Math eLearning Tool Analysis
I taught 7th grade Math and was always fascinated by the advanced calculators and interactive math games. Flash games were one of my favorite things until support stopped for Adobe Flash in 2020. In this post, I will analyze 3 different eLearning apps available for students online. The first step to analyzing the app was determining a Learning Goal that will be met through the use of this technology.
Learning goal: Students will calculate 2-step algebraic equations without assistance
Learning Technology Analysis
Wolfram Alpha
Supporting achievement of learning goal: This technology has multiple ways that it can support the achievement of this learning goal. This tool allows learners to type in their equation and see step-by-step instructions for how the equation can be solved. There are descriptions as well as the ability to ask questions to the Chatbot to assist learners in further understanding how to solve the equation.
Facilitate Deep Learning: This tool can facilitate deep learning with the caveat that students need to use it as a learning tool and not just a tool to solve all the problems they are given quickly. Students will see multiple representations of the solution to an algebraic equation to help with memorization and can modify the problems to see how a solution changes when they modify a single variable. I would suggest teachers create a graphic organizer to help students work through the process to ensure they are using the tool to its fullest.
Accommodate individual learning differences: Yes, this tool has functionality with accessibility devices and follows modern standards for website accessibility.
Does it integrate with a LMS: Yes, this tool can integrate with an LMS
Supporting achievement of learning goal: This tool supports the learning goal by offering gamified experiences with different mathematical standards. This tool offers visually appealing and interactive activities to support a conceptual understanding of math.
Facilitate Deep Learning: Interactive and gamified environment that engages learners in the content to enhance memorization of the concepts.
Accommodate individual learning differences: This tool accommodates some learning differences. This tool allows accessibility tool functionality; however, the learning activities seem more linear and do not allow for much student choice. Teachers would need to curate a list of activities that match the learning goal and give learners choice in that way.
Does it integrate with a LMS: No, but you can share links to the content within the LMS. This option also costs money and is not free like the 2 other options.
Supporting achievement of learning goal: This tool supports the learning goal as many of the “virtual manipulatives” mirror physical math manipulatives that have been shown to be quite helpful in learners understanding of math concepts. These manipulatives are quite engaging for learners and because the tool is free to use it also helps schools with small budgets to have access to these helpful “hands-on” tools for learning.
Facilitate Deep Learning: Manipulatives have been shown to help learners gain a conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts. These manipulatives are digital versions of the physical tools, they may be less engaging if a classroom is already mostly digital (the novelty of physical items to move around is part of the engagement of manipulatives). I also noticed some of these manipulatives do not open properly on my older laptop and may not be a perfect solution depending on their functionality.
Accommodate individual learning differences: I did not see anywhere that assistive devices function with these virtual manipulatives. I am erring on the side of caution to say that they may not function fully. These manipulatives do however offer hands-on practice which can be engaging to learners and offers a unique way to represent the learning goal.
Does it integrate with a LMS: No, but like Illuminations Math you can share links to the content within the LMS. There is also an offline version of this application that schools could download on computers/devices
My choice:
Based on my evaluation of the 3 learning tools above, I recommend the use of Wolfram Alpha to help meet the learning goal. The main reason for choosing this tool comes down to the fact that this tool is constantly receiving updates and is something learners will want to use as they continue their math education. Wolfram Alpha is a universal tool that involves simple to quite advanced math concepts as well as real-world concepts such as fitness and household budgeting. This tool is free but unlike the other free option (Virtual Manipulatives) it also integrates with different Learning Management Systems. Wolfram Alpha is also the only tool I analyzed that really accommodates individual learning differences in a substantial way. Learners can use their accessibility devices and can use functions within the tool to describe or explain how to solve the equation in diverse ways (by using the chatbot as well as features within the “solve an equation” section of the tool).
Citations:
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics NCTM. (2020). Illuminations Math. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://illuminations.nctm.org/Default.aspx
Wolfram Alpha. (2022). Wolfram|Alpha: Making the world’s knowledge computable. Wolframalpha.com. https://www.wolframalpha.com/
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. (n.d.). Nlvm.usu.edu. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/copyright.html
