4th Grade Math Testing Prep at Mac App Store analyse

This is a barebones app series barely suitable for summative testing, but not formative assessment or assessment for learning. Students are only given a score at the end of the test, so they wont know which ones they got right or wrong. It provides solutions in the practice test mode, but they are simple one-step solves -- no detailed explanations that would teach students where they went wrong or how to improve. Other areas needing improvement: - The testing function is very unforgiving. It accepts an answer as soon as students touch one of the multiple choice options, but there is no way to back up if you touch one by accident or change your mind. - There is no way to navigate back to the home screen without answering every question in a set (in practice or test mode). - The question types are randomized. There is no way to focus on a particular topic needing reinforcement (i.e. fractions). In short, in its current state this app is a make-busy project and not something students will learn from.

This app provides great rehab/practice material for my partner who has had a severe head injury. It is straight forward and easy for him to navigate independantly. Although the 50 question test does not offer immediate/any solutions to problems it offers great practice material... We love that the questions are never the same and vary in style and challenge. We also LOVE the relaxing (soft piano) musical background which adds to the quality of the experience, enhancing "thought in process" and engadging interaction if/when "lessons" are required. We love the option to email the follow up test results. Provides basic input/feedback on cognitive areas covered/areas that need work/ areas they are proficient at. Well done!

this really helped me with my math

Have re installed and re downloaded. My students want to play it!!!!!! It quits as soon as the app starts to open.

Great

This application is not worthwhile for a classroom. It gives students practice with math, but the ipad does not offer any interactive way of taking the practice test or regular test. It can easily be done on a computer or worksheet. For the practice portion of the app, students can choose to pick between 10, 25, or 40 questions. After the students answer their practice test questions, the app gives the option for the student to “see a solution” to the problem. Some solutions are helpful, but some are not at all. For example, for a problem, 7.1 + 1.8, the solution that appears is simply, 7.1 + 1.8 = 8.9. It does not show how that is the right answer by explaining the entire process out. The same goes for a subtraction problem. There is no way of showing the students how to subtract; it only gives the right answer. Another error is when students are “taking the test,” there is no way of showing what number question they are on. This would be difficult and cause problems in a class setting. There is also no way of pausing the test and resuming. Students must finish all 50 questions in order to be completed with the test and have a record of score. There is a button to send to Facebook (which would be inappropriate) or to e-mail the scores. However, if the teacher was e-mailed the scores, it only says “(STUDENT NAME) took the 4th Grade Math Prep Test and scored 10 out of 50!” This does not give the teacher any indication of what kinds of questions were missed unless the teacher has the student write down all of the questions on a separate sheet of paper, which would be defeating the purpose of the iPad app in the first place.

My 2nd grader enjoyed it. She learned a lot.