If you're not familiar with MobyMax, they are a service that offers a K-8 online, adaptive curriculum in math and language that is aligned to the Common Core. They're a great service, and you can read more in my old review. Recently, MobyMax launched their new Android-based tablet, which allows students to access their curriculum in a new, portable environment. Let's check it out!
If you're new to MobyMax, you might want to check out their YouTube channel, as they have a whole collection of videos on getting started and explaining how to use their system. But, in short, it's a digital learning environment that offers an enormous variety of practice in mathematics and language.
Essentially, students select a subject area, are given a pretest to determine their ability levels, and then are assigned questions, games, and activities based on their learning needs. Plus, it's all built around the Common Core standards. Teachers can easily track student progress, get reports on learning goals, and even monitor IEPs.
With all that being said, this review will focus on the new tablet, and not the system as a whole (again, you can check out my first review for more information on how the software works).
Essentially, students select a subject area, are given a pretest to determine their ability levels, and then are assigned questions, games, and activities based on their learning needs. Plus, it's all built around the Common Core standards. Teachers can easily track student progress, get reports on learning goals, and even monitor IEPs.
With all that being said, this review will focus on the new tablet, and not the system as a whole (again, you can check out my first review for more information on how the software works).
The App Interface
The new MobyMax tablet is designed using a simplified Android operating system, and can be purchased for $69. With the cost of the tablet, students are also granted access to the MobyMax curriculum (which is free for everyone). However, if you purchase a Pro account for students (which costs $99), students will also have access to advanced progress monitoring, motivational activities, and things along those lines.
If you're already using MobyMax, but don't have steady access to computers, this could be the perfect device for your classroom. Additionally, if you're considering MobyMax, but don't have the budget for chromebooks, iPads, or PCs, this could also be a good alternative solution.
When students first log in on the tablet, they'll be asked to enter their school information as well as their username and password. From there, the app interface is very similar to what students see on the website version of MobyMax (as seen above). Students can select an subject are to work on, they can check on the badges they've earned, they can play games, they can use the messenger to communicate with other students, and so on.
Logging In...
Once students have selected what they want to work on, things proceed very much in the same manner as the website. Students are given pre-assessments the first time they work in a new area, and after that, assignments are given based on the areas they need more work. Overall, the tablet worked well in this area. I had some difficulty with having to scroll up and down in math questions, in order to see the whole question and all the responses, but in general, the interface within the app worked very well.
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All of the work that students do within the app instantly syncs back to their main account, so that teachers can see what the students have been working on, offer feedback, and modify assignments if need be.
Additionally, the tablet offers the ability to lock students out of anything aside from the MobyMax app, to limit which websites students can use, and to easily push out websites or applications from the teacher's control center to the student's devices.
Additionally, the tablet offers the ability to lock students out of anything aside from the MobyMax app, to limit which websites students can use, and to easily push out websites or applications from the teacher's control center to the student's devices.
With all that being said, I did experience some issues with the tablet in general. While their app performed very well, the operating system that is being used on this tablet is not incredibly user friendly. Navigating the OS, especially for a child, or someone with a learning disability, could be a very difficult experience. I also experienced some issues getting the tablet to actually connect to my PC.
But again, the actual MobyMax app is very solid, and a lot of these issues listed above could easily be solved with an update to the OS. In short, if you're considering the tablet, I would recommend trying it out on an individual basis first, seeing what you think of it, and seeing what a few students think of it, before rolling out a large-scale implementation. And, if you're planning on using it for anything outside of the actual MobyMax app (i.e. internet research, using other apps), I think another device might be better suited for those functions until they roll out an updated OS.
So, if you're already a MobyMax fan, and you're looking for an easy/effective/cheap way to implement the service in a mobile setting, this tablet could be perfect for you. As with any new technology, the team at MobyMax still has some kinks to work out, but given their track record, and the development that their core curriculum has undergone in the past year, I have no doubt that this new tablet will continue to improve as well. But for now, while not perfect, it's definitely ready for the classroom.
Plus, stay tuned to find out how you can win your own MobyMax tablet from the Roundup!
The opinions expressed in my review are my own.
I was not compensated for writing this review.
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