Siti Nur Rohmah, S. Budi Waluya, Hardi Suyitno, Wardono
This study presents a systematic literature review on mathematics learning media integrating ethno-contextual approaches, immersive technologies (augmented and virtual reality), game-based learning, and teacher-facing digital tools. Peer-reviewed studies published were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using search terms related to mathematics education, ethnomathematics, immersive technology, game-based learning, and digital instructional media. The synthesis indicates that ethno-contextual learning media are frequently associated with improved engagement and conceptual understanding when mathematical ideas are grounded in students’ cultural practices and everyday experiences. Immersive technologies such as AR and VR are reported to support visualization, spatial reasoning, and experiential learning, although reported outcomes vary depending on instructional design quality, cultural alignment, and teacher mediation. Game-based and interactive digital media tend to enhance motivation, self-efficacy, and problem-solving processes, particularly when adaptive feedback and collaborative elements are embedded, while teacher-facing media contribute to formative assessment and pedagogical reflection. The review also identifies recurring methodological limitations across primary studies, including small sample sizes, short intervention durations, and limited longitudinal designs, which constrain the strength of existing evidence. As a contribution, this study advances a conceptual synthesis that critically integrates cultural grounding with digital innovation, highlighting how immersive and game-based technologies can function as cultural amplifiers or cultural risks depending on pedagogical intent and design choices, and providing design-oriented insights for future research, classroom practice, and educational software development. © 2026, Malque Publishing. All rights reserved.
Department of Mathematics, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Central Java, Semarang, Indonesia
