Exploration Gamification of Trigonometric Equations in High School Studens within the Joyful Learning Framework

Abstract

Trigonometric Equations are often viewed as a daunting prospect for high school students because they demand mathematical creativity and the discipline of memorizing rigid procedural formulas, thus triggering emotional unpreparedness at the beginning of learning. This study aims to explore in-depth the flow of students' emotions through the implementation of interactive gamification-based learning media entitled "Misi Penyelamatan Planet Alpha". Using a qualitative descriptive approach within the Joyful Learning framework, this research observed the behavior, interactions, and affective responses of 34 students of grade XI-2 SMAN 6 Kota Malang for the 2025/2026 academic year. Data were collected through direct observation by peer observers, distribution of questionnaires on the implementation of gamification, and in-depth interviews validated through data triangulation. The results show a dramatic shift in students’ emotional paradigm, a classroom atmosphere that was initially sluggish and passive successfully turning into an addictive, interactive, and cheerful arena of competition.  The integration of trigonometric equations into the narrative of a secret-agent science fiction story successfully changes students’ perceptions of mathematical formulas from a burden of memorization into an urgent key code or instrument for solving contextual problems. Furthermore, three main triggers of students’ intrinsic happiness were found: dramatic narrative responses on the Canva AI platform, the effect of tension from mission success, and the development of learning resilience through intensive group discussions when confronting calculation errors. This study proves that placing students’ happiness and emotional engagement as the top priority is able to produce reasoning processes that are mathematical and meaningful without any element of coercion for students.