iPad App Review

I actually did not use an iPad for this assignment, I used my Droid phone (mostly because I favor Droid products over Apple).

Browsing through all of the apps available under the Education topic, it was hard to choose only two.  I did, however, find two pertaining to mathematics that I hope will be beneficial.

Mathway (free)  When first bringing up the app, the user is given the choices of Basic Math, Pre-Algebra, Trigonometry, Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus, and Statistics.  Along with the options to Sign In, Glossary, Help, and About.  I chose Trigonometry because that is my dream to teach.  When selecting the option, a text box appears prompting the use to type in a math problem.  A keyboard is given that has all of the necessary symbols.  Once typing in the problem, there are options for the answer and examples of problems like this one.  This could be viewed as helping a student a little too much, but wouldn't this be a great method of checking oneself?  I downloaded this app at the beginning of the semester, actually, and have been using it in my math classes to check my homework answers.  It's very helpful, and the option to have other examples is very beneficial to helping me understand.  In my future classroom, I believe I would use this as a tool for the students to double check their answers.  It makes it more enjoyable than just looking up the answers in the back of the book.

Andie Graph (free)  This app is pretty basic, but so very useful.  It's a graphing calculator, but for free!  It has every aspect of a graphing calculator that costs so much money and is so bulky, but it's available (for free!) on a product that is capable of doing so many other things.  It runs smoothly and accurately, and is perfect for a technology based classroom.  If I had to option, I would hope to have a class that allowed a class set of tablets, or allowed the students to use their cell phones to have the graphing calculators on those, instead of having a class set of calculators.  That way the tablets (or phones) are able to do other activities, rather than buying calculators that only serve one purpose.