MathSpace is the absolute worst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't stand when teachers blindly rely on assessments created by a publisher or a company that makes an app. The people who write questions for those companies are often far removed from a classroom. The wording of questions and answer choices is almost always confusing and just plain bad. I'm a professor and have never used the instructional materials or test questions provided by textbook publishers or software/apps. They are just so terrible. I don't understand why teachers can't come up with their own assessments that reflect how they actually taught the material. It's a lot of work the first time, but then you can make slight modifications and re-use for years afterward. Unless they are required to exclusively use adaptive assessments now? Which is another dumb idea that probably originated from someone who doesn't actually teach.

Yep, we required to use many of those assessments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son’s geometry teacher is using this platform now and it’s not even 2020.

It’s an FCPS approved math platform. It has nothing to do with 2020.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son’s geometry teacher is using this platform now and it’s not even 2020.

It’s an FCPS approved math platform. It has nothing to do with 2020.

Yes it does. It was used extensively during online learning, despite the fact that students hate it because you cannot change the answer once submitted, even if you accidentally hit the button. Teachers are using it for actual grades which is ridiculous. Math should be done on paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually think the mathspace program is pretty good. Some questions require more critical thinking than others, and that a good thing. Let's move away from the endless drill and kill worksheets as the kids grow older. Plus, if they miss a problem, they can always "try it again" for full credit.

And please remember, in Geometry, there is a difference between triangle ABC and triangle ACB. It is good for kids to learn why and when this matters.

+1
It's a good program for Alg 1, Geom, and Alg 2. You can try problems again for full credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son’s geometry class is using this platform now and it is terrible. It won’t accept straightforward answers, even when they are correct. He has spent hours on this mess, trying to figure out exactly how his answer should be worded or formatted in order for the system to accept it. HORRIBLE.

Another thread about the horrible MathSpace.
How do make the Instructional Services Department of FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that blasted penguin from elementary school math? Forgot the name of that math program. This thread brought back dark memories of spending hours doing that lol.

The penguin is alive and well in ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that blasted penguin from elementary school math? Forgot the name of that math program. This thread brought back dark memories of spending hours doing that lol.

The penguin is alive and well in ES.

ST math? Our school didn't use it last year but at the BTSN, teacher announced that students are going to used ST math again on daily basis. It seems Reflex is abandoned this year. There is competition between startups. Our school children are guinea pigs for their high tech education product experiments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that blasted penguin from elementary school math? Forgot the name of that math program. This thread brought back dark memories of spending hours doing that lol.

The penguin is alive and well in ES.

ST math? Our school didn't use it last year but at the BTSN, teacher announced that students are going to used ST math again on daily basis. It seems Reflex is abandoned this year. There is competition between startups. Our school children are guinea pigs for their high tech education product experiments.

Our kids were on it constantly last year....horrible program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son’s geometry class is using this platform now and it is terrible. It won’t accept straightforward answers, even when they are correct. He has spent hours on this mess, trying to figure out exactly how his answer should be worded or formatted in order for the system to accept it. HORRIBLE.

Your son can't figure out that he needs to answer "x = 4" instead of "4"? Or that triangle DEF is not the same as triangle EDF? Then the problem lies with your son and not with mathspace.

[Anonymous]

Why are they allowed to introduce these packages when there is no evidence they work at all? This should be illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm elsewhere in Virginia and our high schooler's math class is all on paper. Trig. They ditched the online math platforms for being ineffective, and poorly designed. Kid has a paper packet of math problems due on Monday in class. Have fun!

Have fun with all the MAGA this fall!!

Weird flex. Wherever the PP is, they certainly have a better approach to teaching math than here in FCPS.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son’s geometry class is using this platform now and it is terrible. It won’t accept straightforward answers, even when they are correct. He has spent hours on this mess, trying to figure out exactly how his answer should be worded or formatted in order for the system to accept it. HORRIBLE.

Your son can't figure out that he needs to answer "x = 4" instead of "4"? Or that triangle DEF is not the same as triangle EDF? Then the problem lies with your son and not with mathspace.

Umm... that's not the issue. Maybe don't comment if you don't understand what's being discussed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son’s geometry class is using this platform now and it is terrible. It won’t accept straightforward answers, even when they are correct. He has spent hours on this mess, trying to figure out exactly how his answer should be worded or formatted in order for the system to accept it. HORRIBLE.

Your son can't figure out that he needs to answer "x = 4" instead of "4"? Or that triangle DEF is not the same as triangle EDF? Then the problem lies with your son and not with mathspace.

Umm... that's not the issue. Maybe don't comment if you don't understand what's being discussed?

Then give me an example.of the issue. There have been a lot of complaints about it being "horrible" and not taking "straightforward answers." Give me an example. I'll wait.

[Anonymous]

For profit software and penguin-like "edutainment" programs are a disaster. They are expensive for FCPS, not well made, and studies have shown that learning on the computer is not anywhere near as effective as learning on paper. Computers are distracting for everyone. There is a reason that schools in the Silicon Valley still use textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son’s geometry class is using this platform now and it is terrible. It won’t accept straightforward answers, even when they are correct. He has spent hours on this mess, trying to figure out exactly how his answer should be worded or formatted in order for the system to accept it. HORRIBLE.

Your son can't figure out that he needs to answer "x = 4" instead of "4"? Or that triangle DEF is not the same as triangle EDF? Then the problem lies with your son and not with mathspace.

Umm... that's not the issue. Maybe don't comment if you don't understand what's being discussed?

Then give me an example.of the issue. There have been a lot of complaints about it being "horrible" and not taking "straightforward answers." Give me an example. I'll wait.

+1, as a teacher I agree that those are common mistakes - so what is it that we don’t know?