October 2013 Launch of Free Bilingual Mathematical Walk App of NUI Galway’s Campus

App aims to improve the public’s perception of maths, and let them ‘solve’ their way around NUI Galway!

Gafa le Mata, a new bilingual mathematical walk app of the NUI Galway campus was launched yesterday (14^th October) by the University’s Vice-President for Innovation and Performance, Professor Chris Curtin. This free app is designed to help visitors, students and staff to explore and learn about the many mathematical features associated with the campus. This app invites all people, irrespective of mathematical ability, to participate successfully in mathematical problem solving and to be ‘Gafa le Mata’.

Funded by EXPLORE, the development of this bilingual mathematical walk of the campus is the first for NUI Galway and the first to be developed on any third-level campus in Ireland. EXPLORE supports NUI Galway students and staff to collaborate on innovative, new projects to benefit NUI Galway and the wider community.  This project was undertaken with eight BA in Mathematics and Education student teachers. 

Dr Máire Ní Ríordáin, staff partner on the project, emphasised that “by participating in this project, the student mathematics teachers had to work collaboratively together to develop material and content for the app, while also designing the app interface. They developed new skills, while also developing awareness of the potential of mathematical learning taking place outside the classroom and the importance of improving the public perception of mathematics.”

Technical development of the app was carried out by INSIGHT @ NUI Galway (formerly the Digital Enterprise Research Institute). Professor Stefan Decker, Director of INSIGHT, said: “The project demonstrated the multi-disciplinary nature of modern app development that we are embracing at NUI Galway. It was designed by the School of Education, developed at INSIGHT and the main software developer on the project was a recent graduate of the NUI Galway’s Higher Diploma in Software Design and Development (Industry Stream).”   

This app is available and free to download from both the Apple and Android stores.

-Ends-

Aip Dhátheangach Matamaitice Saor in Aisce do Champas OÉ Gaillimh seolta

 Tá súil go bhfeabhsóidh an aip dearcadh an phobail i leith na matamaitice agus go gcuideoidh sé leo a mbealach a éascú timpeall OÉ Gaillimh!

Sheol an Leas-Uachtarán do Nuálaíocht agus Feidhmíocht, an tOllamh Chris Curtin, aip nua dhátheangach matamaitice a threoróidh tú timpeall champas OÉ Gaillimh, Gafa le Mata, inné (14 Deireadh Fómhair). Tá an aip saor in aisce seo deartha chun cuidiú le cuairteoirí, le mic léinn agus le comhaltaí foirne tuiscint níos fearr a fháil ar ghnéithe matamaiticiúla den champas. Cuideoidh an aip seo le gach duine, is cuma cén cumas matamaiticiúil atá iontu, fadhbanna matamaiticiúla a réiteach agus a bheith ‘Gafa le Mata’.

Tá an togra maoinithe ag EXPLORE. Is í an tsiúlóid dhátheangach mhatamaiticiúil seo den champas an chéad cheann dá leithéid forbartha ag OÉ Gaillimh agus an chéad cheann a forbraíodh ar aon champas tríú leibhéal in Éirinn. Cuidíonn EXPLORE le mic léinn agus le comhaltaí foirne OÉ Gaillimh comhoibriú ar thograí nua, nuálacha ar mhaithe le OÉ Gaillimh agus an pobal i gcoitinne. Thug ochtar múinteoir faoi oiliúint ar an BA le Matamaitic agus Oideachas faoin togra seo. 

Dúirt an Dr Máire Ní Ríordáin, páirtnéir foirne ar an togra go raibh ar “na múinteoirí matamaitice faoi oiliúint comhoibriú le chéile chun ábhar a fhorbairt don aip, agus comhéadan na haipe a dhearadh chomh maith. D’fhoghlaim siad scileanna nua, agus fuair siad amach faoi fhoghlaim na matamaitice taobh amuigh den seomra ranga agus an tábhacht a bhaineann le dearcadh an phobail i leith na matamaitice a fheabhsú.”

Rinne INSIGHT@OÉ Gaillimh, ÉIRE (Institiúid Taighde na Fiontraíochta Digití (DERI) roimhe seo) an aip a fhorbairt go teicniúil. Dúirt an tOllamh Stefan Decker, Stiúrthóir INSIGHT: “Léiríonn an togra seo an mianach ildisciplíneach atá i bhforbairt na n-aipeanna nua-aimseartha seo a bhfáiltimid roimhe in OÉ Gaillimh. Dhear Scoil an Oideachais í, d’fhorbair INSIGHT í agus is céimí de chuid an Ard-Dioplóma i nDearadh agus i bhForbairt Bogearraí (An Tionscal) in OÉ Gaillimh a d’fhorbair an bogearra don aip.”   

Tá an aip ar fáil le híoslódáil saor in aisce ó shiopa Apple agus Android.

-Críoch-