{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T05:43:16Z","timestamp":1767764596488,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,5]],"date-time":"2026-01-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767571200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100018711","name":"CIDMA","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["UID\/4106\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/4106\/2025"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100018711","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100018711","name":"CIDMA","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["UID\/PRR\/4106\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/PRR\/4106\/2025"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100018711","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Education Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study explores the potential of educational game design as a pedagogical strategy for teaching Mathematics in lower secondary education, addressing persistent challenges related to students\u2019 motivation and engagement with the subject. The research focuses on the creation and implementation of a game, CriaMat, an ideation tool developed to support students in designing their own mathematical games. A qualitative approach was adopted, structured as a case study conducted in four classes and involving a total of 50 students. Data collection followed a mixed-methods strategy, combining participant observation, document analysis, and questionnaire-based inquiry, each applied during different phases of the intervention. The results indicate a positive reception of the approach, particularly in terms of student engagement, collaboration, and perceived learning. Analysis of the games produced demonstrates students\u2019 ability to create functional games that integrate the knowledge and skills developed throughout the process. The findings also suggest that learning to design games was perceived as a valuable strategy for engaging with and consolidating mathematical content, while simultaneously providing a privileged context for developing essential competencies\u2014such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving\u2014aligned with the national competency framework for compulsory education. The study does not aim to measure learning gains, but rather to explore students\u2019 perceptions and experiences of learning mathematics through the process of game creation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci16010071","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,5]],"date-time":"2026-01-05T15:28:57Z","timestamp":1767626937000},"page":"71","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Game Design as a Pedagogical Tool: Evaluating CriaMat in Mathematics Education"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Carla","family":"Duarte","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of C\u00e1vado and Ave (IPCA), 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2834-2267","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"S\u00f3nia","family":"Pais","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIDMA\u2014Center for Research and Development in Mathematics and Applications, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"},{"name":"CITUR\u2014Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2520-614 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8759-7927","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andreia","family":"Hall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIDMA\u2014Center for Research and Development in Mathematics and Applications, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Archambault, C. 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