Math 8: Talk math with Leon!
By Mieke VanderBorght,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fancy tech immerses kids in bulky space-themed drills.
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Math 8: Talk math with Leon!
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What’s It About?
Leon the alien is visiting planet Earth and wants to play math games in MATH 8: TALK MATH WITH LEON! Leon begins by asking kids if they want to play in the Bronze, Silver, or Gold level, and continues as he asks what kinds of drills kids want to do. Different games require different interaction from kids: e.g., for some, kids say or type answers, for others VR or AR help kids see possible answers all around them and they must move their device around to point it at their answer choice. Activities cover topics like arithmetic, mental math, fractions, measurement, and more. Kids accumulate points that allow them to progress or get free passes to skip difficult questions. Other functions include sending and responding to messages through iMessage, customizing your own quiz questions, and talking with Leon.
Is It Any Good?
Fancy features add an element of excitement to math drills but feel out of place with bulky menu design and low-tech graphics. The developers of Math 8: Talk math with Leon! put a lot of thought into using the latest and greatest in interactive technology to engage kids with what can otherwise be dry material. Leon is a pretty good conversational pal -- as long as the conversation is about what he's programmed to talk about (i.e., math problems). He'll even give kids a couple hints when they're having trouble finding the right answer to a question. The VR and AR also create immersive environments that place kids in the center of a world of numbers to explore. That said, all the fancy stuff may end up being more a distraction than a learning aid, particularly because navigating through Math 8: Talk math with Leon! isn't straightforward or easy. Menus and buttons aren't clearly designed, and games sometimes have complicated play procedures. And, given all the sophistication in the software, it's odd to see such low quality graphics. At this point, Math 8: Talk math with Leon! feels like work in progress. Check out the free content really well to see if it works for your kid before committing to a subscription.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the math concepts covered in Math 8: Talk math with Leon! Which ones are challenging for your kid? What do they already know?
Discuss the use of technology in Math8: Talk math with Leon! Is the AR, VR, and voice recognition fun? Does it make you more interested in practicing math? Is it distracting?
Engage your kids with math in your everyday lives and make it fun. A cooking project can turn into an exploration of fractions, measurements, or arithmetic. A game of pool (billiards) is about angles, and Monopoly can be a great way to practice mental math equations.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects: Math : arithmetic, fractions, measurement, money
- Pricing structure: Free to try ($3.99/mo.; $19.99/6 mos.; $34.99/1 year)
- Release date: November 1, 2019
- Category: Education
- Topics: Numbers and Letters , Space and Aliens
- Publisher: L&J
- Version: 1.9
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 11.3 or later
- Last updated: November 25, 2019
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