MathGo for Macintosh: A straightforward access to operations and numbers exercises [french] [deutsch] [Windows version]

Is it useful to ask whether it is still sensible to practise the technique of mathematical calculation in a systematic way ? If the ability to solve problems and to work on concrete situations is important, however, then this ability needs to be based on knowledge, techniques and automatic functions, such as the knowledge of multiplication tables, mental arithmetic and the manipulation of numbers, etc. The debate does not rest then in the well-founded practice of basic techniques, but rather in the meaning that the pupil can find in those techniques. In fact, practising technical exercises which have no purpose other than to solve problems unrelated to anything else, produces precious little lasting learning, if any at all.

By contrast, if the pupil can see the relevance, the exercise used for a more overall objective contributes to that pupil’s mastery of the mathematical tool. At school, MathGo can be used as a supplementary educational tool implementing current teaching methods (group work, situational problems, etc). As a learning, remedial and differentiation tool, it could never replace the teacher, the reference tools or teaching methods available. For parents, MathGo is a means of consolidating or enlarging upon the work that their child has done in class. MathGo is not a piece of educational software. Software does not present or go back over theoretical principles, nor does it manage the pupil’s progress. Rather it is up to the pupil, in collaboration with the teacher, the tutor or the parents, to manage his or her progress according to what he or she has learnt and according to where he or she still has difficulties.

We hope that this software will meet with your complete satisfaction, facilitating access to numbers and operations for each user, and doing so both playfully and thoughtfully.

Features

The aim of the MathGo program is to provide straightforward access to operations and numbers exercises.
Its strong points are as follows:

• Simple and user-friendly interface, playful and careful presentation.
• Automatic question generator, whereby the parameters can be set very broadly in terms of the numbers used, exercises, time available and level of difficulty.
• If a mistake is made, the correct answer is displayed then the question is asked again immediately.
• Time limit can be displayed or display can be deactivated.
• New: Option of recording the calculations done or the mistakes for the purposes of producing a final analysis or setting targets for improvements.
• 8 modules with different exercises to choose from

• Multiplication tables
• Mental arithmetic
• Numeration
  Estimation
• New: Multiples and divisors
• New: Mathematical formulae (priority of operations, square brackets, brackets)
• New: Exponentials, square roots, scientific notation
• New: 6 games to extend the work covered in a varied way with a record of the 10 best results and a bonus to motivate the pupil as he or she progresses.

Who is MathGo aimed at?

It is aimed at all pupils who have started learning the multiplication tables and doing initial sums right through to those who are studying exponentials and mathematical formulae, etc. MathGo exists in english, french and german languages.