Teams invited to take part in Maths4us App Challenge Friday, February 1, 2013 - 17:57

NIACE is inviting teams to compete for up to £60k to develop an app to boost numeracy – at The University of Nottingham on 4 March - as part of the new Maths4us initiative.

Last week, as part of the Maths4us App Challenge, a focus group of learners, tutors and app designers considered how an app might boost adult numeracy. Informed by the findings of this focus group, the teams will spend the 4 March 2013 formulating what an app like this should look like. They will then pitch to a panel of industry experts, who will select three of the proposed apps to be funded to develop their ideas to the paper prototype stage. The three potential apps will then be put to the public vote later in the spring and the winning one will be fully-funded and developed as the national Apps4Us maths app.

Teams - which can be self-selected or put together through a ‘team dating’ process - must be sponsored by a learning provider directly funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and must contain:

• At least one practitioner involved in numeracy education.
• At least one person with app development / design skills and a track record of delivery.
• Teams can also have a further three members who could be learners or professionals in the education, public, voluntary or private sectors, preferably each brining something different to the team.

Kevin Campbell-Wright, NIACE’s Digital Project Officer, said:

"Last week’s focus group provided a very useful insight into the challenges faced by learners and tutors in numeracy classrooms. It was clear from the discussion that maths needs to be made relevant and engaging to people, in particular when teaching more complicated concepts like averages, fractions and space. What was striking was the passion that teachers across the country had for finding solutions. For teachers and learners alike, I am certain that an App4Us would not only fulfil a vital need, but also be welcomed with open arms by the sector."

NIACE is working in partnership with Horizon Digital Economy Research, led by the University of Nottingham, for the Maths4us App Challenge.