NORTHERN Ireland-made maths learning resource Izak9 has won an award from schools' magazine Teach Primary.
Izak9 has been named best Maths Resource by the respected publication for schools and teachers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
More than 450 products and publications were nominated for honours. A panel of primary subject experts selected 33 resources, bestowing five-star, four-star and three-star prizes in each category.
Izak9, which was developed and is manufactured in Derry, secured five-stars amid tough competition.
The resource consists of a box of cubes with a combination of 27 different colours, numbers and shapes which can be used in conjunction with a vast vault of online support materials. Research has shown that Izak9 has enhanced pupils' performance in maths class by injecting fun into learning.
Melanie Muldowney, judge and chair of the Teaching Committee at the Mathematical Association, praised Izak9.
"The cubes are very tactile, and we couldn't resist coming up with ideas about how we would use them in lessons. The online support material is a massive bonus to the resource - it's very easy to use and to get started took just seconds," she said.
Izak9 creator Franz Schlindwein said the team was delighted and humbled to accept the honour.
A former secondary school teacher, Mr Schlindwein developed Izak9 out of a determination to help "stimulate a mathematical thinking among primary and secondary school children".
"Along with animated assistance from on screen characters Helix and Abacus, Izak9 is changing how maths is being taught in schools around the UK, Ireland and much farther afield," he said.
