Educational Apps to Teach Math Concepts, Skills and Problem Solving

Educational applications can be used to teach math concepts, math skills and problem solving and are available to assist with the development of skills and concepts needed to succeed in mathematics. Web-based activities offer teachers and parents options that are free and teachers with laminated budgets can find multiple sites to meet the needs of students with varied abilities. 

The following list of resources can provide opportunities for additional support in teaching math concepts, math skills and problem solving:

1. National Library of Virtual Manipulatives - Users can navigate the site by category —Number & Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, or Data Analysis & Probability—and/or by grade levels preK–2, Grades 3–5, Grades 6–8, or Grades 9–12. 
2.  Illuminations - a Web site maintained by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Students who need extended practice, visual representations of concepts, and/or interactive activities can benefit from this site which offers numerous online activities that support the development of math concepts for students in Grades K–12. 
3. Computing Technology for Math Excellence -  This free Web portal is designed to assist anyone who wants to find high-quality, free Internet resources to use in classroom instruction and to reinforce specific subject matter areas at home. 
4. Math Playground - provides a wealth of resources to support learning math concepts, skills, and problem solving. Free, online math activities are provided in the categories of Math Games, Word Problems, and Logic Puzzles. 
5. Conceptua Math - focuses on fractions and offers a variety of tools for teachers to use to enhance their whole class instruction. It provides visual models that are accompanied by spoken text to facilitate independent use by students who are struggling readers. It also includes formative assessments and captures student data, enabling teachers to monitor students’ progress and make appropriate instructional decisions. 
6. Destination Math - targets the development of skills in math reasoning, conceptual understanding, and problem solving for students in Grades K–12. The use of animation and audio output helps keep students engaged. Student success is supported with explicit step-by-step instructions and opportunities to practice problem-solving skills. 

To benefit students, educational applications, including virtual manipulatives, must be connected clearly to the concepts being developed and must be matched to students’ developmental levels. In addition, the match between concepts and developmental level must be kept in mind as teachers select educational applications for students with disabilities. 

Sources:

Dell, A., Newtown, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive technology in the classroom . (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey : Pearson Education.