Numbers League
Mindprint Rating
Tags
Skills
Mindprint Expert Review
Pros
- The fun superheroes theme gives purpose to the math, i.e. to capture villains.
- The pass and play option allows friends or siblings to play together.
- Game includes multiple levels and an optional timer and hints to create the right level of difficulty for each student.
Considerations
- Children with visual weaknesses may have some difficulty reading the text, though it should not interfere with their ability to enjoy the game and solve the math problems.
- The app requires students to not only solve math problems but remember the values of their own heroes and the villains.
- While this app is not violent, it is based on a fighting theme and there is some cartoon-like violence .
Mindprint Expert Review
Numbers League is a fun game filled with compelling illustrations and background music where players solve math problems to build superheroes and defeat villains. Players collect superhero parts, each with a given number, and combine them to create superheroes worth a specific value. Players must use strategy and memory skills to build superheroes who will add up to match the numbers of the villains. If they can equate the parts to equal the villain's the number, the villain is defeated and they win new superheroes or extra part cards. The app can be pre-set to specific math difficulty levels using single and multi-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and negative numbers so younger students can grow with this app. Children who enjoy superheroes are likely to love this app, but the app can be taxing on working memory, short-term memory and math skills, since students must remember the values of the characters, add multiple numbers, and handle multi-digit math. The app can be played without a timer, so having scrap paper may help if your child is willing to take the time to write numbers on paper. This app can be played with up to four children or individually, and can be great fun for students who can handle the mental juggling if set appropriately to the student's math ability.
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
- Abstract Reasoning
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
- Requires multi-step mental math
- Flexible Thinking
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Numerical Fluency
- Requires multi-step mental math
- Student will need to copy or write multi-digit math problems
- Organization
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
- Reading Basics
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Verbal Memory
- Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
- Visual Discrimination
- Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
- Words used during activity can be too small or difficult to read
- Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
- Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
- Visual Memory
- Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
- Working Memory
- Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
- Directions may be confusing for students using independently
- Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
- Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
- Requires multi-step mental math
- Student will need to copy or write multi-digit math problems
Manufacturer Description
Numbers League is made for ages 5 to Adult.
"My kids beg to play this game." -GeekDad, Wired.com
"This is one of the best math games on the iPad." -USA Today
- Winner of the Common Sense Media's 2013 Learning Award -
Villains lurk in the streets of Infinity City. Our only hope is the Numbers League. Assemble a team of superheroes and use the sum of their incredible powers and ingenious devices to capture as many villains as you can.
In Numbers League, clever use of basic math skills will save the day. The more you play the sharper these skills will become until no villain is safe from your numerical onslaught.
Ages 5 and up. The Minion-level game can be mastered by a five year old, the Superhero-level game will challenge even math-savvy parents and teachers, and Custom levels allow for a learning experience anywhere in between.
Play with your family, your friends, or by yourself-- up to four players can play on a single iPad.
Also, three robots of different skill levels are ready to join in any game.
Tally-ho! Use your fingers, use your toes. Use a pencil and a piece of paper if you like. Use the hint feature to show you what’s possible and a timer if you want to make the game even more challenging.
"The Numbers League app is an incredibly fun way to practice your basic math facts. The combination of arithmetic and wacky comic book-style superheroes will draw in even the most reluctant child. My kids beg to play this game. The app is also a perfect electronic representation of the original Numbers League card game. I recommend this to anyone from age 5 to adult. Kids aren't necessary to enjoy this challenging game."
- GeekDad, Wired.com
"[Numbers League] does a masterful job of giving kids a reason to practice math facts." - USA Today
"Whether you are a parent, educator or home schooler, the Numbers League is very applicable to you!"
- http://www.iear.org/iear/2011/6/25/numbers-league-by-applicable2u.html
"This phenomenal math app invites students into a comic book world that uses super heroes to fight evil number villains."
- edutopia.org (http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipad-apps-elementary-blooms-taxomony-applying-diane-darrow)
"Educational value: A+" - http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/numbers-league
"...fresh and unique. Highly recommended!"
- customer Mala Kustermann
"...that rare combination of fun/challenging gameplay that's also good for you. ...outstanding. Hands down the best edutainment money I have spent."
- customer AlterDon