Developing and Evaluating the Numathica Digital Learning Environment: Traditional Javanese Culture with Challenge-Based Learning for Numeracy Literacy

Sintya Maharani (Universitas Negeri Semarang)
Detalia Noriza Munahefi (Universitas Negeri Semarang)

AlphaMath: Journal of Mathematics Education
Alphamath: Vol. 12, No. 2, November 2026

Numeracy literacy is an important competency that supports students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Objectives: This study aims to develop and examine the validity, practicality, and effectiveness of Numathica, a digital learning environment integrated with Challenge-Based Learning and traditional Javanese culture, to improve students' numeracy literacy. Novelty: The novelty of this study lies in integrating traditional Javanese cultural games, particularly jemparingan, plintheng and uncal karet, into an interactive digital learning environment to provide contextual mathematics learning experiences. Urgency: This development responds to the relatively low numeracy literacy of junior high school students in Indonesia, highlighting the need for innovative and contextual learning media. Contribution: This study contributes to mathematics education by providing an interactive website that connects mathematical concepts with traditional Javanese culture through Challenge-Based Learning. Methods: This study employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using the ADDIE model, which consists of Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation stages. The participants were 64 eighth-grade students from SMP Negeri 2 Semarang, assigned to one experimental groups and one control group using cluster random sampling. Data were collected through validation sheets, student response questionnaires, tests, and interviews, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, N-Gain analysis, and independent-samples t-test. Findings: The results indicated that Numathica achieved a validity score of 86% (very valid) and a practicality score of 88.40% (very practical). The experimental group achieved an N-Gain score of 0.61, compared with 0.34 in the control group. Furthermore, the independent-samples t-test revealed a significant difference (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Numathica is a valid, practical, and effective digital learning environment for supporting the improvement of students' numeracy literacy.