Mindprint Toolbox

Search Results

Please wait...

iJumble Math - Learning Game with Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division for Students, Parents, and Teachers

Mindprint Rating

Tags

Elementary School Android App

Skills

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • The app requires students to retype the answer after a hint in order to reinforce the correct answer.
  • There is no negative feedback for incorrect answers.
  • Students can choose to play with no timer by clicking the infinity symbol.

Considerations

  • Social media buttons need to be avoided after solving every problem.
  • Students playing with the timer and sound will likely find the countdown sounds distracting.
  • The navigation buttons are odd and somewhat confusing.

Mindprint Expert Review

iJumble Math is a basic math facts app that is mostly ineffective because after every problem a student must avoid the link to post the result on twitter or view the leaderboard in the game center. Students begin by selecting one of the four math operations and whether they prefer a two-minute game with timer or to play as long as they want without a timer. The game has no levels or rewards within a given operation. A problem appears at the top of the screen and the student must select the correct answer by tapping the correct choice from the multiple numbers provided. If students answer incorrectly, there is no negative feedback but they cannot move ahead unless they fix the answer or skip the problem. Hints are provided, and the app has a nice feature that requires the student to type the correct answer after the hint is given to reinforce the solution. After solving the problem the link to leaderboard and twitter sits in the center of the screen while the student waits for the next button to appear to move to the next problem. Students could easily tap these two social media buttons accidentally in their haste to move ahead. Overall, this app would have been fine (but not great) without the social media buttons, but the buttons interfere with the usability. *Note: This app was originally reviewed for iPhone/iPad. Some differences might apply.

Academic Benefits

Improves academic skills

  • Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
  • Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
  • Presents educational concepts accurately
  • Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
  • Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
  • Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
  • Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

Fun

Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range

  • 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

Easy to Use

Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range

  • 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

Cognitive Concerns

May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs

  • Attention
    • Problems or examples are not interesting for the target age range
    • Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
  • Auditory Processing
  • Fine Motor Skills
    • Requires challenging finger movements, motor precision or physical manipulation
  • Organization
    • Problems or examples are not interesting for the target age range
    • Students might need support with navigation
  • Self-regulation
  • Visual Discrimination
    • Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
    • Students might need support with navigation