Triads offers a good challenge for students strong in visual complex reasoning, working memory and flexible thinking, but it could easily discourage or frustrate other students. The rules can be confusing at first, so students should begin with practice mode that has no timer and offers hints. Students select from 15 shapes of different attributes for color, size, and pattern and find three that have a single similar attribute. Once students are comfortable with the concept, they challenge themselves in solo mode to find as many triads as possible in 60 seconds, or play competitively with up to four people on a single iPad. Success requires students to efficiently scan, juggle potential combinations in their minds, and readjust when they realize they cannot complete a set. There is no option for the computer to help complete a set when a student is stuck, and if the volume is on the student hears a very negative buzz for an incorrect answer. Triad can be a fine choice to further develop already good capabilities in reasoning, working memory, and flexibility, but only for those students who find the game to be a fun challenge.

• Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
• Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
• Visually appealing to children in the target age range
• Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
• Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
• Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
• Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

• Has a free or trial version
• Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
• Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
• Student should be able to use independently after first use
• Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
• Multiple users can save a profile
• Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
• Can play without sound and not distract others
• Students can save work between sessions
• Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
• Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
• Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
• Overall - Easy to use

• Abstract Reasoning
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Anxiety
• Multi-player activity with a clear 'winner' and 'loser'
• Gives negative feedback (red X's, buzzer)
• A player's success depends on speed
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Attention
• Problems or examples are not interesting for the target age range
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
• Flexible Thinking
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Organization
• Problems or examples are not interesting for the target age range
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Processing Speed
• Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
• A player's success depends on speed
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Self-regulation
• Multi-player activity with a clear 'winner' and 'loser'
• Gives negative feedback (red X's, buzzer)
• A player's success depends on speed
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Visual Discrimination
• Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
• Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
• Working Memory
• Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps

Triads is a fun game you can play with the whole family!

The goal of this game is to find triads as quickly as possible. What's a triad? Well, each card has four attributes (size, color, shape, and pattern). Each attribute has three possible states.

Three cards are compatible with respect to a particular attribute if they all have the same state of that attribute (all three have the same state), OR if they are all different (no two have the same state).

Three cards form a triad if they are compatible with respect to all four attributes.

Try the practice mode to get the hang out it. Triads also features solo timed modes that are incredibly addictive!

Good luck and have fun!