At the Ap\u00e1czai Csere J\u00e1nos Faculty of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University, increasing emphasis is being placed on modern teaching methodologies, project-based learning and gamification. It was in this spirit that School of Mysteries<\/strong> was created, making the learning of mathematics a more engaging experience while developing logical thinking and problem-solving skills. The story-driven game, which is built around decision-making situations, is recommended for children aged nine and over, while also offering exciting challenges for older age groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea for the board game emerged in the thesis of Bere Andrea<\/strong>, who graduated from the Faculty\u2019s primary school teacher education programme and currently works as a teacher. Her research focused on exploring the possibilities of project-based teaching in mathematics lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur aim was to make this subject more accessible to children and show them that logical tasks can also be exciting. We drew inspiration from the world of escape rooms, which we combined with pedagogical tools. One of the special features of the game is that my family also played a part in its creation. My daughter, who is a graphic designer, designed its visual appearance, while my other daughter, who trained as a game designer in Sweden, contributed to the development of the gameplay and rules. In this way, the concept evolved into a finished product by bringing together expertise from several different fields<\/em>,\u201d said Bere Andrea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Petzn\u00e9 dr. T\u00f3th Szilvia, Head of the Department of Subject Methodology at Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University, and teacher Bere Andrea, creator of the board game School of Mysteries, with the game\u2019s prototype. (Photo: Adorj\u00e1n Andr\u00e1s)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The work was supported by Petzn\u00e9 dr. T\u00f3th Szilvia, Head of the Department of Subject Methodology, who served as the thesis supervisor. \u201c The cooperative card game is not based on competition, but on solving problems together. Participants progress by solving various puzzles and tasks, while also developing their ability to cooperate, creativity and logical thinking. The developers also made sure that the game can be replayed and continued on multiple occasions, making it flexible enough to be incorporated into the educational process or enjoyed at home as a leisure activity,\u201d<\/em> she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A wide range of schools, professionals and university students were involved in the testing phase, with particularly encouraging results. According to the feedback and experience gained during testing, the game also had a positive impact on the development of the problem-solving skills of students with special educational needs, as well as those experiencing difficulties with integration, learning or behaviour, while allowing children to consolidate their knowledge in an enjoyable way. The game was also well received by teachers, who found that it could be used effectively both in developmental activities and in talent development programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The School of Mysteries was officially accepted by Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University as an intellectual creation in 2025 and is currently at the practical testing stage. With the involvement of the University\u2019s commercialisation company, Uni Inno Zrt., 15 test copies have been produced to assess the game\u2019s functionality, print production and user experience. The aim is to create a final version that could subsequently be brought to market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe collect all feedback, whether it concerns the gameplay, the quality of the cards or even smaller details that need improvement. Based on this feedback, we refine the product to ensure that it works well in practice and is truly marketable,\u201d<\/em> pointed out V\u00e1gi Korn\u00e9l, Member of the Board of Directors of Uni Inno Zrt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The creators are already planning the next steps. In the future, additional packs covering new areas of mathematics could be developed, and in the longer term, a digital version of the game could also be created. This could ultimately provide the foundation for a comprehensive educational game series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Created: 2026.08.24. 15:01 A thesis by a student studying to become a primary school teacher at Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University has resulted in a board game designed to support the development …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":10519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alumni.sze.hu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-27-1024x683.png\")
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