
The development of the game required a considerable amount of time. The initial idea and concept of MRG Fraction Hunt emerged from suggestions provided by the thesis supervisor and were then developed over several months. “Indeed, the game idea and concept came from suggestions by Mr. Mahyus Ihsan, S.Si., M.Si., my first supervisor. The game development process itself took about three months, including debugging. In parallel, I also worked on writing the thesis with guidance from my second supervisor, Prof. Dr. Marwan, S.Si., M.Si., who provided valuable feedback and suggestions,” he said.
The gameplay mechanics are relatively simple, especially for elementary school students who are generally familiar with Android games. Players collect fraction and arithmetic operation objects scattered throughout the maze, then arrange them according to the target value set for each level.
“Of course, we wanted to maintain the fun aspect alongside the educational value. There are items that can add extra playing time, indicate directions to the maze exit, and a compass feature that players can use if they get lost and cannot determine their position,” Williams added.
MRG Fraction Hunt has been available for download on the Google Play Store for Android since mid-July 2022. A YouTube video showcasing the game has also been released and can be accessed via the game’s Play Store page. The copyright of MRG Fraction Hunt has been officially registered in accordance with Law Number 28 of 2014 on Copyright.
The completion of MRG Fraction Hunt was supported by various parties, particularly the Multimedia Research Group (MRG), a research group within the Department of Mathematics that focuses on the development of serious games and mathematics learning media.
“The experience I gained since joining the group in my third semester was the main factor behind this final project. The support from Mr. Mahyus Ihsan, S.Si., M.Si. as the group leader, along with fellow members, served as a strong support system and an excellent learning environment for Mathematics students interested in Computational Mathematics,” he stated.
The development of MRG Fraction Hunt is expected to inspire future Mathematics students at USK to continue innovating and creatively utilizing ideas in completing their final projects.
Download MRG Fraction Hunt on the Google Play Store for Android: MRG Fraction Hunt