A couple of years ago it was all about ABC apps and the types of educational games that were suitable for preschoolers and younger children. Well, as predicted by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center iLearnII Report, elementary school apps have seen a great surge in 2012. The more schools begin to look at the potential and possibilities for tablet devices (most commonly iPads), the more developers are beginning to explore how to meet the needs of students with different learning styles. This is reflected in the growing diversity of math apps out there.
You can find many math apps, but so many of them are simply simulations of the standard math sheet. If parents and schools are investing in apps that simply drill and skill their children and students then that seems to be an expensive investment in touch technology to me. Of course, the ability for many drill and skill apps to be adjusted, allowing you to change the setting to a child's level, is clever, but given what these "revolutionary" devices offer, I think we can expect more.
Consider also that many math apps that are drill and skill don't require you to show any working out and usually offer multiple choice selections. There is no way of demonstrating that a child actually understands the mathematical principles behind the answer they have given. So to date, many math apps are useful additions to helping children consolidate their numeracy, but there is still a way to go before mobile devices are actually really supporting deep learning in mathematics.
All that said, there are many fantastic math apps that meet the needs of kinesthetic learners and present math in engaging and entertaining ways. I have played probably over 50 different primary math apps in the last couple of months. These are the ones I highly recommend.
Motion Math (Motion Math Games): $1.99
The original and the benchmark when it comes to math apps. The arrival of this addictive fractions game that has all the hallmarks of a Tetris or Angry Birds has set a standard that is welcomed. The consequence of the early development of this app is that many other developers have been working to develop similar apps that engage children through physical gameplay that requires you to move the phone or engage in immersive gameplay.
Motion Math requires you to tilt your phone so that you move a ball that has a fraction or decimal in the middle. You are trying to land the ball on the right spot on the number line below. Very simple. Highly addictive. Even for adults.
Rocket Math (Dan Russell-Pinson): $0.99
Another original from Dan Russell-Pinson. This app has so many educational aspects that link to different mathematical and creative skills it is a must have on any primary student's mobile device. Basically, you have to build a rocket using money. You launch that rocket and in space you have the ability to find the solutions to a math problem. The more solutions you find, the more money you earn. When you crash down to earth you can spend that money on building a better rocket, which allows you to spend more time in space and answer more math problems. When you crash, you again spend your money on a better rocket and the cycle continues. The fact the game reinforces the desire to have a better rocket, which allows you to spend more time on math, is very clever. This app is a favorite of students I've seen, which is why it seems to spend a lot of time in the Top 100 paid educational apps category.
Marble Math (Artgig Studios)
A new math app from Artgig Studios. They have adapted the standard marble run game into a well designed and thoughtful math game. It requires both game skill to be able to roll the marble and math skill to understand and come up with the solution of where to roll it. The questions offer a range of styles that are numerical and visual and, beyond just providing multiple choice answers, the students actually have to collect different numbers that help complete the answer. This is great as there are many and varied answers and the students have to actually understand the solution to the problem, as guessing like you would on multiple choice will not help you progress. This is a great new math app in the iTunes Store and great for children aged 8-9 years especially.
NumberStax (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt): $1.99
This is a fantastic Tetris-style game that requires you to drop numbers and mathematical symbols into a grid system to create complete equations. When you successfully complete an equation that row disappears and you get more points and more time in the game. A very nice mathematical adaptation of Tetris.
DragonBox (We Want to Know AS): $2.99
Haven't heard about it yet? Read the GeekDad article, then download this algebra app. You still don't get the theory here (but you don't in any math apps at this stage) - but these guys are the Motion Math for 2012.
MathGeometry (Great Software Lab): $1.99
The MathGeometry iPad App is designed with the foundation of math and physics concepts integrated with fun, innovation and aesthetic touch. The app helps younger children learn the concept of triangles in a seamless way through a unique and fun platform game that uses Doodle Jump functionality with triangles. Older children who are masters of the basics of triangles can accelerate their knowledge in a challenging bonus game. It is a cleverly designed and focused app on geometry. More could be done in this space, given the functionality of touchscreen devices; these folks have set the standard.
Roman Backgammon (eoz games): $2.99
This simple backgammon game is well designed to teach children a whole range of mathematical concepts, and backgammon at the same time. It is tools like this one that would be better served in classrooms than simple drill and skill apps. It is a simulation of a board game, but in a class setting the fact you won't lose pieces or have arguments over who has moved what where can be a useful thing. I include this app because I want to encourage more parents and teachers to use these tools as ways to engage and talk with children about math, not just as way to make us feel better by providing a game that has some educational content. Children will learn best when engaged with the screen and other people simultaneously. So, why not do it over a math game like this one?
