INTEGRATING MATHEMATICAL ACTIVITIES THROUGH GAMES TO ESTABLISH A MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATION AND PROMOTE CRITICAL THINKING IN PRE-ELEMENTARY CHILDREN

Tóm tắt

Developing mathematical skills and basic critical thinking for young children is an important goal in preschool education, yet current studies often underestimate the connection between these two factors. This study proposes a web-based gamification method that combines mathematical skills training with the detection of critical thinking expressions through interactive online learning games. To evaluate the system's effectiveness, a two-week controlled experiment was conducted with 39 preschool children aged 4 to 5 years old. Participants were divided into an experimental group (n=16) using the digital platform and a control group (n=23) using traditional paper-based methods. The application, developed using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP, tracks student performance indicators and maps them against the FRISCO critical thinking framework. Independent t-test results indicated a statistically significant improvement in mathematical scores for the experimental group compared to the control group. Furthermore, the system’s automated assessment of critical thinking showed a strong correlation with expert evaluations in the "Focus" (r=0.970) and "Clear" (r=0.984) criteria. Ultimately, this research presents a practical technological architecture that supports teachers in continuously monitoring early mathematical progress and creating a highly engaging learning environment.