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Наталя ХандусенкоStartup
6 June 2025, 08:00
2025-06-06
"I want technology to be useful, not just entertaining and "sleeping" children's attention." A computer science teacher from Poltava region develops children's educational applications for learning the alphabet, works from Kobzar, and mathematics
Igor Denyak has been teaching computer science at school No. 5, Horishni Plavni, since 2018, where they study science and mathematics in depth. In addition to work, he develops programming skills and independently studies various technologies. About a year ago, Igor became interested in Unity Ungine. But it all started with the fact that the students came up with a game and asked their teacher to create it.
The main difference of his developments is the combination of entertainment and benefit, so that children develop at the same time while playing. His students became a source of inspiration and new ideas, as well as the first testers.
Igor Denyak has been teaching computer science at school No. 5, Horishni Plavni, since 2018, where they study science and mathematics in depth. In addition to work, he develops programming skills and independently studies various technologies. About a year ago, Igor became interested in Unity Ungine. But it all started with the fact that the students came up with a game and asked their teacher to create it.
The main difference of his developments is the combination of entertainment and benefit, so that children develop at the same time while playing. His students became a source of inspiration and new ideas, as well as the first testers.
It all started with the game Muhysh, where a fly flies through obstacles.
«About a year ago, children came running to me with a draft in which they drew a scenario for the game „Mukhych“. I said: okay, let’s try it. That’s when I discovered Unity Engine. I created a game for them. Then new thoughts and projects appeared,» says Igor Denyak .
Then he developed the game Pictures in puzzles, which helps children develop thinking and attention, and the classic puzzle 15 Puzzle .
«I want technology to be useful, not just entertaining and ‘sleeping’ children,» says the developer.
«Abetka» — an application for preschoolers to learn the Ukrainian alphabet
Among Igor’s latest developments is the «Alphabet» application, the idea for which appeared a few months ago. It was launched on Google Play two weeks ago, and during this time, without advertising or marketing, it has already had over 50 downloads.
«I don’t know how to advertise my product. In our world, advertising and social networks are of great importance. That is, a marketing approach. But unfortunately, I don’t know how others do it. I like to create more than sell. Although, of course, there is always a sports interest. As a developer, I would like my product to be popular, to bring benefit and joy to people,» says Igor.
The application’s functions are very simple. First, there is the familiarization level — a letter appears, the child hears how it sounds, and sees how it is spelled.
Next comes consolidation. First, you need to collect three puzzles for each letter. For example: A…shark, A…orange, A…aquarium. This will also help the child learn new words.
After the puzzles, the mini-game «Balls» begins. Balls rise up. The task is to find the one with the desired letter.
If you first click on the map of Ukraine, the National Anthem of Ukraine will play and stars will fall.
«I wanted the logic to be simple and easy, which would make it easy to get acquainted with the letters. This game is well suited for preschoolers who are just starting their educational journey. Although even in the fifth grade, children say: I like it, I will play. I hope that then I guessed with the logic and approach.»
The alphabet was voiced by fifth-grade student Alina Shvets. She recorded her voice on a recorder, which was later incorporated into the game.
The app is free to download, but free access is limited to 5 letters.
«Of course, every developer wants to be rewarded for their work. That’s why I decided to add a purchase to Unity: full access to all letters can be obtained for 24 UAH (the price may fluctuate depending on the exchange rate). And even if you delete the application and then download it again, it will still be fully accessible. Although, to be honest, this is more of a sporting interest, I don’t expect to make a lot of money here. This is not the right format.»
Igor works on his developments alone, but says that he still has a team — these are his students who inspire him to new projects.
«Although, of course, they were still young and didn’t directly participate in writing the code and the like. But they constantly supported me, were interested in the process, expressed their opinions, and cheered me on. This inspired me to overcome difficulties, find time, and continue to create.»
There were plans to make alphabets in other languages, but due to low demand, the developer abandoned this idea.
«I’ve also been thinking about an app for learning spellings, so that a child can just use their fingers or a stylus to write on the screen. It would be interactive and fun for first graders and up. But for now, it’s at the level of ideas.»
«Kobzar» application
Igor’s next project was the educational application «Kobzar». It contains eight works by Kobzar, which was released in 1840: «Perebendya», «Do Osnovyanenko», «Dumka», «Kateryna» and others.
In addition, the developer has built a gallery of Shevchenko’s works: watercolors, etchings, portrait paintings. He also added the opportunity to listen to each poem in a modern style, both musically and reciting poems. A link to the prayer of the Azovites, to the video when the guys liberated the Kharkiv region, and under the enemy banner was a Kobzar with the words «Fight — you will win! God helps you!».
«In a word, this is a modern view of the Kobzar and the presentation of our culture to the modern generation. You can leaf through it, read it, listen to it. Because in reality, children didn’t even know that he drew. They don’t know what works he wrote.»
The application also has a mini-game: Taras Shevchenko in a spaceship fights against orcs who are attacking him.
«After 30 orcs, a boss appears… guess who. And so a fairly simple pixel game came out. As a friend of mine said: it turned out to be a lamp.»
This will be a free app on Google Play. There will also be an opportunity to donate 10 or 50 UAH to support Ukrainian development if you like the app.
About plans
Igor also has an idea to develop a game for studying mathematics, «The Adventures of Ostrogradsky» — a world-famous Poltava scientist and mathematician.
«It will be on the Windows platform. For now, I’m just brainstorming. Maybe this time I’ll try to find a team. I plan to start with the fifth grade, and then for other grades. Everything is by the book, according to the structure. In this regard, it’s a little easier for me, because I see the educational process from the inside and interact with children every day. So maybe I’ll be able to feel and implement it better than ordinary developers.»
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