Ecole Sandy Hill Elementary Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Independent developer Esa Helttula (Espoo, Finland) has designed a collection of excellent apps to be used by teachers and students in and out of the classroom to aid in the mastery of mathematics. His sixteen educational math apps for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch are focused on assisting the learner in various mathematical methods used in Division (4), Fractions, Multiplication (3), Addition (4), and Subraction (5). Other apps are also available focusing on Partial Sums, Partial Differences, and several other specific areas of mathematics. (Please visit Esa Helttula’s website, iDevBooks Educational Math Apps to see all of the amazing apps he has to offer.)
I contacted Esa about reviewing his math apps after learning that my daughter needed some mathematics review and hearing some internet buzz about his apps. I tested several of the apps with my daughter, a fifth grader, and we found them engaging and very helpful. My daughter and I both share a small aversion to math, so when I use the word engaging that is truly a powerful compliment. (I am an English teacher for a reason.)
I appreciate the ease at which the settings can be adjusted for the learner and how quickly anyone can get started using the application. Like a true app should the controls and understanding of what to do is just intuitive. Esa has also taken great care to include additional pop up “hints” and “tips” to help the learner along.
I love the animation of the solving of the problems. The animation shows the procedure and order just like a teacher would want the work shown. The app then prompts questions and mathematical basics within the problem to fully test the learners understanding of the concept. This is important! It is the concept the app reinforces, not the correct answer. Magical!
I love this app because it doesn’t take any step of the learning process for granted and tests the learner’s complete understanding of the math concepts involved. Powerful app. A must for any student in need of strengthening math concepts.
-Wired Educator
Some of Esa’s educational math apps have puzzles or games built within the app so the learner is rewarded as they correctly solve the problem and demonstrate an understanding of the math concepts. The immediate and correct feedback to the learner that the app provides is also a huge plus, and something a student does not get when completing a typical paper and pencil worksheet or even other educational math software. This is a unique and powerful app that math teachers, parents, and best of all, students are going to love.
Wired Educator Grades iDevBooks Educational Math Apps: A+
We recommend them these apps fully for the classroom and practice at home. Go get ‘em. The apps sell for $3.99 in the iTunes app store and worth every penny.
Difficulty can be set with Settings:
* The dividend can have from 2 to 5 digits
* The divisor can have 1 or 2 digits
* The current operation can be hidden
* The operands of the current operation can be highlighted
* Colors of the interface can be changed
* The speed of the animations can be set
Here is a video of the Long Division app:
Esa Helttula is an independent developer in Espoo, Finland. He has been an algorithm visualization researcher at the university of Tampere. Currently he is interested in making mathematics more fun and easy with the use of technology and develops critically acclaimed educational math apps for iPhone and iPod touch.
Breaking News: I just learned via email correspondence with Esa that he has collaborated with his wife, and daughter to create a new app titled, Santa Hat Sewing App. (Not currently available, but keep checking the iTunes store for availability.) Esa is doubtful that this new app, his first app not about math, will be available this Christmas of 2010, but hopes it will be a big hit for next year. (Fear not, the app does include some math skills in pattern design, but sounds like it will be very original and fun. Esa assures me there is nothing like it in the app store.)
