PENPlay has launched a new portfolio of gamified learning tools developed under licence from the North-West University (NWU), offering learners, educators and training institutions innovative ways to build critical skills through interactive play-based learning.
Prof. Petro Erasmus showcases one of the digital games.
By Vukosi Mathale
The launch, held at the NWU Mahikeng Campus and co-hosted by the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office, showcased four flagship products designed to support learning and personal development across different age groups.
At the centre of the portfolio is Let's Really Play Maths, developed by Prof. Petro Erasmus from the NWU Faculty of Health Sciences. The game-based learning tool aims to address mathematics anxiety and help learners develop confidence in the subject.
"Many children develop negative perceptions of mathematics from a very young age, which can affect their confidence and future academic choices," said Prof. Petro. "Let's Really Play Maths creates positive learning experiences that allow children to engage with mathematical concepts playfully and enjoyably."
The portfolio also includes a number of other games, which PENPlay commercialises under licence: Commercium, a real-world business and economics simulation game for senior high school and university students, which was developed by Prof. Jaco Fouché at the School of Accounting Sciences; PENtrepreneur, which introduces entrepreneurship concepts to younger learners and was developed by Janu Fouché (Prof. Jaco’s son) and FutureReady, a game adapted from an original design by the Bunt brothers (Prof. Byron and Dr Lance) to develop workplace skills such as communication, adaptability, collaboration and critical thinking.
Let’s Really Play Maths is available in desktop and digital versions, while the others are only available in desktop versions for now. The event also introduced the PENPlay Ecosystem App, a digital platform where subscription-based access is available.
According to Dr Joe Molete, deputy vice-chancellor for Student Life, Transformation, People and Culture (SLTPC), with assigned function for the Mahikeng Campus, the launch marks an important milestone in making university-developed innovations more accessible to communities.
"The launch of the PENPlay portfolio is an important milestone in making research-based educational innovations accessible to a wider audience," said Dr Joe. "These products demonstrate the power of transforming academic research into practical tools that support learning, skills development and future readiness. And then we are developing an entrepreneurial professor, to boot!"
The launch reflects the growing recognition of game-based learning as an effective way to improve learner engagement, confidence and knowledge retention. Through its licensing agreements with the NWU, PENPlay aims to expand access to these educational tools across schools, universities, training institutions and organisations. The next target markets include Namibia and the UK.
For more information, visit: https://linktr.ee/adminlrpm or contact info@penplay.co.za
