As a generation closely connected to the world of education and innovation, students play an important role in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the 4th goal on quality education. One concrete step that can be taken is to provide learning media that are innovative, contextual, and scientifically validated for feasibility. Indonesian students’ geometric thinking ability remains a challenge, considering geometry concepts are often taught abstractly without media capable of bridging students’ understanding in a concrete and fun way.
Answering this challenge, Mathematics Education students from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), developed an ethnomathematics-nuanced learning game called “Fortpoli”, which integrates the concept of Game-Based Learning with the local wisdom of Fort Willem I. The development team consists of Rizka, Nizhamuddin Aulia Ahmad, Sheilla Indriana Safira, Sandy Yuniar Pratama, and Faticha Nurul Izza, under the guidance of supervising lecturer Mr. Adi Satrio Ardiansyah, S.Pd., M.Pd.
Systematic Development Process
FMIPA UNNES students present their ethnomathematics innovation, Fortpoli, featuring a board game and digital interface inspired by Fort Willem I.
The development of Fortpoli was not instantaneous. The team designed every game element, from the board and challenge cards to the rules of play, by referring to geometry concepts adapted from the architectural elements of Fort Willem I. Each development stage was systematically arranged so that the material delivered remained aligned with geometry learning outcomes at the junior high school level, while maintaining interactive and fun game elements for the students.
Once the initial design was completed, this learning medium went through a validation stage by expert lecturers and education practitioners before being tested on students, to ensure that Fortpoli is truly feasible to be used as a learning medium in the classroom.
Expert-Validated, Proven Highly Feasible for Use
Students at SMP Negeri 1 Ungaran enthusiastically solve geometry challenges using the interactive Fortpoli board game.
The feasibility test results conducted by expert lecturers and practitioners showed a score of 88.7% with a “Highly Feasible” category. This validation included an assessment of the material and design aspects, as well as the medium’s suitability for students’ characteristics, leading to Fortpoli being declared as meeting the feasibility standards for geometry learning media.
After being declared feasible, Fortpoli was then directly tested at SMP Negeri 1 Ungaran to measure its response and effectiveness. The student response questionnaire recorded a result of 96% with an “Excellent” category, indicating students’ high enthusiasm for this learning medium. In the effectiveness test, the students’ average learning outcome score reached 70.67. The One-Sample Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test analysis showed a significance of 0.904 (>0.05), which proves that the students’ achievements have met the Minimum Completeness Criteria (KKM) standard of 70.
Tangible Proof of Student Contribution to Education
FMIPA UNNES students and SMP Negeri 1 Ungaran students celebrate the successful trial of the Fortpoli learning medium.
Through a mature development process and the expert validation it has undergone, Fortpoli has proven to be highly feasible, practical, and effective in facilitating the achievement of students’ geometry learning completeness. This innovation is expected to serve as a reference for developing ethnomathematics-based learning media in various regions, as well as tangible proof of UNNES students’ active contribution in supporting the improvement of mathematics education quality in Indonesia. The systematic development process and scientific validation undergone affirm the students’ commitment to supporting the achievement of SDG 4 on quality education, by providing learning media that are proven feasible, practical, and effective for students.
