Maths app voting now closed Friday, April 12, 2013 - 13:13

Voting has now closed, determining a winning maths app that will receive funding for full development, as part of the Maths4us initiative to boost adult maths skills across England. The winning app will be announced next week.

Leading up to the voting, the Apps4us challenge called for a focus group of learners, tutors and app designers to consider how an app might boost adult numeracy. Their findings informed designs that were pitched to a panel of industry experts, and four of the proposed apps were selected to be developed to the prototype stage.

Susan Easton, NIACE Programme Manager for Digital Learning and one of the panellists, said:

"As a member of the Apps4Us selection panel, I was extremely impressed by the quality of the applications, which made it very difficult to choose our four finalists. Developers and tutors working together directly, without intermediaries, was a very fruitful approach that produced a range of creative ideas.

"While there are many existing apps for maths, there are too few which are engaging and relevant to adults’ daily lives and that support realistic approaches to improving adults’ maths skills. We’re hoping that the winning entry will be of huge value to adults and maths tutors alike, and that as part of the Maths4us initiative, it will help change attitudes to maths."

Developing a new maths app, which will be available to download for free, is part of the Maths4us initiative - a partnership of national organisations working together to raise awareness of the important role of maths in everyday life and to help improve the nation’s skills.