Bottom Line: An education-laden division app that would act as a great supplement for teacher, parent, or homeschool use. A good amount of information and learning for the $1.99 sticker price.
If you'd like to download Division from Daydream Education ($1.99, iPad only), use the link below to support Smart Apps for Kids:
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Ah, division. The solution to the age-old question "I have a package of 24 cookies. If I decide to share with my three friends (highly unlikely), how many do you each get?" Enter Division by developer Daydream Education. This app takes an in-depth look at division, from the very basics to more in-depth details such as long division and remainders. This app would be great for a fourth grade or older student.
From the main screen, your upper elementary aged student can access a variety of information, which is split into "content" and "fun features." Content includes basic facts about division, information regarding remainders, as well as a whole slew of other information. I'd tell you all about it, but that would both take a really long time and besides, you need to download the app for yourself.
The "fun features" section of the app lets your kiddo take a quiz for which you, the grown up, can select an appropriate level according to their performance and mastery of division information. There's a good ol' standard division facts section, which is a massive collection of division drill flash cards broken down into sections. Divide by 0 or 12, it makes no difference. A mixed option is also available for the ultimate challenge.
I was especially drawn to the section on long division, not so much because of my deep burning passion for long division but for the variety of learning styles it presents. Each step of a long division problem is presented in a broken-down fashion, and a calculator pad is available to enter in digits, which is cool for visual learners — boxes mark where answers should go, the whole shabang. However, if your kiddo gets a little stuck, a button at the top of the screen right next to "Reset" pulls up a blank slate where tactile learners can work out their answers in a scratch paper method. I think a stylus would be an incredibly useful tool in this section especially.
I am also a really big fan of the way data is collected in this app. It's entirely useful to play as a "guest" which makes quick use possible, but individual user accounts can also be set up to record student-specific data, which is presented in easy-to-understand ways. This feature is handy for parents and teachers alike and is useful for both small and large groups. Only one iPad to pass around the group? No problem.
This app is not one that children are going to be drawn to independently. While it acts as a great supplement to education, there is little enticement for a younger learner. I would love to see the addition of even a basic game format to encourage and reinforce all of the information presented elsewhere in the app. Basic sound effects would even make the app more appealing to auditory learners, or the option to have the larger portions of text read aloud. Speaking of text, there is a good amount tucked inside this app. Struggling readers or special education students may not find this particularly useful in addition to what may be a difficult topic to master already. United States users should be aware that some of the story problems and examples presented in this app do not use US currency. While this didn't affect my rating, it's handy to know.
If there's one thing this app has, it is information in leaps and bounds. At $1.99, you get a lot of bang for your buck and I'd say this app is for sure worth a download. Remember though, I'm suggesting this app to educators and parents for supplement to instruction, not for independent fun and math practice.
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Rachel wasn't kidding about not sharing her cookies at the beginning of this review. It's not going to happen, so you better ask someone else. SmartAppsForKids.com was paid a priority review fee to complete this review in an expedited manner.
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