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Math Magician
Games http://resources.oswego.org/games/mathmagician/cathymath.html
Grades: 1-4 Subject Area:
Math Reviewed by
Carrie Dybinski Website
Description This website was designed by the Accuracy of
Content Math
Magician is very useful to an elementary math class. This is due mostly to the fact that
students can manipulate it all by themselves.
Since students can choose their own operation and level at which to
play, the content is accurate and challenging. Starting in first grade, students begin to
learn and build their addition and subtraction facts. This continues into second and third grade
where addition and subtraction are mastered and multiplication and division
are introduced. By the fourth grade,
students need to be strong in all of their facts. This website offers a simple, quick,
user-friendly and fun option to accomplish all this. The site contains no mistakes and the math
facts are presented in a straight-forward, clear manner. Given that the website was created by a
school district, it is free of banner ads and pop ups. It is appropriate for elementary aged
students. This website is perfect for
students needing review and drill of math facts. Teachers will also appreciate the ease of
use of this site when using it in their classroom to bolster mathematics
independence in students. Technical
Quality This website is
extremely easy for students to use because of its simple layout. The main page offers only five options each
of which display wide rectangular bars to click on. Once the user has made his/her choice,
he/she must click on the giant pointing hand to begin. The site does not contain any confusing
linking paths or advertisements. The
design is plain and uncomplicated. The
only colors used on the site are blue, white and black accompanied by the
only graphic of a teacher in a lab coat pointing to a blackboard. While the design is very simple, students
will benefit from the website’s aim, which is strengthening math facts. They
will not get distracted or confused by the multitude of options, colors or
graphics some other websites offer.
When drilling math facts, students need to enter their answer and
press enter. The program responds instantly
taking them to the next problem whether the answer is correct or not. Other than having to know how to use a
mouse and knowing their math facts, students need only to type their name,
the numbers of their answers and the enter key. Use of
Technology Based on what this site was
designed for, it makes good use of technology. Drilling math facts is straight forward and
simple. This site is just that. This technology also takes a positive
approach by rewarding students for their efforts at the end of their practice
by printing out a certificate. This
serves as a physical reward for students who have mastered their facts. If a student does not receive a perfect
score, the website informs the user of what his/her percentage correct
was. The only downside of this site is
that it does not record which problems users got wrong. As a teacher and student, it would be
beneficial for users to know which facts they got incorrect so they can study
them. Other than that, the site makes
good use of simple technology. Role of
Students As an overall math website, Math Magician is very limited. However, for the use of math fact practice,
students will feel empowered. Once
familiar with the site, students can go on to the site on their own and
practice what they need help with.
Since students choose their own activities and levels, the material is
age-appropriate and challenging. As mentioned earlier, once students are
comfortable with this site, it can be used independently during math class or
extra time activities. The physical
print out of the certificate motivates students to work towards that finished
product. A good goal for students
would be master all levels and numbers of facts. Keeping their certificates on file can
serve as a good assessment of their math fact knowledge. Use of this website is for one student at a
time. However, since each round is
only a few minutes long, students can each have a go at it throughout the
day. Overall, the student is in charge
of his/her learning on this site. Role of Teacher Once students are
familiarized with how to use the site, the teacher’s role can be
minimal. Some suggestions for the
teacher would be to set the website up on a favorites page for ease of
finding. The site address is a little
long so this can help alleviate problems when students go to use it. Also, the teacher must make it clear as to
when this program should be used and how to do so. A recommendation would be to teach students
how to go on and practice one round, print the certificate and return to
their seat for the next user to begin.
This can be arranged in such a way that the class is not disturbed,
yet all students are practicing the math fact for that particular week. Lastly, teachers should check in often with
students’ certificates in order to assess mastered knowledge of the
class. In fact, this website can be
one of many forms of assessments used to evaluate student learning. Once a simple routine is established,
however, this website can fit easily into any elementary classroom. Classroom Usage I envision this site as a
routine part of a classroom as described above. For example, if a third grade class
practices and masters one number of multiplication facts a week (i.e. 6’s)
students can have a chance to practice the 6’s once a day during math
seatwork or morning work times. This
requires that the classroom be equipped with at least one computer. If this is not possible, then a weekly trip
to the computer lab can always begin with a few minutes of practice on the
site with the number being mastered that week. In addition, this site can be used to
bolster fact knowledge for any student falling behind in these areas with
only a few minutes a day. Special
education students that may have trouble with fine motor skills can practice
speed of their facts without having to worry about writing the numbers. As an extension activity, students can
track their own progress by making a table and a graph of their attempts and
scores. In addition to the suggestions
offered above on how to use this website in the classroom, I think that once
mastered, students can use their certificates to post around the classroom as
proof of their mastery and pride for their accomplishment. Teachers may also encourage use at home of
this website for further practice. Critical
Summary Overall, Math Magician offers a quick, easy and user-friendly way for
elementary students to strengthen his/her math fact knowledge. While the website offers no special “bells
and whistles,” it enables the user to accomplish his/her goal without the
distraction of high-tech graphics, colors and sounds. This website can fit easily into an
elementary math curriculum based on the fact that it is easy to use, quick
and straightforward. Students can
print out a certificate logging their efforts and assessing their mastered
facts. The only downside of the
website is that it does not keep track of which facts students missed in a
particular math round. If this feature
were added, it would serve a better educational goal. Teachers will like this site because it is
free of banner ads and pop ups as well as the fact that it can be used
independently. Overall Rating
(On a scale of 1 to 10) I gave this website a 9 out of 10. Explanation of
Rating I did not give this website a
perfect score for the single reason that it does not offer the user a list of
the problems they got incorrect. An
important part of learning is meta-cognition and knowing where you make your
mistakes and this website is missing that.
Other than that, I recommend it for any elementary school math class. |
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©Carrie Dybinski | last revised 12/1/09 |
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