Every child can benefit from assistive technology for math. That’s because these math resources help to bring any concept to life. And while these assistive technologies are crucial for students with dyscalculia, they are helpful for any child. That’s because these tools illustrate concepts that are often difficult to explain with words alone. The resulting multi-sensory learning experience makes math more accessible to any student.
The most common form of assistive technology in math is the calculator. And while most people are familiar with the classic four-operation or graphing calculator, there are many other types of calculators out there. Some include modifications like larger screens and color-coded buttons. Others include speech recognition and text-to-speech features. Plus, there are even digital calculators available online, like this one. But assistive technology can do so much more than basic calculations.
Tools for Learning Math Concepts
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has a digital version of every manipulative you can think of. From base 10 blocks to pie charts, they have a tool for just about everything math-related.
Geogebra offers free, interactive tools for solving problems in geometry, algebra, and more. Their resources include downloadable apps as well as a web-based platform where students can practice their graphing skills.
Algebra Touch and Long Division Touch are apps for iPhone and iPad that let students explore algebra and long division in ways that make sense to them. Plus, there is no way for kids to get a problem wrong as the apps only respond to “correct” moves.
Procedural Math Tools
KhanAcademy is a comprehensive online curriculum for students in K-12. Every topic includes a video that explicitly explains and models the skill. Plus, the platform offers opportunities for guided practice or more independent work after viewing a video. And as students think through problems, they can also use the annotation tool to keep track of their work.
PhotoMath, available for Windows and Mac, is an amazing app for checking completed work. With this tool, students can take a photo of a problem and the app scans work for mistakes. Then, PhotoMath will walk the student (or the parent who’s helping!) through the steps to correct the work.
ModMath is a free iPad app that allows students who have trouble writing out math problems to make their calculations using the touch-screen feature. That means there is no writing necessary! The best part is the app was created by a kid with dysgraphia who struggles with writing math problems.
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