IU Researchers Develop Interactive Tool to Let Students Play with Math

A new, free learning tool coming out of Indiana University Bloomington aims to make static math problems easier for students to solve.

IU researchers formed the education technology startup Graspable Math to deliver their technology to algebra classrooms. The application can be accessed via web browser and used as both a teacher presentation tool — where the teacher is standing in front of a smartboard or projector — or a homework tool for students to receive immediate, step-by-step feedback.

Graspable essentially allows students to rearrange terms on the screen to solve math equations, recording and sharing all of the steps they take to arrive at their answer with the teacher.

“Graspable Math turns alegra into a real thing that you can interact with, and that's something fantastic for students, who can actually now go and explore algebra,” said Erik Weitnauer, research associate and co-founder of Graspable.

The United States Department of Education funded the IU research project to develop interventions that would help students see the dynamic properties of algebra the way that experts do. The Graspable team is working with schools in Massachusetts, Virginia and Indiana to study how kids learn.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • a glowing gaming controller, a digital tree structure, and an open book

    Report: Use of Game Engines Expands Beyond Gaming

    Game development technology is increasingly being utilized beyond its traditional gaming roots, according to the recently released annual "State of Game Development" report from development and DevOps solutions provider Perforce Software.

  • abstract representation of equity at the core of AI

    Why Equity Must Be a Core Part of the Conversation About AI

    AI is an immensely powerful tool that can provide customized support for students with diverse learning needs, tailoring educational experiences to meet student’s individual needs more effectively. However, significant disparities in AI access and digital literacy skills prevent many of these same students from fully leveraging its benefits.

  • Man wearing headset working on a computer

    Internet2: Network Routing Security and RPKI Adoption in Research and Education

    We ask James Deaton, vice president of network services, about Internet2's initiatives and leadership efforts to promote routing security and RPKI adoption in research and higher education networks.

  • network of transparent cloud icons, each containing a security symbol like a lock or shield

    Okta, OpenID Foundation Propose New Identity Security Standard

    Okta and the OpenID Foundation have announced the formation of the IPSIE Working Group — with the acronym standing for Interoperability Profiling for Secure Identity in the Enterprise — dedicated to a new identity security standard for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.