1 March 2021

Including NumberSense in children’s screen time makes good sense!

  • Interactive and adaptive, the NumberSense App is responsive to the developmental level of the child.

    Not only does the NumberSense App promote learning and the development of cognitive skills amongst children, it also provides a comprehensive mathematics learning solution with key features which benefit not only children but parents and teachers too.

    Screen time amongst school-aged children has increased dramatically in the past year. Small wonder with parents working from home, children being taught online and the need to stay home … not to mention stay sane!

    We have all heard of the dangers of screen time but how can this be avoided in the modern age – and during a pandemic on top of that?

    Well, there is hope. Well-designed, educational screen time is not all bad. In fact, according to Kathy Hirsh-Pasek of the Temple University Infant Language Laboratory in Philadelphia, interactive screen time can be beneficial. (1)

    Whereas most screen time entails passively sitting and listening, adaptive and interactive screen time requires that children respond and make meaning for themselves. Beneficial screen time is one that acts as a prompt for social engagement and can strengthen children’s mental imagery skills – vital to childhood development.

    One such screen time activity is available in the form of the NumberSense App. Interactive and adaptive, the programme is responsive to the developmental level of the child.

    The NumberSense App

    The rich pedagogical approach that underpins the success of the paper versions of NumberSense Workbooks 2 to 12 can be accessed via the NumberSense App. Children are challenged to learn by trial and error, notice patterns and reflect on what they have done in order to progress. Using counters, drawing pictures and making tables to help make sense of the problems presented on the app, builds their mental imagery – a key aspect of childhood learning – alongside developing their sense of number.

    Not only does the NumberSense App promote learning and the development of cognitive skills amongst children, it also provides a comprehensive mathematics learning solution with key features which benefit not only children but parents and teachers too.

    Automatic Marking

    • Provides children with immediate feedback, allowing them to learn from their mistakes and consolidate what they are unsure of.
    • Removes the need for teachers and parents to mark pages of sums, providing greater time for social engagement through reflecting on the completed work.

     

    Instantly available, comprehensive reports

    • Access a complete overview of each page of the workbook, indicating average scores and page performance through colour-coded markers, instantly gauging where a child has struggled and knowing which concepts and pages to return to and topics to reinforce.

     

    • Obtain detailed reports on the learning outcomes the children have covered and their performance in each area, informing your teaching plan and assisting you in tailoring your teaching to suit the child.

     

    • View a summary of children’s workbook progression, their page scores and completed answers, allowing you to quickly realise which child is progressing steadily and which child needs additional support or remediation.

     

    For more detail on the NumberSense App, visit  the App page on the NumberSense website.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The latest Play and App store reviews reveal that we have users across South Africa and around the world – Hong Kong, UAE, USA and Nambia!

    A teacher in China had this to say:

    “The NumberSense App is a wonderful addition to the books or in place of the workbooks when obtaining them is tricky. I currently teach Grade 3 at an international school in China where my class are keen NumberSense users. They are even learning to count South African money as it is simply another way of counting in 10’s and will hopefully help lay a foundation for their future understanding of decimals.”

    “The NumberSense App allows for differentiation and self-regulation.”

    “The self-marking and instant feedback keeps students motivated and gives me free time to assist where needed.”

    For further details and assistance, email appsupport@NumberSense.co.za.

     

    (1) Anderson DR, Huston AC, Schmitt KL, Linebarger DL, Wright JC. Early childhood television viewing and adolescent behavior: the recontact study. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 2001;66(1):I-VIII, 1-147. PMID: 11326591.