Марія Бровінська 29 October 2026, 14:18

"I'm a humanitarian" is no longer a sentence? EdEra tested whether it is possible to change children's attitudes towards mathematics

Ukrainian online education studio EdEra, with the support of the Tokarev Foundation, tested the BigMath platform for learning mathematics. After working with the first eight lessons, the share of correct answers of students in tests increased from 58% to 76%, and in story tasks — from 34% to 69%. At the same time, the pilot showed that the digital tool works more effectively together with the teacher, not instead of him.

Reference

EdEra is a Ukrainian online education studio founded in 2014. The company develops online courses, learning platforms, and educational games for the government, commercial, and public sectors. According to the company, its educational products are used by over 400,000 educators.

Tokarev Foundation is a technology philanthropy foundation that supports projects for human capital development and positive social change, particularly in the areas of EdTech and HealthTech.

Why the team focused on fractions

BigMath is a free platform for learning mathematics that EdEra has been developing since 2025 with the support of the Tokarev Foundation.

Before creating the product, the team conducted research into the reasons why Ukrainian students struggle with math. One of the key findings was that sixth grade can be a defining stage: if a child doesn’t understand fractions, percentages, and proportions, it’s harder for them to master algebra, geometry, physics, and chemistry in later grades.

The problem is also noticeable in the results of international and national assessments. According to PISA-2022, 42% of Ukrainian teenagers did not reach the basic level of mathematical literacy. And according to the results of NMT-2026, almost 40,000 entrants failed mathematics.

Based on the research, EdEra decided to create a tool that would help children not just memorize rules, but also understand how math works in real life.

How BigMat works

The platform is built on the principle of active learning: students make hypotheses, test them, solve problems, and see the practical application of mathematical concepts. For example, instead of abstract exercises with fractions, a child can figure out how to divide a pizza between several people.

BigMat consists of three components:

educational application for children;
ready-made lesson scenarios and teaching materials for teachers;
recommendations for parents.

The team positions the platform not as a replacement for traditional teaching, but as a tool that helps organize learning. The teacher receives ready-made materials for the lesson, and the student has the opportunity to interact with the educational content and practice.

What did the pilot results show?

According to EdEra, after taking BigMath lessons, students performed better on fraction problems.

The percentage of correct answers in the test increased from 58% to 76%. An even more noticeable change occurred in the story tasks: the figure increased from 34% to 69%.

Additionally, 84% of students reported that they had a better understanding of fractions, and 73% would like to learn other math topics in this format.

For the team, this is a signal that interactive learning can help not only with completing typical exercises, but also with understanding how to apply mathematical knowledge to solve practical problems.

At the same time, the results of the pilot should not be automatically transferred to all Ukrainian students: the testing covered a limited number of schools, teachers, and a specific topic — fractions.

Why an app can’t replace a teacher

One of the important findings of the pilot concerns independent learning. Among the 100 students who tested the app without teacher support, only ten completed all eight lessons.

This showed that access to digital material alone may not be enough. When students encounter difficult tasks, they need additional explanations, support, and progress monitoring.

According to pilot participants, working with BigMath with a teacher was valuable for both children and teachers. Therefore, EdEra is developing the platform as an educational ecosystem where digital tools complement classroom work.

The team also pays attention to the psychological side of learning. Fear of making mistakes or beliefs like "I’m a humanist, not a techie" can hinder a child no less than gaps in knowledge. BigMath should help create an environment in which you can try different ways of solving, make mistakes, and gradually gain confidence in your own abilities.

89% of teachers are willing to use the platform regularly

The piloting was intended to test not only the learning outcomes, but also whether it was convenient for teachers to integrate the new tool into their work.

According to EdEra, 79% of teachers spent no more than 15 minutes preparing for a BigMath lesson. Another 89% said they were willing to use the platform regularly.

For the team, this is an important indicator of the practical value of the product: a digital tool should not create additional work for the teacher, but rather offer ready-made materials that can be used during the lesson.

What’s next?

EdEra plans to expand BigMath to other school mathematics topics and different grades. In the next stages, the team wants to involve more schools and partners.

The platform will remain free for children, teachers, and parents, a principle that the team says should make the tool accessible regardless of a family’s location or financial capabilities.

EdEra launches free math app "BigMath." Targeting kids who grew up with constant dopamine from screens