Learning to count money with MakeChange

MakeChange for iPad has been available for some time now. It's even been copied.

Over the past couple months I've heard from several educators running pilot iPad programs in their schools.  Some are using MakeChange and I've tried to incorporate some of the suggestions into the latest release, which is available starting today at the App Store.

The biggest change has been the addition of foreign currencies; you can now count out Canadian or Euro coins.  There's also an option to restrict the usage of the high-value dollar coins if you want to force counting with smaller coins.

More difficulty levels were added to make the app easier to use in classrooms with younger kids.  The coins themselves got a bit of a physics makeover.  You can slide them across the table now and they'll come to a stop (try sliding some slowly or quickly to see how they differ).

(download)

In this screenshot, the currency is formatted for the US.  Depending on your locale settings, you should see the appropriate currency symbol in front of your totals.

Filed under  //  classroom   coins   counting   edtech   ipad   money  
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Posted by Steven Romej 

Counting money on iPad makes cents

The post title is perhaps cringeworthy, but it's very true. The
surface is the perfect canvas for all kinds of great educational
games.

(download)

MakeChange is an iPad app that lets you practice counting money, which is to say that it's also a way for kids to practice math problems.  Hopefully some schools will be able to have at least one iPad per classroom.  It could be a great way for teachers to walk through various scenarios before letting the kids play.  Right now, most classes use money worksheets that depict the outlines of coins.  Students write the quantity of each coin needed to obtain the sum.

With MakeChange, you slide coins below the line to be counted.  You can tap a coin to see the reverse side if you don't recognize it (or just for fun).  You can repeat a problem until you get it right, or move on to a new one.  

If you answer correctly but miss an opportunity to make the sum with fewer coins, the app will show you the alternative way to reach the total.

Filed under  //  counting   education   educational   iphone   iphone apps   math  
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Posted by Steven Romej