Mathster – Is this the MyMaths killer?

Guestblogger: @mathstermaths

Mathster is a brand new website launched at the end of last year. Aimed at UK curriculum mathematics from primary to secondary, the site was nominated for a BETT award within a month of its release. Here is a detailed look at what the site can do.

Question Bank

At the heart of Mathster lies its 8,000 plus questions. Each question is also randomised so that you can ask a question more than once and the numbers and solutions will be different each time. This essentially makes an almost unlimited choice of questions.

Once you have chosen the questions – what is next?

Once you have chosen the questions you have 4 choices.

1. Set the work online for your students to complete
   Choosing this option allows your students to login and complete the work online. The student interface is slick and features many incentives such as levels, badges and games to ensure your students are fully immersed.
2. Create a worksheeet
   Choosing this option allows you to create a printable pdf of the questions chosen, with mark scheme. You can personalise the format, add clipart, change fonts and borders until you are happy with the layout of the worksheet.
3. Use the questions on the IWB
   This allows you to scroll through the questions to demonstrate in class or create a timed quick questions style presentation.
4. Embed the questions around a video
   Similar to setting the work online, you can choose from thousands of videos and tell the video to stop playing at certain times and ask the students questions. Ideal for flipped learning. You can even record your own video direct from the site.

Mark Book

Once a student has completed online work, Mathster automatically marks the work and adds the students grade to your online markbook. You can check what answers the student gave to all the questions and even see the students working out. Mathster also works out what NC level your students are working at and provides evidence for each strand / level that the pupil has achieved.

Reports

Also included in the Mathster website is a report writing assistant that creates written reports for your students with ease, adding statements from the NC showing which areas a student is working at and which the student has difficulties with.

Any Browser – No Flash

Mathster works on any modern browser and any device. You can use a mobile, a tablet or a PC or Mac. If your device has a modern browser then you can use Mathster.

Verdict

Is Mathster the MyMaths killer? Well they are very different beasts serving different functions. MyMaths has online lessons and allows teachers to present these in class to introduce topics whereas Mathster opts for the IWB approach. For the teacher who does not require the online lessons, Mathster gives much more control over the questions that will be used and the online homework is well executed with the teacher being able to analyse exactly what the student understands or is having problems with. Mathster is built on new technology and it shows, allowing students to use any of the devices that are so commonly found around them.

Take a Trial of Mathster

Mathster offer a one month free trial to all schools. Simply go to Mathster.com and click the free trial button. As a super special for MagicalMaths readers, email Mathster back with the text ”MagicalMaths promo code” after signing up and they will give you an extra month for free!