Photomath
Reviewer: Scotti-Lynn Moore
Developer: Photomath, Inc.
Operating systems: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
Version: 7.5.2
About the App
Photomath is an app that uses your phone’s camera to analyze math equations to help the learner solve difficult math problems all while explaining each step along the way. This app is suitable for all ages but would be particularly helpful for college-level math where some content can get a bit more difficult.
Categorization and Learner Needs
According to the article Educational Apps Ontology, mobile apps can be broken down into a few categories and pedagogical design purposes pertaining to their individual purpose. In terms of broad categories, there are 3 main ones explored by the authors: instructive, manipulable, and constructive. Instructive apps focus on “drill-and- practice” where the learners are supposed to complete a standardized task, where there are predetermined “correct” answers. Manipulable apps focus on discovery and experimentation via guided inquiry—but once again, the outcome is predetermined. Constructive apps are “open-ended”, allowing the user to freely creative according to their preferences. Additionally, an app’s purpose can take on a few different forms, and thus be broken into 6 groups: Knowledge and Skill Building, Collaboration, Learning and Teaching Support, Communication, and Other Tools and Reference apps. Knowledge and Skill Building apps are the broadest in terms of uses—these apps consist of simple calculators to complex educational games which uses extrinsic motivators such as leveling up, points, and high scores to increase engagement. “They most likely address the first two levels from the bloom taxonomy: Remember (identify, recall) and Understand (compare, match, classify)” (Notari et al., 2016). Collaborative apps include learners working as a group to create something, such as the Google Doc app. Learning and Teaching Support apps use the learner-provided content to help them learn using a built-in learning strategy, i.e., flashcards, homework scheduling, etc. Communication apps focus exclusively on providing a conduit for ease of communication, i.e., Slack. These apps are extremely useful in learning environments as they help the learner to ask questions and receive feedback in a timely manner. Finally, Other tools and reference apps are just that—tools and references to aid in the learning process, i.e., calculators, maps, etc.
According to these definitions, this app would fall under the instructive category for mobile apps. Since the purpose is to guide the student to solve math problems, it is attempting to scaffold the learner’s approach by taking them step-by-step through the thought process in order to solve the problem. Furthermore, this app would likely be considered a combination of a Learning and Teaching Support and Other Tools and Reference app as the learner provides the math problem (equation) they are struggling with and the app, once it recognizes the equation, provides the scaffolding necessary to guide the learner to solve it.
This app satisfies the learner’s cognitive needs (Notari et al, 2016) in a number of ways. The learner is able to get help from experts and
practices problem solving with the app’s step-by-step breakdown walking them through how to solve difficult math problems. The learner can think independently by having a tutor in the palm of their hand, thus not necessarily relying exclusively on their teacher and/or peers. Lastly, the user can process new information gathered by simply getting guided help and, for an additional fee, access Photomath Plus—a paid service that provides animated tutorials in-depth explanations (the why?).
Other Related Pedagogical Themes
Photomath is a great supplemental tool to help students learn how to approach math problems, and, therefore, is a solid example of how informal learning can benefit the learner within the formal learning environment. As explored in the article Learning theories and education: Toward a decay of synergy, informal learning is referred to as “the largely emergent occasions of learning that occur in homes, on playgrounds, among peers, and in other situations where a designed and planned educational agenda is not authoritatively sustained over time” (Bransford et al, 2006). While Photomath’s goal is to help the student successfully complete their math homework, which is directly tied to the formal learning environment, it is a means to gain additional/supplemental knowledge to compliment formal learning. There is no instructional goal or objectives; it is completely initiated and directed by the student’s need to fill in their knowledge gaps. Furthermore, the knowledge gained while engaging in informal learning with the app will translate into a better understanding that is then carried into the classroom.
Conclusions
I honestly wish I would’ve had an app like this when I was going through school. Math can be a tricky subject if you aren’t lucky enough to have a teacher who understands the mental leaps that students who are learning (or struggling to learn) cannot make on their own. This app is a great tutor for those who need a little assistance.
Resources
Notari, M. P., Hielscher, M., & King, M. (2016). Educational apps ontology. In D. Churchill, J. Lu, T. Chiu, & B. Fox (Eds.), Mobile learning design (pp. 83–96). Singapore: Springer.
Bransford, J., Stevens, R., Schwartz, D., Meltzoff, A., Pea, R., Roschelle, J., Vye, N., Kuhl, P., Bell, P., Barron, B., Reeves, B., & Sabelli, N. (2006). Learning theories and education: Toward a decay of synergy. In P. Alexander & P. Winne (Eds.), Handbook of educational psychology (2nd ed., pp. 209–244). Erlbaum.
Image credits: https://photomath.app/en/
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