Global PLAY2Explore

Engaged Research: Bringing Mathematics to Life Through Game-Based Learning

Global Play2Learn Academy founded by Dr. Etain Kiely, Mathematics Lecturer at ATU Galway, is offering novel opportunities for students to engage with mathematics. By integrating computational mathematics with game-based learning, the academy promotes equality, diversity, and challenge-based learning across cultures. The PLAY framework—Partnership, Learn, Apply, and Your Interest—focuses on collaboration, knowledge transfer, real-world application, and active engagement within global learning communities.

Why it Matters:

🌍 Building global culturally relevant partnerships (Ukraine, Botswana, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Ireland)

🎮 Making learning fun and engaging!

🧠 Unlocking creativity and critical thinking

🌱 Driving real-world impact through sustainability

🔓 Free Resources Available
Access code notebooks inspired by nature’s hidden patterns — from fractals in ferns to Fibonacci in broccoli. Plus, access Leaving Cert Computer Science resources!

📥 Visit etainkiely.com or email etain.kiely@atu.ie to get started.

Global Agri-PLAY: Living Maths

A collaboration between ATU & BUAN Agricultural College (Africa), led by MOCHAS PhD student Ontiretse Ishmael and year 1 ATU computing and science students:

Cultural Contexts : Ireland, Botswana, South Africa

A collaboration with BUAN Agricultural College (Botswana, Africa) using Micro:bit kits:

🌱Collect real-time soil & environmental data for analysis in ATU Dataverse.

🌱Promote sustainability-driven problem-solving in agriculture.
🌱 Invited speaker at "Girls in Tech" Camp, South Africa.

🌱Links education (SDG 4), innovation (SDG 9), and climate action (SDG 13).

Impact: ATU Greenhouse: Automated watering and soil sensor. Free codebook here

Fraction Action! Superpowered Learning

Fractions become superpowers in this high-energy outreach session inspired by My Hero Academia.
By linking fraction moves to hero abilities, students unlock their potential and defeat the villain — making maths exciting, memorable, and empowering.

📍 Impact:

Delivered through engaging Library Outreach to boost maths confidence

ATU Metaverse Minecraft

A scaled ATU campus built in Minecraft Education Edition by CJ O'Donnell.

🚍Local buses, ♿Wheelchair-accessible elevators, 🧩 Math puzzles & escape rooms for team-building.

📍 Impact:

Featured at the DigitalEd Conference.
Used in Open Day events to engage prospective students.
Demonstrates inclusive design and creativity in STEM learning environments.
📁 Download Minecraft World (.mcworld)

Playground Science:

Maths in Motion

How children learn physics — by swinging, sliding, and seeing for themselves.
Inspired by the theory of embodied cognition, this playful outreach brings physics to life in the playground.

Led by: Jennifer Gallagher (Yr 4 Physics, ATU)

📍 Impact:

Delivered to local primary schools as part of ATU’s community STEM engagement
🎯 Children explored harmonic motion, balance, and energy through play
🧠 “They didn’t know the laws — but they felt them!”

Code Meets Context: STEM Labs

ATU’s interdisciplinary team, supported by a PIRATE grant (HEA) to boost data literacy and connect theory to real-world practice.

An ATU-wide effort to ensure that every Year 1 STEM student gains data confidence — in the lab, with code, and for life..

📍 Impact:

Full integration into Year 1 lab manuals | 🎤 Presented at DigitalEd Conference

Sines of Hearing

Young people can hear higher frequencies than adults—making this workshop a thrilling dive into sound waves through music, experiments, and visualisation.

📍 Impact:

STEM fun for Maths Week—hands-on, high-frequency science!

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