Here’s what you need to know about our new open educational resources library

• You can access the materials with one-click. 
• All materials are free and reproducible for your learners and most are modifiable. 
• Each resource has a description along with information about allowable uses. 
• The first four of ten topics are now available. We’ll release more topics in the upcoming months.

Half the planned topics in the library are focused on developing overall literacy and numeracy capabilities, many of which introduce innovative instructional approaches. Other topics will address learner interests and goals such as supporting children with their learning or preparing to write the food handler’s test to gain a certificate.

You’ll be able to supplement published workbooks with PDF workbooks, interactive digital activities, online courses and lessons presented in Slides. Modifiable resources allow you to change the content to reflect an Ontario context and better reflect student experience and interests.

We’ve also made it easy for you to build your collection by setting up folders in Google Drive that contain many of the resources. You’re sure to find at least one new gem that you can add to your personal collection. 

Photomath reads and solves math problems ranging from arithmetic to calculus. The math problems are solved instantly by using the camera on your mobile device. Math problems are then explained through animated steps or detailed instructions.  

Pros

• Photomath can capture handwritten math problems.
• It offers step-by-step explanations, some of which are animated instructions.
• It supports a large variety of math problems.
• Learners can try to solve math problems independently with the support of this app.
• This app can work without being connected to the Internet.

Cons

• Learners might need help to capture math problems with the camera.
• Learners might need support in understanding some explanations.

Cost

$0.00

Flipp enables users to browse local retail flyers from hundreds of retailers based on your postal code. Users can also browse by product or brand name. This app is useful in itself, but is also a useful resource for learning activities related to budgeting, shopping, price matching, and money math and management.  

Pros

• Authentic learning materials. Resource for creating practical learning activities. Appropriate for adult students.

Cons

• There is a lot of information in the App which may make it confusing at first. Students will need orientation to the App to make most effective use of it.

Cost

$0.00

Mathopia+ is  tile- matching game focused on basic math drills. Similar to jewel swapping games such as Bejeweled.  As numbers appear on the screen users swipe to make matches. When a match is made the row disappears and harder numbers appear.The game is quite fast paced, but users can choose the level of difficulty.

Pros

• Entertaining and engaging game to encourage basic math practice.  Players can choose addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Cons

• If students are not familiar with jewel swapping games they will need significant orientation to how to play the game. Assumes that players have good basic arithmetic skills.  Need to choose the Unlock mode in Settings so that players do not have to play level by level, but can choose their own level.

Cost

$5.49

A simple yet challenging math game focusing on operations and times tables. The game offers 4 modes – Children Mode ( the easiest), Hardcore Mode ( most challenging), Operations, users choose the operations they want to practice, Times Tables, for multiplication practice.  There is also a Multiplayer option which allows  a two player game on the same iPad.

Pros

• Simple interface, with several game options.

Cons

• Students will need  to have worked on basic Operations and will need orientation to play the games.

Cost

$0.99

A practical App for learning about and practicing Fractions.   

Activities include, 

• Exploring proper and improper fractions
• Learning to match a fraction to a quantity 
• Simplifying fractions
• Comparing fractions
• Ordering fractions
• Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing Fractions

Pros

• Easy to use,  appropriate for adult students.

Cons

• Straightforward, workbook-like layout, design and activities.

Cost

$4.99

Daily budget is a simple app that helps create a budget. The users enter their regular income, their montly recurring expenses, and their saving goal. With the balance, the app calculates a daily budget. The user is then invited to add expenses, on a daily basis, as they come in.  

Pros

• The breakdown of the budget per day really helps the user to know how much money is available and to think about their spending habits.
• This app encourages saving by calculating a saving amount prior to entering spending.
• The app does not connect to bank accounts, so there is no need to enter online banking log in data.
• Learners could find this app useful when learning about banking and money management. It can be installed on a smartphone (iPhone only) to experience, on a daily basis, the management of a budget.

Cons

• The free version includes advertisement.

Cost

$11.99

This  free App is a simple visually based tool to enable students to practice identifying  simple fractions using pizza picture examples.  Adjustable levels of difficulty, from easier to more complex fractions.

Pros

• Easy to use, entertaining,  good for practice and re-enforcement

Cons

• It’s designed for children so some students may find the visuals a little juvenile

Cost

$0.00

A fast-paced set of Math Games focused on the basics – although designed for K-12 the design and layout of Math King makes it appropriate for adult students.  

Pros

• Fun, engaging game-based

Cons

• In-app purchase  $2.99 necessary to access the full range of activities. Students will need some guidance and orientation to make effective use of the App.

Cost

$0.00

Big Math Flash Cards app allows you to flip the card just like a real flash card. It’s simple, visual and easy to use with simple swipes on the screen to help you practice Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division. The front side of the card shows the question and the back side of the card shows the possible answers. Just tap to flip the card. Once you answer the question correctly, flick the card off the screen by swiping up. At the end of your turn you get a percentage score and information on how many questions you got right and the time it took you to complete the turn.  

Pros

• Option to select if you want to doAddition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division
• Simple interface suitable for adults
• Randomly generated numbers
• Great for learners to practice their math skills, especially if looking for drill activities
• Score percentage and elapsed time displayed at the end
• Number of questions and difficulty levels can be configured
• Selectable flash card colour themes
• Turn all sounds on or off

Cons

• In-app purchases
• Can become repetitive after a while

Cost

$3.99