Community reviews for Algebra Touch

I liked this app! This app also falls under the Modification level on the SAMR guide. This is because Algebra Touch allows for technology for significant task redesign. This app is able to achieve this by focusing on smaller pieces and accomplishes more focused practice for the student. Another highlight of this app is that it is free (not $2.99 like indicated in the other reviews) to download so it a great feel to use as additional practice in and outside of the classroom. Therefore, this app provides helpful practice for students to understand and sharpen their algebra skills. I would recommend this app.

Algebra Touch remains one of my favorite applications. I really like the kinesthetic component of dragging numbers across the screen and clicking on operators to decompose or combine numbers. Problems can be solved very quickly, but the student should still practice the concept on paper, demonstrating a clear understanding of the step-by-step process. It's possible for a student to advance through more difficult problems simply by dragging a number to any location that triggers a partial or complete solution. Asking students to explain their approach to solving the algebra problem presented on the screen would help the teacher identify misunderstandings: students should be monitored. Students can scroll through the list of topics for continued review or create their own problems to further test their skills.

Algebra Touch is a very clever and useful iPad app for teaching all the basic concepts needed for solving for a single unknown. Increasingly difficult problems are given as a series of lessons which teach both how to use the app and concepts such as like and unlike terms, order of operations, isolating variables, and factoring out. Explanations and guides through example problems are written as text at the bottom of the screen while the interactive problem is at the top. Want to add two numbers? Just tap the plus sign. Want to simplify a fraction? Tap the numerator and the denominator and the app will show you all the possible factors. Select the ones you want to use and then swipe through the matching factors. To add or subtract something from both sides of the equation, just move it with your finger and the signs change automatically. Algebra Touch does the computation for students so that they are left with the job of solving the problem by determining where and how to manipulate the variables. The app also won't let you make mistakes such as performing operations in the wrong order. Each new lesson can be followed by any number of practice problems. There is even a mode where you can enter your own problems to solve. I really liked this app because it makes algebra seem easy and intuitive. Students will need to be able to read the text at the bottom of the screen to get the most out of the app, so teachers will need to make sure students understand the vocabulary involved. Correction is very subtle. A gentle shaking of the problem is an indication that something cannot be done while a slight color change of the screen to green indicates a correct answer. Students can take the "long way" to solve a problem and no correction or guidance is offered so teachers need to be aware of how students are using the app to solve problems and offer support as needed.