Math Evolve by Applicable2U

Math Evolve

By Zephyr Games and Interaction Education

“On a distant plant, there lives a colony of rapidly evolving creatures, using math, they learned to harness the power of the universe and to control the world around them. However these math secrets are being lost due to a hostile alien force. You have been brought on to learn, evolve and save our planet from destruction.”  This is how the story begins when your first – sixth grader steps into a whole new evolution called Math Evolve by Zephyr Games.  With so many states moving towards implementing the Common Core standards, teachers and parents need to be aware of alternative ways of reinforcing these standards so as to make them more knowledgeable and skillful learners.  With a video game like feel, Math Evolve is designed for your any Apple device running iOS 3.0 or later.  Travel to unknown places as you cross environments such as the ocean, space and under the eyes of a microscope.  Through this journey your mathematician will be gaming for a reason as they improve their math fluency, number sense and mental math skills.

Come aboard this lively adventure as Math Evolve allows for multiple users to make an attempt at saving our planet.  Math Evolve is equipped with two modes of play: story and practice mode. Each provides the user a challenging experience as they evade and destroy the enemies.  The story can begin to be told based on a particular users mathematical needs.  Math is broken in three levels of difficulty: easy, medium and hard.  In addition, games can be further challenged as you decide whether to play as a beginner, advanced and expert.  Initially there are only 3 levels unlocked, with success additional levels are opened.  With a total of 12 levels and three environments, creatures (players) will not be zoning out with this educational video game.  The traditional way of learning your facts, flash cards or worksheets has come into the 21st century skills.  Immediately teachers, parents and students will see that in order to save Earth, students are answering problems in a variety of ways. Solve problems as basic math facts (7+3=__) or fill in the missing blank (__+ 3 = __ and 7 + ___ = ___) and make your own equation (___ + ___ = ___).  A very interesting feature of getting players to understand the properties of math: associative or communicative.  As the story is being told, you will notice your character transforming as he saves the planet and defeats the 18 enemies.  Use your fine motor skills as you drag this small alien creature backwards, forwards and sideways to pop the correct answer or build your own equation. Correct answers are visualized with a green checkmark and incorrect answers will be indicated with a red x.  In story mode, play moves pretty quickly that users might not realize until the end of the game that they have lost points or energy for wrong answers.

As you play the practice mode, users will notice that the threat of enemies is no longer present.  Within this mode of play, players now have the choice to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and combinations of +/- and x/÷.  In addition, players now have the option to change the game play up a bit.  Set your solutions with a minimun and maximum number, turn negative numbers on/off and alter the number of questions that need to be answered.  A note to the developers - might it be possible to change the scrolling feature to be more exact based on what the user wants, possibly with arrows up and down rather than a bar feature.  As an adult, I found setting these numbers was rather difficult.  When practicing multiplication and/or division, players will be able to truly hone in on areas of need or reinforce as they can set the factors seen during game time.  Landscapes will be familiar minus the distractions.  In this mode of play, your little alien will be expected to catch one of four amebas.  If correct, players will be rewarded with a green checkmark.  If however, the answered if passed or incorrectly chosen a new component has been added, a tutor feature. The tutor feature has a calculator like  appearance with the ability to see the challenging equation one more time without being in motion.  A few additional notes to the developers – it would great to add in the early stages of the practice mode a slower pace as users just learning their math facts, the pace may seem a bit fast.  In addition, Applicable2U would love to see equations written slightly differently or at least given an option to alter how they are written.  We immediately noticed that 1 digit factors or addends were written as 2 digits.  This may confuse children as this is not how it is presented in school or on homework assignments.  This format may also challenge students that are dyslexic. With the quick pace of solving, they may see 02 as 20, thus changing the solution of the problem.

Overall, Applicable2U enjoyed their experience with this educational app.  It has a great deal of academic potential for all parties involved: parents, teachers and students.  With detailed reports which are generated based on the various modes of play, future instruction can then be individualized for each child or student.  When your child is gaming via a DS or Wii, what are they getting out of the experience?  Was the dollar value truly worth it?  When they game via their mobile device as they play Math Evolve, they will not only be evolving as a savior of our planet, but they will be evolving their mathematic skills as well for only $1.99.  Definitely worth the price!  If you would like to learn more about Zephyr Games, please visit their website here.  Start learning and evolving today by simply downloading Math Evolve to your iTunes library here.

Reviewers website:  www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Math Ninja Lite by Applicable2U

Math Ninja Lite
by Kittypad

Last week via my Twitter feed, Math Ninja Lite was brought to my attention. With anime like characters, users can become “the master of their domain” as they learn, practice and reinforce the basic concepts of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. With this lite version, children ages 6-12 will be challenged as they “slice” not only right answers but also the wrong ones as well. As both a parent and a teacher, I have to admit I was slightly concerned about the possibilities of violence being integrated within the app due to the ninja reference. Having these two roles, I sometimes want to “shelter” my students and my son from certain things. Is that wrong? Does the word “ninja” always have to have a negative connotation? Based on student tests, Math Ninja Lite will not provide a user any form of violence but rather an opportunity to learn while having fun as they navigate through 15 games and 4 levels of difficulty.

With so many applications out there that reinforce basic concepts of math in adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing, how is Kittypad setting themselves apart from their competition? First, keeping to the ninja like theme, users must select their mode of attack. When making this decision, immediately, users will notice the “weapons” appear as the shape of the mathematical concept to be learned within that level. A very clever approach! Second, unlike any other educational app that I have reviewed, Math Ninja Lite has children thinking about math in various ways. Throughout any mathematical program, skills develop or build upon each other. Within some programs, basic number facts are integrated in a variety of other areas, leaving the old approach of memorization behind. With this app, levels can be broken down further as true (an equal symbol) and false (not equal symbol) number statements. Since “play” does not occur on a timer, users can choose to give themselves one or multiple opportunities to get the right answer. Simply select the chain link button by setting it to broken (single choice) or unbroken (multiple choice). This mode of learning will open new challenges on each return visit. Players will be problem solving mentally while their fingers do the tapping. Numbers will fly up fast, but they are quick to return. With a giggle from your ninja, points are earned while tears indicate an incorrect answer. Not to worry, those incorrect number facts will be randomly selected again and can be mastered. Within the “not equal” play mode, users simply tap those answers that would make the number sentence incorrect leaving only the right number in the air. Although it happens very quickly, the unequal number sentence will transition to an equal mathematical sentence. A note to the developers - might it be possible to slow that transition down a bit within the earlier stages. In addition, it might be interesting to even incorporate a pop up window showing the comparison for further reinforcement, again within the first few levels.

Math Ninja Lite is for all early to late elementary students, boys and girls. When asked to explore, my students found this app very appealing. They did mention that it might be cool to see more ninja like scenes, like a dojo or even a temple. In addition, they thought for those really looking to master their skills, that a timer might be a nice added touch. With only 4 levels within the free version, Math Ninja Lite truly shows off the positive educational aspects that it can provide users. Whether you are a parent, home schooler, or educator it might be time to slice up on ones math with either Math Ninja Lite or Math Ninja by Kittypad. Simply click their links to begin downloading from your iTunes library today! To learn more about Kittypad, please visit their website here.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Bubbling Math by Applicable2U

Bubbling Math
By Tappy Taps

If you aren’t a part of the Twitter world, you will want to begin today. It’s how Applicable2U found our next educational app to review. Bubbling Math was recently launched in the App Store last week. A math application that will encourage your student or child to love math in a fun way. There are several apps out there that work on the four operations, however, Bubbling Math has set themselves apart. It will provide an early experience for those in kindergarten and support/reinforce those in 1st-5th grade. In addition, parents and yes even teachers will gain valuable information from the “parent report card” of user success.

Graphically appealing with a very kid friendly design, the youngest of users will be able to manipulate as they develop addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  Lets explore math as we visit the countryside, islands and snowlands.   The countryside is your first stop on this fantastic trip of math.  As you successfully play, new locations will be unlocked.  Before exploration can begin within Bubbling Math, users, parents and educators should be aware that this educational app is here to help in a variety of ways. For example, within the parent options, game speed can be changed with each experience from slow, normal and fast. In addition, games and results can be reset as users become more familiar with number facts within each operation.  Having the ability to reset games and results shares with all parties the progress that has been made over a period of time.  The math wizard report card provides parents and educators a very clean and clear break down of where struggles have occurred which will guide future instruction in the classroom or with a parent.  Applicable2uU loves the “Siskel and Ebert” thumbs up and thumbs down way of sharing correct and incorrect answers.  Differentiation of instruction is extended as tasks can be configured to meet the “tappers” needs. Each math operation has four levels of difficulty, ranging from easy to very hard.  With one or more quick tap, simply select those mathematical area(s) that you want to focus on.  As math concepts are presented and learned, Tappy Taps is aware that a users mathematical understanding or level of difficulty may vary.   To appeal to all learners, a student or child’s mastery level can be set differently within each operation. Now that the preferences have been set, it’s time to travel the countryside.

Magic Glade is the first stop of 9 levels of exploration.  An adorable wizard will guide you on your untimed tour as you develop a solid understanding of the four operations.  As problems are solved correctly, he will verbally reinforce the user with a quick shout out of some kind and with a tap of his magic wand, a trophy will begin to form.  However, if incorrect answers are tapped, users will loose a heart which will bring tears to the wizards eyes.  If at anytime a user wants to change something about his/her experience, simply press the pause button in the lower left hand corner.  Here sound or music can be turned off/on.  If tasks appear to be too challenging, simply press the operations button in the lower right hand corner and levels of difficulty can be changed.  A note to the developer – As we explored, a few questions did come to mind.  Might it be possible to add a scratch pad like option that would allow users to work out the problem with those strategies taught in the classroom.  In addition, I wonder what possibilities might be made available to classrooms incorporating iPads by allowing multiple accounts within the application.  If incorporated, might a teacher be able to then email or share results with parents upon their request or even during conference time(s).

Overall, Applicable2U loves how Tappy Taps has extended a very basic mathematical concept to meet the needs of several grade levels in just one download.  Bubbling Math provides the user a positive and fun math experience, which will guide them to solve multiple digit problems, when ready of course, within all operations in a rote fashion.  To learn more about Tappy Taps please visit their website here.  Already “bubbling” over the possibilities that this application has for your home or classroom, then begin downloading Bubbling Math by visiting your iTunes libraryhere.

Reviewers website:  www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Math Park HD - Overall Educational Value = B

App Title: Math Park HD

Grade Level: Lower Elementary and Toddler

Purpose: B+

Program Functionality: B

Overall Educational Value: B

Cost: $1.99

Recommendation: Clean up the first counting concept. Why do you need the gopher in there?  How does it add to the concept?  Also, the student I worked with found it very strange the bear was on skates and yet riding on the grass.  With that being said,

Classroom Use Examples / Ideas: This could be a nice app for stations, extra practice for individual students.

Developer Website: http://duckduckmoosedesign.com/educational-iphone-itouch-apps-for-kids/park-math

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/park-math-hd-by-duck-duck-moose/id403939208?mt=8

Reviewer Name: Scott Meech

Hey, check out our Ning (Online Community) devoted to helping teachers utilize these devices to the their fullest.  Please leave a comment if you agree, disagree, or have other creative uses for this app in the classroom, etc.



Math Facts - Practice Apps - Late Elementary

Recently, teachers have had success with the following math facts practice apps.  These are the titles that you can search in the app store. These apps have been effective for late elementary grades 3 to 5.

        1.      Column Addition
        2.      Column Subtraction
        3.      Column Division
        4.      Motion Math
        5.      Basic Math
        6.      Kids Math Fun - fifth grade
        7.      Fun Math Division
        8.      Fun Math Multiplication
        9.      Math Dr. Lite
        10.    Number Line
        11.    Fraction Math
        12.    Fractions

Here are some resources to check out as well:

1. 28 App Reviews - Math:  http://www.iear.org/iear/tag/math

2. Kenilworth Apps on our iPods:  https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Al9YirPAROMDdHhVWF93elRid2d5d0VFdEhmMzcyVWc&hl=en

3. 5 Math Apps:  http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/04/5-basic-math-apps-for-the-iphone-and-your-kids/