More real life possibilities for Math

After I wrote yesterday's post, I did a bit more research on sites that offer lessons and activities to connect math to the real world and stumbled across this post in Education World.  The author found 24 places on the internet divided into five different areas.  The first, collections of real world math activities, includes one where students from around the country wrote the word problems.  Then there are the online math activities with specific focus, online data sources (authentic data), math collaboration, and more real world math ideas at Education World.
I pulled up a few sites to check them out and was rather impressed with the ones I viewed.  Also some of the sites are no longer viable including one on using math with planes.  I thought this would be of interest to my students but it does not seem to be up and running, so check each one.
On the other hand, I did not see NASA's educational web page with some really awesome problems.
Enjoy.

Algebra Card Clutter

I found this app while I was checking free apps on itunes.  It is focused on helping students learn to order numbers of all types.  When you open the app you have a choice of full course (levels 1-14) or the advanced course (levels 8-14).  Each level focuses on specific numbers such as naturals, integers, fractions,  decimals, absolute values, and square roots.  When you play the game, it will automatically start at the lowest level.  It shows 5 cards with 5 numbers which the players has to tap in order from lowest to highest.  If you select the correct card in the correct order, it will fly off the page.  If you are incorrect, it will not move, so you have to make a different choice.  There are only 5 cards in each level so you would not get a chance to really practice with additional cards.
Although I like the idea, I am not sure I would use this in my classroom as it does not provide enough real practice in ordering numbers.  Many of my students would just touch the cards until they get all the cards off the screen before moving on.  There does not seem to be a mechanism in the app to have students practice different numbers until they are proficient at ordering them.
The only way I see using this is to let students practice a level on the app and then do a worksheet asking them to order the same type of number. 

Barron's Pre-algebra part two

I gave some more thought to the complaint given by reviewers that this app does not identify wrong answers and I realized that most of the time in real life, we do not have answers available to check.  So why not use this app as a way to help students become accustomed to doing the work, checking it and if you are not sure, check your answer with other students.  This is a way of fostering cooperation, checking work, etc.  

this app is primarily for students to work on order of operations and practice using both positive and negative numbers.  It also has problems that use a double negative. Problems start easy and work to the more complex.  I still have to figure out the games you are allowed to play after meeting the 80% mastery level.   

If all else fails have the students show all their work.  Tomorrow, I will get around to reporting on Barron's algebra app.