Siti Nurul Mahfuzah Mohamad, Imam Baihaqi Mohd Khanapi
Pervasive Computing & Educational Technology (PET), Center for Advanced Computing Technology (C-ACT), Faculty of Information and communication Technology (FTMK), Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka,
[email protected], [email protected] Nor Azmidy Ismail
Sek. Ren. Keb. Bukit Beruang, Melaka [email protected]
Highlights: Learning disabilities are problem that influence the brain capacity to receive, process, analyze and store information. These processing issues can interfere with learning fundamental abilities, especially for math. Fortunately, with different approach and methods in teaching and learning can improve students with learning disabilities to understand and know to count basic mathematic operation. This study focus on development of mobile game application based on line method to help student with learning disabilities understand basic mathematic operational especially addition and subtraction problem.
Keywords: Mobile Game Application, Special Education, Speedline method, Serious Game Introduction
As mentioned in Vijayalakshmi and Swaminathan (2017) there are four types of learning disabilities as shown in figure 1. Due to the enhancement of learning environment, the conventional way of learning does not satisfy the students with learning disabilities to understand the four basic operational especially addition and subtraction operation.
Figure 1: Type of Learning Disabilities
Peltenburg et. al (2012) proofed that special education students experience many difficulties in solving addition and subtraction operation. Normally, students with learning disabilities show weaknesses in memory and have problem with information processing. Al-Hmouz (2018) mentioned that children will experience difficulty when adding numbers greater than 10 using their fingers.
Speedline Method
In order to teach student with learning disabilities, there are a lot of effort needed and it is difficult to make student understand the basic concept. Pressuring them to perform at a standard time beyond their abilities will only reduce their confidence and make them more difficult to learn.
Therefore, this study proposes new method and new initiative to enhance student understanding on how to perform basic mathematic operational especially addition and subtraction operation for student with learning disabilities. The SpeedLine method is based on line. First, students need to know on how to count from zero to ten. Then student will put the line under the number as shown in figure 2. Student will start counting for each lines.
DeTAR Putra, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
167 Figure 2: Basic Addition Operation
Step for Addition:
Children should place the line under the number according to the given question number Children need to know on how to count and write from number 0 to number 9.
When the number 0 or zero is written on the line, the student must provide an additional line under the next number.
Step for Subtraction:
Children should place the line under the number according to the given question number Children need to know on how to count and write from number 9 to number 0.
When the number 9 or nine is written on the line, the student must provide an additional line under the next number.
Mobile Game Application
Speedline game was developed using Unity engine and deliver into Mobile Game Application. The target audience is students who have basic mathematical weaknesses especially preschoolers, year 1 to 3, special rehabilitation and special education students. This mobile game application will help students to improve the process of learning as well as help students to memorize and do the revision repeatedly either at school or at home. In this study, the game designed fit for student with learning disabilities. A colorful background image and attractive animated button is use as shown in figure 3.
Figure 3: Speedline Game
Before start counting, the first skill that students need to know is counting the number from zero to nine in ascending order as well as count from nine to zero in descending order as shown in figure 4.
Figure 4: Ascending Gameplay
DeTAR Putra, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
168 Discussion & Conclusion
The SpeedLine method help children to solve addition and subtraction operation from one to seven digits. Using line not require the retrieval of stored facts from memory. However, because students are encouraging to do the exercise repeatedly using SpeedLine, it is expected it can be stored in a child’s long-term memory.
SpeedLine method also has the advantage that involve auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Also help children with self-confidence without using finger to count or tally counting. Special education students’ use of SpeedLine in solving addition and subtraction problem up to seven digits. In this case, SpeedLine method is a good alternative for special education to solve addition and subtraction problem.
Acknowledgement
This research is conducted by Pervasive Computing & Educational Technology Research Group, C-ACT, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), and supported by Ministry of Education.
References
Al-Hmouz, H. (2018). The Effectivenes of the Touch Math Program in Teaching Addition to Students with Math Disability. Jordan Journal of Educational Sciences. 14(4),461-474.
Peltenburg, M., Van den Heuvel-Panhuizen, M., & Robitzsch, A. (2012). Special Education Students Use of Indirect Addition for Solving Subtraction Problems Up to 100. Educational Studies in Mathematics. 79(3), 351-369.
Vijayalakshmi M. & Swaminathan, S. (2017). A Scientometric Analysis of Learning Disabilities. Journal of Current Trends in Education and Research. 9(1), 1-8.
DeTAR Putra, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
169