Cantos-Bolaños et al. (2026)
ABSTRACT
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability that directly affects the understanding of
numbers, mental calculation, and the resolution of basic operations, significantly
influencing academic performance and students' motivation toward mathematics. This
condition is not related to a lack of intelligence, but rather to alterations in the cognitive
processes involved in logical-mathematical reasoning, working memory, and numerical
perception. Faced with this challenge, play-based learning activities are proposed as an
innovative educational strategy with an inclusive approach, as they allow for the
transformation of traditional learning into dynamic, participatory, and meaningful
experiences. Through play, students strengthen basic mathematical skills, develop
greater self-confidence, and reduce anxiety about the subject. The objective of this
research was to analyze the impact of play-based learning activities on the mathematical
learning of students with dyscalculia. The study was conducted using a mixed-methods
approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative methods, with a quasi-experimental,
descriptive, and comparative design. This allowed for the evaluation of changes
occurring before and after the implementation of the pedagogical proposal. The
population consisted of 50 primary school students from the Jacinto Valeriano
Educational Unit, located in the 24 de Mayo canton. A non-probabilistic, purposive
sample of six students with a psychoeducational diagnosis of dyscalculia, issued by the
Student Counseling Department (DECE), was selected, prioritizing those cases with the
greatest difficulties in mathematics. The following instruments were used for data
collection: a diagnostic test of mathematical skills (pre-test and post-test) to measure
academic progress; classroom performance observation forms; and semi-structured
interviews with teachers to understand their perceptions of student progress and
participation. The study focused on numerical comprehension, mental calculation,
solving basic operations, and, especially, motivation toward mathematical learning. It is
concluded that the systematic implementation of play-based activities promotes the
development of mathematical skills in students with dyscalculia, strengthening a more
inclusive, participatory educational process adapted to their needs.
Keywords: dyscalculia, recreational activities, educational innovation, mathematical
learning, inclusive education.
1. INTRODUCCIÓN
La enseñanza de la Matemática representa uno de los principales retos del
sistema educativo, especialmente cuando se atiende a estudiantes con
dificultades específicas del aprendizaje como la discalculia. Este trastorno afecta
la adquisición de habilidades numéricas básicas, la comprensión de conceptos
matemáticos y la automatización del cálculo, lo que repercute negativamente en
el rendimiento académico y en la autoestima del estudiante. En los últimos años,
la innovación educativa ha cobrado relevancia como respuesta a las limitaciones
de los enfoques tradicionales de enseñanza, promoviendo metodologías activas
que sitúan al estudiante como protagonista de su aprendizaje (Fullan, 2021). En
este contexto, las actividades lúdicas se han consolidado como una estrategia
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