32 HD by Applicable2U

32 HD

by William Gann

Have you ever played the card game Blackjack? It is one of the more popular casino games played all around the world. Known as a banking game in which the aim of the player is to achieve a hand whose points total nearer to 21 than the banker’s hand, but without exceeding 21. You might be wondering why I am referring to a casino game on an educational app review website. This is an excellent question! The game of Blackjack requires players to think on their toes, to add numbers quickly and to leave feeling like a winner. In January of this year, app developer William Gann, created a math application that is simply called 32. While reviewing this educational app, the card game Blackjack came to mind. This very fast paced educational game, 32, also requires players to be on their toes and to use a great deal of thinking in order to be successful. Designed for your iPad device running iOS 3.2 or later, late elementary to even adults will be challenged by this number game.

Amazingly, it is filled with 5 levels of difficulty with over 200 mathematical puzzles in which players must use their higher order thinking skills as it meets a number of math standards along the way.  Although there isn’t a banker per say, the objective is quite the same as Blackjack. The only difference, with only four to five cards, a players total must be equal to 32. Each level within the game builds upon the mathematical concept of the orders of operation. When solving an equation that implements multiple operations, there is a rule that one must follow. Like reading a book, we read from left to right. This same rule applies when solving a mathematical equation, while also keeping in mind what many educators and students know as PEMDAS. PEMDAS is short for “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” an acronym for: parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, adding and subtracting. Regardless of which level is chosen, players are timed, not in the traditional sense, but rather by point value. Upon entering a level, players will see 4-5 colored cards, a fill in the blank equation and a countdown in the upper left hand corner. The countdown begins, not surprisingly, at 3200 points. The quicker you drag and drop cards into the correct position, the more points you earn. Scores are stored within the application based on the highest points earned within each level.

Come up to the chalkboard and show off what you know at each level. 32 is not difficult to navigate. As you enter the classroom, players will be provided general directions on “How to Play” as well as written tutorials upon entering each leveled game. Levels are clearly defined prior to game play. While manipulating cards and solving puzzles in levels 1 – 3, players will have access to only four moveable playing cards in which to get an equation equalling 32. It is important to note, that levels progressively incorporate the orders of operation.

Level 1 – consists of puzzles involving only addition.
Level 2 – consists of puzzles involving adding and subtracting.
Level 3 – consists of puzzles involving adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and parentheses.

Upon entering Level 4, players will immediately notice a slight change in the number of cards available. Instead of four moveable cards, players now have to manipulate and build an equation containing five numbers equalling 32. Puzzles in Level 4 contain the same available operations as level 3. The final challenge happens in Level 5, when players must manipulate four numbers to equal a total of 32 as it integrates all aspects of the orders of operation, exponents included.

There are a number of things that Applicable2U likes about this math application. As software becomes obsolete due to more and more schools implementing mobile devices in school, an application like 32 will certainly have a place in a classroom, on the go, or at home. It very nicely fits the late elementary curriculum standards and can stimulate the oldest of minds. 32 would work as a center activity or part of a whole group lesson with your iPad connected to a large screen projector as mathematical conversations are sparked. Or use just to stimulate ones mind at home in order to reinforce and master skills being taught at school.  Although we are an advocate of the game, there are some things we hope the developers will take into consideration when looking at their next update.

- Might it be possible for those just learning this mathematical skill or who need additional support to incorporate something like a video screencast or jing video modeling the solving procedures prior to playing. By integrating this added feature, your mobile application will be differentiating the learning for all students.

- Also, have you thought about allowing for multiple accounts within the application.  As puzzles are solved, might it be possible to include a username submission box which stores the Top 10 scores within each level.  Thus showing progress made by multiple users.

- For some students or users, the point value timer may be overwhelming.  Might it be possible to set the timer as an option that can be set to on/off as needed.  As suggested by one of our students, the point timer could even be invisible.  It is not until the game is done that this numerical value appears.  In addition, to continue on the theme of added support, might a scratch pad be made available in which users can jot down their work.  As players moved onto levels 4 and 5, this scratch pad feature could become locked after so many attempts at opening it up.

Overall, Applicable2u gives the educational math app 32, two thumbs up!  We have been on the look out for supplemental activities to reinforce such math skills and believe that we have found a winner in 32!!  We were amazed to see that it only costs .99¢ to download to our iPad device.  If you would like to learn more about William Gann, please visit his website here.  It’s time to stimulate your brain and apply known number facts as you follow the orders of operation while playing 32 in the palm of your hands, click here to download today!

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Melon Truck by Applicable2U

Melon Truck
By Batuhan Akalin

Several days ago, across my Twitter feed, an unusually named application caught my eye.  It was called Melon Truck.  Quickly looking at the description within iTunes, the screen shots intrigued the parent/teacher inside me.  If you are familiar with people who get a kick out of launching pumpkins from a cannon, then Melon Truck will become your next addiction.  If you know anything about Applicable2U, then you know that downloaded applications to any of my Apple devices has to have a reason.  So immediately I began to wonder, could this puzzle/arcade game have any educational component involved within it.   Through my own exploration and having spoken to a fifth grade teacher and tutor, the answer is most certainly, YES!!

How does the application work:  Prior to playing, the user might find it helpful to view the “How to Play.”  From this screen, users will understand how to aim the cannon by  increasing/decreasing the speed that the melon will be launched and the angle at which the cannon can be aimed.  To apply the information learned, play will begin in Duruyo Land, which is made up of 27 levels of play.  Levels will unlock after the player achieves a score of 1600 or a perfect score of 3000.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Don’t be fooled.  If you recall, Applicable2U described this puzzle/arcade game as your newest addiction.  Within each level, the melon truck and cannon are strategically placed within what appears to be a field.  Aboard your truck you will only have 3 melons to shoot.  Floating in the sky are numerical baskets ranging from 500-1000 points.  At the bottom of the screen are two indicators: an angle and speed indicator.  Set these two components and let the melon go.  But be warned that there are  a number of obstacles that will stop the user from achieving their goal of unlocking the next level.  By hitting a red negative circle, a random amount of points will be lost. If the melon hits a blue question mark circle, it is uncertain as to whether this will be a good or bad thing for your score.  Sliding from side to side are moving baskets which will unfortunately subtract 500 points from your total.  Lastly, placed very closely to those earning baskets are rotating bars and charcoal gray circles which can also interfere with your success.   Although 1600 points doesn’t sound like a whole lot, achieving that number is rather difficult.  If a player chooses, levels may be re-entered so as to increase your total points earned within Duruyo Land.  If you are lucky enough to earn a perfect score throughout Duruyo Land, three additional levels will be unlocked.  Although Applicable2U was not successful enough, it does appear that the Melon Truck will also travel to another location, Oynuyo Land.  From the developers description within iTunes, 6 additional bonus levels can be unlocked, however, a perfect score must be achieved.  Guess I know what I will be doing this summer.  So where does the educational component fit in?

How To Integrate Into A Math Class Setting:  Regardless of what grade level, a number of mathematical processes need to be embedded into all mathematical strands.  Such processes include students being able to: reason, communicate, make connections, problem solve and to create and use representations.  As students enter fifth grade and above, they are required to understand and apply the concepts of rate, speed and probability.  Once mathematical concepts are taught, mobile learning can then be implemented and reinforced with the help of Melon Truck.  A possible way to integrate within a lesson or even at home would be to supply students with a recording sheet.  Prior to playing, ask students the following questions: What predictions might they make upon seeing each level of play?  What combination of angle and speed might be the most successful?  Through individual exploration, have students record their predictions on a recording sheet and to then test them out.  Once students have played, it might be interesting to connect your  iPad device to a large screen and discuss as a class what made each person successful or not within each level.

So what did my fifth grade students say about Melon Truck?  Initially, I had two students testing the application out.  As they played, other students heard them whooping and hollering and wanted to know what they were up too.  As I just sat back and watched, all I could hear was – “this application is addicting and challenging. I am going to download it when I get home.” “Exploring math this way is so much more interesting than the book.”  As they finished, I asked them what they would change about the game?  In a future update, they indicated that more melons would be appreciated, that 3 just was not enough.  On several occasions, some melons bounced back towards the cannon and my students wondered might it be possible for those to be reused, as they didn’t drop to the ground.  If additional melons were not an option, might a “power up” be acquired for achieving a certain score.

Regardless of these suggestions being implemented or not, my students and I were very impressed with what Melon Truck has to offer.  Although it may be categorized as a puzzle/arcade game within iTunes, from a teacher’s point of view, it’s just an added bonus that it happens to also apply to the math curriculum for those in late elementary school.  If you would like to see what Batuhan Akalin is up to, please  visit his Facebook page by click here.  Or you can take on a new addiction by downloading Melon Truck from your iTunes library here.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com