Times Tables Balloon Pop App Review
App Info
Price: $4.99
Overview
Times Tables Balloon Pop helps students attain accuracy, speed, and fluency with basic multiplication facts. A fact between 0 x 0 and 12 x 12 is posted, and several balloons with possible answers float around the screen. The goal is to pop the balloon with the correct answer.
Features include:
- Practice for times tables up to 12 x 12
- Single multiple family or groups of multiples mode
- Comprehensive mode that drills all factsHint mode showing matching arraysFree trial version available
Quality
Times Tables Balloon Pop is a high quality app. Developers give users lots of options for gradually increasing the difficulty of the task. There are controls to turn sounds on or off, turn the hints array on or off, and turn the background music on and off, but these are not available from the home screen. Developers should consider moving them to the main screen for easy access. It would also be very nice if the app could keep records for at least one student, but multiple records capability would be ideal for classroom settings.
Education
This app has a single purpose: building fluency, speed and accuracy with multiplication facts. It does this very well. Teachers and parents can use it to dress up the necessary drill and practice that it takes to master this skill.
The difficulty level is adjustable. Students can choose to practice difficult sections of the times tables, single factors, or all of the problems mixed together. There is a “hints” button that toggles a display of an array to match the current problem. It can be controlled via the “Hints” button that looks like a light bulb from within the activity.
Entertainment
The primary entertainment value of this app will be in its addictive nature. Kids will enjoy trying to beat their previous high scores, and something about popping virtual balloons is habit-forming for many. However, when each level is successfully complete, the app displays fireworks until the play button is pressed again. It would be nice if the reward could be more varied and randomized. Another idea would be to have players earn points for improved performance that could then be used to play minigames. That would improve the app’s entertainment value and make it seem more game-like and less like an assignment.
Value
Times Tables Balloon Pop is a good value at $3.99 on the App Store, particularly for families with multiple children working on their math facts, or classrooms where kids need this sort of practice. There is a free version available as a trial to find out if your student enjoys the game. It is limited to the x 2 facts. You can find the free version, Times Tables Balloon Pop Lite, at Times Tables Balloon Pop is a good value at $3.99 on the App Store, particularly for families with multiple children working on their math facts, or classrooms where kids need this sort of practice. There is a free version available as a trial to find out if your student enjoys the game. It is limited to the x 2 facts. You can find the free version, Times Tables Balloon Pop Lite, at https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/id1118949461?mt=8
Child Friendliness
Times Tables Balloon Pop is very child-friendly. There are no outside connections to the internet, social media or email, and there are no advertisements or in-app purchases.
- NO external links
- NO social media
- NO 3rd party ads
- NO in-app purchase
