Teaching Probability with a Coin Toss App by Kathy Burdick

The flip of a coin can be handy in many situations, even teaching probability, but it can be time consuming to sort through the many coin toss apps available on the market. Mobile iEducator has reviewed several coin toss apps so you don’t have to. So here is the list of apps downloaded and reviewed:

• Coin Flip Free by iHandySoft, Inc.
• Heads Tails by Splaysoft, LLC
• Coin Flipper Lite by Cory Bohon
• Heads or Tails, Coin Flip by Omer Tari
• WristPop Coin Toss- Free by Gidigo
• Coin Toss Lite by ideaFloat Technologies

It seems a coin toss would be a coin toss but all of these apps are different and if you are using it to teach probability basic is better. WristPop Coin Toss is highly recommended for teaching basic probability. It is more interactive than the other apps available with the option to shake your device (the way you would toss a coin, but without letting go) to toss the coin. The harder you shake your device the higher the coin goes with more rotations. This interactivity will likely keep students more engaged. Heads or Tails, Coin Flip offers a handy feature that tracks the outcome of your last 10 flips. Handy, but not necessary since students will typically track their own outcomes. Personally, I have been waiting for an app that offers a double coin toss, which is excellent for teaching probability. Heads Tails is the closest app I can find. It does offer a double coin toss, but is a game called 2-Up. If you have 2 heads or 2 tails you win otherwise you lose. If you are teaching basic probability the best apps are WristPop Coin Toss or Heads or Tails, Coin Flip. Loose the dirty coins and use a coin toss app instead!

Reviewer's Website: Mobile iEducator