Felisitas Ndeot, Sofia Hartati, Hapidin
Culturally-relevant mathematics experiences are rarely woven into the fast-growing market of preschool learning apps, leaving an untapped opportunity to foster heritage appreciation and early problem-solving skills. This study, therefore, introduces Ancestry Play. This tablet-based framework embeds ethnomathematical artefacts, batik tessellations, traditional bead patterns, and folklore-inspired puzzles into adaptive, play-centred challenges for children aged 4 to 6. Guided by design-based research, we translated three principles (cultural authenticity, playful scaffolding, and data-driven adaptation) into a modular architecture comprising Story, Pattern, and Builder mini-games. A quasi-experimental trial was conducted with 112 Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Indonesian preschoolers: an experimental group (n = 57) used Ancestry Play for six weeks in 20-minute daily sessions, while a control group (n = 55) followed their usual paper-based numeracy routine. Pre-and post-assessments employed the Math Problem-Solving Checklist and in-app analytics; data were analyzed with ANCOVA and thematic coding. Results revealed a statistically significant gain in complex problem-solving (F(1,109)=9.87, p < .01, η² = .083) for the experimental cohort, accompanied by higher engagement time (M = 14.2 min ± 2.1) and frequent strategy shifts that mirrored indigenous pattern heuristics. Qualitative observations indicated elevated cultural pride and peer narration around ancestral motifs. The findings suggest that ethnomathematics-infused digital play boosts early mathematical reasoning and strengthens cultural identity. We discuss scalability across diverse heritages and outline future work on longitudinal retention and teacher-authored content plug-ins. © 2026 Authors.
Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia
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