Lukas Karch
MAT326
Dr. Day
Mobile App Assignment
Mobile App Description
· “Mathical Volume 1”
· Developed by StusApps
· Sold by Stuart Lowe
· Costs $1.99
· http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/mathical-vol-1 - StusApps profile
· This app is for elementary aged students who need work on their basic development with mental math in forms of addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, fractions, and place value ordering. This app takes all of those topics and uses them in a “fun” game-like way to challenge children while keeping them engaged. There are 5 different game modes: “slime climb multiples” (multiplication), “fraction reaction” (fractions), “orderly birds” (place value ordering), “missing number skydiving” (addition/subtraction), and “divider slider” (division). With each of these game modes, the user is able to change the difficulty, so that a student that is less proficient in multiplication won’t be challenged as hard as a multiplication expert.
Mobile App Critique
· Strengths
o The overall image of the app is very colorful and appealing to an elementary student and would somewhat mask that fact that he/she is developing their math skills
o The ability to change difficulty is a huge strength because is allows a student to find the right level for a student to be challenged, but not to make it impossible for their skill level
o The game modes of the app are actually somewhat interesting and engaging that again, mask that a student is really working on math skills
· Weaknesses
o The app tends to lag throughout the whole use of the app – from the home screen to actually partaking in a game mode.
o The use of the app is more difficult than it needs to be. Instead of clicking on a game mode you must cycle through the modes so that your desired app is displayed in the center and from there you can click.
o The game modes are somewhat confusing at first and take some figuring out before you can actually partake successfully. I think that most elementary students would lose interest in the app before they actually figured out how to play the games.