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TC Entrepreneurs Honored for Math Teaching App
TC Entrepreneurs Honored for Math Teaching App
Teachley was founded by Kara Carpenter (Ph.D. ’13) and Dana Pagar (Ph.D. ’13), graduates from the Cognitive Studies in Education program in the Department of Human Development; and Rachael Labrecque, a current Ph.D. student in the program. The company’s mission is to bridge what its founders see as disconnects between academic research, education and gaming. Addimal Adventure features an iPad game that teaches single-digit addition strategies and conceptual understanding
“Academics are doing innovative work, but while their projects answer important theoretical questions, many fail to become viable products that address the real issues schools face,” Carpenter says. “On the other hand, many app developers fail to consider the research on how children learn and instead just ‘gamify’ flashcards.”
The trio met at TC while working with Herbert Ginsburg, Jacob H. Schiff Foundations Professor of Psychology and Education, on research based on Ginsburg’s MathemAntics application for Apple devices.
While most addition teaching apps take the form of digital worksheets and flashcards that drill for memorized answers, Addimal Adventure teaches multiple strategies to solve math problems. To use the app, which aligns with the Common Core State Standards, teachers create classroom accounts and individual student profiles. Students log in with a photo-based password to play the game, and the application saves each child’s work and remembers where he or she left off.
The game was one of 12 applications honored at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference, where the company recognizes applications for Apple products for outstanding design and innovation. Teachley: Addimal Adventure is available free download for iPad at bit.ly/TeachleyApps.
Teachley recently launched its second application, Mt. Multiplis, a multiplication game for third- through fifth graders currently featured in the App Store for Elementary School. The company’s next app, focused on subtraction, is currently in development.
Teachley also was one of six companies out of hundreds of applicants to receive two back-to-back prestigious Small Business Innovation Research grants, totaling $1.05 million, from the U.S. Department of Education.
Published Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2014
