iPuzzle Project: SolveMe Mobiles App

presenter: Mary Fries,

app URL: solveme.edc.org

development team: Nathan Dinsmore, Mary Fries, Paul Goldenberg, Jane Kang, and June Mark

description: SolveMe Mobiles is a mathematics learning app that uses balancing mobile puzzles to support the logic of solving equations and systems of equations. SolveMeMobileshas been developed on the iPuzzle project with National Science Foundation funding. The puzzles were inspiredbytheThink Math!andTransition to Algebra curriculum projects.

programming, final version:MathResources, Inc.,in Halifax, Nova Scotia, mathresources.com. They also developed the website for EDC’s Implementing the Mathematical Practice Standards project, mathpractices.edc.org, and NCTM’s Pick-a-Pathapp.

progress: The iPuzzle project is nearing completion of the SolveMe Mobiles app for computers and tablets. This app will be available online and in the iTunes store. And the project is also wrapping up development of two additional math app prototypes for other puzzle-types (Who Am I? puzzles and MysteryGrid puzzles) featured in our curricula.

experiences and considerations:

rapidprototypingas a development process: Our on-staff rapid prototyperbuilt the apps and suggested interface designs. Heoften modified the apps as we metallowing us to experiment with features as we nailed down how the appwould work.To allow us to use the same process for other apps, we assigned finish-work to an outside programming firm. It was immensely valuable to be able to experiment with our ideas before committing to them in the list of specs we provided to the outside firm.

finding a final-productprogrammer:The project contacted several firms and selected MathResources (MR) both for their experience developing mathematics education apps and our previous experience working with them. Before contracting with MR, we asked them to provide information on their capacity and several graphic design sketches. We ultimately decided to work with EDC’s Digital Design group for the graphic design.

specifications and change requests: In developingan agreement with MR, we wrote a list of specificationsthatthey followed. As our team had been used to prototyping, it was an adjustment to shift to considering every change to thosespecifications as a “change request” with a corresponding quote for the additional work.

graphic design: We opted to develop the graphic design in-house and are grateful to Rebecca Driscoll of Digital Design for the graphic design of our app.

backend database: Because usersneeded to be able to build, save, and share puzzles, we needed a database to store user account information. EDC’s Director of DevTech, Bob Duncan, helped us set up a database and web service to connect it to the app.

guidelines and legal matters: We are using EDC’s Apple Developer account to submit to the iTunes Store. In order to be accepted by Apple, apps must comply with the App Store Review Guidelines. With the help of EDC’s Bob Duncan and Christine Filosa, we developed a privacy policy and terms of use and made minor adjustments to the app to comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).