Math Platforms

Extra Credit: Math Platforms 

GeoGebra is an interactive mathematic software that comprehends geometry, statistics, algebra and calculus. It has learning and teaching purposes for high school to college level. With this App, construction can be made with points, vectors, segments, lines, polygons, conic sections, inequalities, implicit polynomials and functions. After created, they can be dynamically modified according to your needs. For instance, you can write an equation in the input bar, the program creates the graph and then you can add elements (such as points on the graph) or simply change the equation. You can also add other graphs over your original function curve to compare how they look like on the same grid. Besides, it has the option the save your work. GeoGebra provides its users with helpful tutorials on how to take advantage of all its elements and functions. It is available on multiple platforms with its desktop applications for Windows, Mac OS and Linux, with its tablet apps for Android, iPad, and Windows, and its web application based on HTML5 technology.   

• Skills students need are to:
• ·       Have a basic knowledge of algebra and functions to know how to plug an equation.
• ·       Know haw to plug terms on the input bar (like 4x^2, knowing that this ^ symbol raise a number the nth power).
• ·       Read and interpret a graph
• ·       Read and interpret mathematical symbols

This application is developmentally age appropriate because almost every teenager that is going through high school or college will understand simple to more complex equations or/and functions graphs. For example, I was introduced to algebra in 7^th grade, and I think that a child in 9 grade will take advantage of this material to make a link between geometry and algebra in a visual way. It also helps teachers to visually teach their students, and schools to motivate students on interactive way.  

Personally, I use GeoGebra to create graphs from functions and see in detail how the graph look like zooming in and out, having a grid, and making several graphs at the time. I highly recommend it for your homework and also for you to learn applying different math concepts graphically. To compare some mathematical definitions I try to create several graphs and look at the main differences, so I can remember a concept through a visual image.

Link: www.geogebra.org

Khan Academy

Khan Academy offers different exercises, institutional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that motivate people to study at their own comfort, outside the classroom. Khan Academy offers different topics of various subjects such as computer programming, history, art history, economics, and math. In math, Khan academy provides micro lectures  for students from kindergarden to 8th  grade, fundamental topics, and high school and beyond topics , such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability and stats, precalculus, calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, etc.  From these subjects, there is a variety of topics that go in depth of each concept. In the videos, a tutor explain the concepts and solve a problem step by step. In almost all the videos, the voice of a tutor is recorded and the problems are being solved alongside with the audience. The program is also translated in more than 40 languages including Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French.

Skills students need are to:

• ·       Understand how to navigate through the website to choose the section you need
• ·       Have a basic knowledge of what you are looking for.

I think this program is apt for learners of all ages who want to learn or need extra help with their homework. Although the website is very self-explanatory, I think children might need adult’s guidance because they can get in a section in which is above their skill level.

As with GeoGebra, I highly recommend this program if you are having trouble understanding a concepts. I watch several videos to get a good understanding of the topic that I am studying for a test or just a homework assignment. You can also enjoy watching other videos to learn different topics in an interactive way.

Link: https://www.khanacademy.org

Math Playground

Math Playground is a free site with several interactive math and logic games. It includes games for children of all ages. This site divides the categories through grades from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Each category it is branched to more sections that comprehend a great number of games regarding the topic. For example, a kid who courses second grade can find subtraction of two digits, addition of three digits, comparing and ordering, and so on, while a kid in 8^th grade will encounter linear functions, variable equations, rational numbers, solving problems, and so on.  Besides, each section has more than 10 games tackling each section.

Skills students need are to:

·    

• Be able to use the mouse to move shapes/objects in order to put them in the correct place
• ·       Read and interpret printed text
• ·       Read and interpret mathematical symbols
• ·       Have been introduced to the topics according to the grade level

I think this program is age appropriate and very self explanatory.  I might think that a child could need adult's guidance to get in the level that he/she needs. For instance, my cousin is in kindergarden (he is 4 years old) and he always asks me to open for him in the right level for him just to play. Besides, the format of the website has bright colors and animated figures that appeal to children of early ages. I have tried some of the games and I think they are kind of addictive.

I will recommend this program for children to have fun with math and practice the concepts studied in class. For people of my age, I  think that it is not going to be as entertain or helpful as it is for children in k-12.

Link: http://www.mathplayground.com

                    

Math Ninja

Math Ninja is a math application on a mobile device that works on Iphone, Ipad, Ipod touch, and androids. It helps students to practice and learn basic mathematical skills. The goal of this game is to defend a treehouse against a hungry tomato and his robotic army, but you can defend it by applying your math knowledge. Therefore, children have fun while applying math concepts. Different to the previous math platforms I described, the purpose of this game is more to entertain than to learn new things. Children can develop their ability to solve basic math.

Skills student need are to:

·       Know how to use an iphone or ipod to get to the game, and then learn the basic rules of the game

The age range for this is anyone who has studied basic mathematics at an elementary level, so anyone between the ages of three to nine. As this game is designed for children of early ages, it does not require many skills, but it develops your math ability in a fun way. It is age appropriate. 

I  will recommend this program for children to have fun with math and practice some basic skills. For people of my age, I  think that it is not going to be as entertain or helpful as it is for children from three to nine.

Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-ninja-hd/id370144476?mt=8