Take It Easy, It Is Games Not Mathematics

Games-based learning (GBL) in the teaching of mathematics has been a very popular approach in primary and secondary schools for some time. However, it is also an effective tool to teach mathematics to all ages, including adults. In higher education especially, GBL in the teaching of mathematics is very helpful to teach students who come from a non-mathematical background. We have introduced an interesting games-based teaching and learning pedagogy to teach mathematics for higher education students with a limited mathematical background. We have been teaching basic mathematics to B. Sc. first year computer science students using in-house developed games such as: logarithms and exponential jigsaw, arithmetic fractions rummy, decimal crossword, algebraic equations bingo and binary-to-decimal conversion magic box. This new teaching and learning pedagogy is very effective in changing students’ attitude towards mathematics and the development of their key competencies. The main aim of this work is to present the possibilities of this interesting GBL method in the teaching of mathematics in higher education, and to motivate other higher education teachers to explore this new GBL method.