Guide on how to work with problem-solving Mobile Apps on developing mathematical skills

By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• Understand the effectiveness of incorporating existing and tailor made mobile apps in their professional activities aimed at educating low-skilled adults.
• Demonstrate the competence in effective applying experiential training of mathematical skills based on problem-oriented learning and reflections.
• Define the learning pathway for individual learners, through the use of selected mobile apps from the M-Easy e-Directory.
• Use the Set of M-Easy mobile apps in the training process of low-skilled adults in accordance with the learner’s personal needs.
• Recommend suitable mobile apps for developing mathematics skills, based on the user’s level of competence and what the M-Easy project can offer.
• Support low-skilled adults to use the M-Easy mobile app for performing calculations in daily life on, i.e. managing money-pocket, managing of the home by renting, maintenance and renovation, currency and bank operations, health issues and time management, etc.
• Act as a facilitator for improving mathematic skills in low-skilled adults.

The E-Directory collects existing Mobile Apps related to basic numeracy learning in one interactive database, with useful recommendations and linked access. It allows the users to focus on the specific areas they are interested in and develop competences useful in everydayness. All recommended in the e-Directory mobile apps are for Android and can be used for free in the self-training process.

The E-Directory is available in English, Greek, Italian, Lithuanian and Polish.

Step by step guide:

1. To access the e-directory open a web browser of your liking, type in the address tab measy.lpf.lt and then press enter.

2. When the page is fully loaded the Home screen will appear. Choose one of the graphics presented below to access the Training Course in your desired language.

3. Click on the e-Directory of the Existing Mobile apps.

4. In the main e-Directory screen you will be presented with two possibilities.

5. The first possibility is for learners that know which specific mathematical skills they want to improve. Based on the chosen skills, the system will suggest the relevant Mobile Apps. To proceed with this learning pathway, users should choose from the skills in the M-Easy table, as shown below.

Please note that you can assist your learners in defining their learning pathways by using the results of the pre-Assessment of the mathematical skills that learners completed during the Assessment stage. Guide learners to mark those skills that were highlighted in yellow and/or red in the final result of their pre-assessment test. After clicking the Show button, learners will see a list of the Apps from the e-Directory, which are suggested for them to further develop. It is important to mention that this possibility is available only for the English version of the e-Directory. For the national versions only step 2 (the second possibility) is available as the Consortium had identified that the existing Apps in national languages did not cover all 27 maths skills defined in the project. Thus, for the national versions of e-Directory it is suggested for the adult educator to go through the e-Directory together with the learner and select the Apps which could help to develop the skills, defined in the Assessment tool as undeveloped (red or yellow).  Each App has a list of the math skills which will be developed by it.

6. The second possibility is for users who want to pick an APP from available ones.

7. Click on a mobile application that interests you. You will be presented with it’s description and a link to Google Play with an installation option.

The M-Easy mobile app is compromises of a set of 21 exercises related to mathematics, created for users to gain or improve their basic maths skills through real-life problem solving tasks. The most significant innovation of this M-Easy APP is that the knowledge obtained by the learners can be immediately used in their daily activities for work or personal life.

The list of  21  developed and suggested for learners mobile exercises on different real-life situations are the following:

The mobile app is available in English, Greek, Italian, Lithuanian and Polish.

Users can choose to use the M-Easy mobile app on Androids and from the project website.

Step by step installation guide for Android mobile devices:

1. Launch the Play Store.
2. Tap the magnifying glass in the top-right corner.
3. Type M-Easy.
4. Tap the three dots on the right side of M-Easy and then choose the install option.

Alternatively, please use this direct link for the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vizuali.m_easy

Usage guide:

When you open the M-Easy application you will be presented with the main screen:

In the top right corner there is an option button. After clicking on it you can:

• Change the language.
• Set the amount of numbers to be considered after the decimal point for calculations.
• Update the tasks on the list.

The application is divided into tiles.

The first tile – Instructions – is unique: it contains the general information about the app and a description about how to use it.

Remaining blocks are examples of real life task categories. To pick one tap on it.

Each category is divided into one instruction block and tasks.

After taping on a task you will open the main task screen.

In the top right corner of the task screen there is a question mark button. It contains useful information which is required to complete the exercise.

To complete a task first enter initial values into fields with an asterisk: *.

The fields with the symbol “C?” are where the calculations take place.

Tap and hold the “enter” field to open the Calculator.

Do the required calculations and tap the confirm button. Tap the VERIFY ANSWER button to check if you were right. If so, your answer will turn green.

If your answer is incorrect, it will turn red. You can press RETRY to try again or CORRECT ANSWER and the system will calculate the right answer for you.

Step by step guide:

1. To access the website interface open a web browser of your liking, type in the address tab measy.lpf.lt and then press enter.

2. When the page is fully loaded the Home screen will appear. Choose one of the graphics presented below to access the Training Course in your desired language.

3. Click on the Set of Problem-Oriented Mobile Apps for Mathematical Skills Development.

4. In the main Set of Problem-Oriented Mobile Apps for Mathematical Skills Development screen you will be presented with two possibilities, similarly as in the e-Directory.

5. The first possibility is for learners that know which specific mathematical skills they want to improve. To proceed with this learning pathway, users should choose from the skills in the M-Easy table, as shown below.

Please note that you can assist your learners in defining their learning pathways by using the results of the pre-Assessment of the mathematical skills that learners completed during the Assessment stage. Guide learners to mark those skills that were highlighted in yellow and/or red in the final result of their pre-assessment test. After clicking the Show button, learners will see a list of the exercises from the M-Easy App , which are suggested for them to further skills development.

Then, based on the chosen skills, the system will suggest the relevant Mobile Apps they can continue using, but from an Android mobile device. The example of the chosen exercise “Shopping for cakes” is below:

Please note, as a facilitator in this process, guide your learners in order for them to best benefit from the use of the mobile app. Your learners will see a list of apps related to chosen skills, but may require additional support, e.g. in choosing the sequence in which they will be using the recommended apps or that they should continue their learning pathway from the screen of an Android mobile device.

6. The second possibility is for users who want to pick an APP from available ones

Then, based on the chosen app, the system will suggest you the same path to continue as in the first possibility, i.e. develop the mathematical skills from an Android mobile device.

• To ensure the skills and competences develop and stay strong, learners should be encouraged to:
• Use the apps regularly.
• Try a number of applications.
• Try solving a variety of examples with different difficulty levels.
• Remember that mathematics, like any skill, needs practice and improvement comes with time.
• Practical tips for adult educators:
• In order to be well-prepared to facilitate the training course, you should complete all mobile exercises/Apps yourself first. These you will find both in the e-Directory and M-Easy mobile app.
• Before continuing to M-Easy App exercises, read the introductory very carefully text marked with letter about the exercise and how to perform it.
• Always encourage users to read the “hint” marked as before starting the tasks and during their implementation. It is the content that helps understand the complexity of the used formula. It is recommended to regularly revise this content.
• The “hint” section contains an example of a situational context. At any step of the mobile app activity, users can consult the “hint”
• Know all the options in terms of settings that the M-Easy app has, including language settings, update of exercises on your list, initial recovery to reinstall the application.
• In fields where required and marketed as “C?” – long press on the field to start the calculator. Use it as often as possible because the purpose of our application is not to practice to perform mathematical calculations, but to understand the logic of specific formulas and apply them in practice and daily life.
• Remember some other shortcuts in the calculator as
  = – will calculate the result.
  ✓ – will bring the result into the appropriate field.
• In the exercises, do not forget to press the VERIFY ANSWER button to verify if your answer is correct.
• Finally, explain to learners the benefits from using the M-Easy mobile app on own example – you will be providing the contextualised app usage, i.e. its exact impact.
• In order to gain the necessary math skills you should complete real life exercises. These you will find both in the e-Directory and M-Easy mobile app.