Candy Factory Educational App for iPads

Virginia Tech has gotten into the app game by releasing several math apps designed to help middle school students.  Two of the apps seem to be set up so you complete one app and move on to the other app so today, I am checking out the Candy Factory educational app for iPads.  The idea behind the app is that you are now a worker at a candy factory and it is your job to fill orders properly.

The order comes in and its shown at the bottom and you as the worker select the proper type of candy out of three different types.  Each type of candy has three more choices so you are selecting from nine varieties.  Once you select the type of candy, you have to select the number of pieces of candy you want to break the whole piece into.
 The order I had, required the dark square candy with four squares and the customer's order was for two, so I selected the option to divide the piece into two pieces.  The program then requires you to make a copy of the pieces so the size can be automatically measured.  If it is the correct size, you are allowed to package it up for shipping.  Note the box at the center of the third photo graph.  If it is right, you move on to the next order, if not the boss tells you that you messed up.


You are expected to work through the orders which means you work your way up several levels, each level requiring more.  This app is rather intriguing in that the learning is placed within a real world context rather than being a zappy game.

There is a tutorial to walk the student through learning the game and they can access help once they are in the game.  I click on the box and it grew with an arrow showing me I needed to put the candy in the box.   

This app is for later elementary or early middle school but it could easily be used for scaffolding with high school students who are behind. 

Warning, there is another Candy Factory app out by the same people which I have but I am still figuring it out.

functns

The other day, I went looking for free apps to help my students learn more about functions and I found functns.  Turns out that functns is designed to help students learn their multiplication tables rather than work on the idea of relations vs functions.

The student works on a 12 by 12 multiplication grid. They select a cell and type in the correct answer to move on.  If they put in the wrong answer, it appears in red to let them know it is incorrect.  They can go in order or move around the board.  As they work their way through the board, they receive little awards for accuracy.

The app keeps track of the time they are using to complete the grid and it has a count down timer so they know how many answers they have left.

It is not a fancy app nor does it have all the bells and whistles that other apps have.  It is straightforward and I like that.  This app is only designed to test their memory for their times tables. 

I believe this would be good for grades 4 to around 8 or higher if the student needed extra practice in the higher grades.

Mabble

I downloaded several apps to check out so this is the first review of the lot.  Mabble is a free app which helps students develop number sense. You are given a number on the playing board and several below in the racks.  From the items below, you are to put together an equation that works.  In this case the answer would be 1 + 2 = 3

If your answer is correct, you are told good job and it allows you to redo the level or move up.   As you progress, the problems get more complex and require more thought.

The app requires you to use all the different signs and numbers to create multiple threads that are woven together as in the picture labled 1-9.

I like this because it is a puzzle and it is challenging.  For some of my students, they will struggle with it while others will enjoy the challenge.  I think I will try this will my older students to see how they do.

Differentials

I found a lovely little app called Differentials.  This app shows the steps needed to do take a simple derivative.  As stated, it shows students the basics of differentiating in a step by step manner with arrows and fill in the blanks.  Each step is shown in a concise manner.

 There is a written explanation to accompany each step along with a visual so the student is able to see where each number comes from.  I really like that.  In addition, there are two practice problems and a short multiple choice quiz so students can test their knowledge. 


I love the way the steps are illustrated but I do not like that it only has the one demonstrated example but they can go through the example as many times as they like.  Unfortunately, the practice problems are limited and if you go through the quiz again, the problems are the same.  I would love to see additional practice problems so students can try a variety of problems and get the instant feedback.

Math Games

I found a nice little site on the web called Math Games.  This website covers grades pre-k to 8th.  It offers practice in two ways.  When you first go to the site, you have a choice of 5 games to play.   It doesn't matter which game you select because it is designed to ask the player for their grade.  On some, you are also asked to choose which topic to work on.

I selected the Math Missile game at the eight grade level  I had the choice of decimals, fractions, algebra or equations.  I selected algebra and I was off and running.

The idea is that I answer questions correctly and each correct answer causes a missile gets shot out of the sky.  For each missile I hit, I accumulate points/dollars.

The points can be used to upgrade facilities.  I don't know if this website will work on ipads but it does work on computers.

I noticed I spent quite a bit of time focused on the math and not the game so I'm not sure how the students will react to it.  What I like best about this site is that I do not have to join it to access the actual games or at least 5 of them.  I do like that I can choose topics and a grade level. This site will be great for my lower performing pre-algebra students.