MathSeafarer: Estrategia Didáctica Centrada en la Gamificación para el Fortalecimiento de la Competencia de Resolución de Problemas Matemáticos en el Componente del Pensamiento Numérico para Estudiantes de Grado Sexto de la Institución Educativa Filadelfia de Filadelfia, Caldas.

Abstract

The MathSeafarer project is a proposal for educational innovation, a didactic strategy focused on gamification and the Shoenfeld method, oriented to strengthening the mathematical problem solving competence in the numerical thinking component of sixth-grade students at the Philadelphia Educational Institution (Caldas, Colombia). This didactic strategy was designed under the approach of Design Thinking, prioritizing the student’s experience through playful activities, significant challenges and a contextualized digital platform. The intervention was developed through a mixed methodological approach (quantitative and qualitative), which allowed to evaluate both changes in academic performance and students' perceptions and attitudes towards learning mathematics. Implementation was carried out over a 10-week period with a pilot group, using diagnostic and final evaluations, observations, and surveys. The results showed crucial improvements in students' motivation, participation, and performance in activities related to numerical thinking, as well as a reduction in the percentage of underperforming students. There was also a positive shift in the perception of mathematics from being seen as a complex and abstract subject to a practical, challenging and valuable experience. That is, MathSeafarer proved to be an effective strategy for transforming mathematical learning in low-resource contexts. Its application not only strengthened key academic competencies, but also promoted problem-solving thinking, metacognition, and a positive attitude towards mathematical challenges. This confirms that the intentional use of gamification, Digital platforms, and strategic thinking can be a powerful tool in educational innovation.