Symmetry School for iPad Now Available on the App Store
Symmetry School, the first app in our series of educational games, is now available to purchase on the iTunes Store!
About Symmetry School
Symmetry School is a multi-lingual, captivating, brain-twisting game designed to support and encourage mathematical development in children. Symmetry School’s intuitive learning experience allows children of varying abilities to learn through play, exploring hard-to-grasp symmetrical concepts on their own terms and at their own pace.
Geometry, the mathematics of shape and space, is a fun and practical way to introduce mathematical thinking and Symmetry School encourages learners to use intuition and imagination to explore symmetrical puzzles. Through gameplay learners are aided in developing an essential foundation in spatial reasoning, problem solving and visualisation.
Suitable for home or school use, Symmetry School has been developed in-line with the Irish and international curriculum requirements for short-form K-12 learning.
Symmetry School fits easily into the classroom time-period and each app purchased on the iTunes Store provides access to a supporting online Whiteboard version for teachers. There are supplemental print activities available to download, as well as a handy ‘Email Your Result’ module used for homework activities.
During gameplay learners will:
- Learn to recognise reflective and rotational symmetry.
- Use an understanding of reflective symmetry to complete the missing half of a pattern.
- Use an understanding of rotational symmetry to predict and describe the results of rotating patterns.
- Recognise simple spatial patterns and relationships and make predictions about them.
- Develop a foundation for understanding symmetry at later levels.
- Solve problems and learn to work systematically.
- Develop fine motor skills.
- Have fun and learn!
Symmetry School has been rigorously user tested through multiple school pilots, with the appropriate educational vocabulary chosen by veteran educationalist Eileen Ward used throughout the game.
Symmetry School is available in English and also Chinese, French, German, Irish and Spanish. The translated language and terminology used within the game has been selected by international educationalists for each of these additional languages.
What The Experts Say
“Symmetry School is a unique App that supports the development of geometrical reasoning in the areas of reflective and rotational symmetry. Other computer tools focus primarily on reflective symmetry or on identifying symmetry focusing predominantly using a region or area model. Symmetry School, however, presents an innovative and conceptually challenging perspective on symmetry by presenting a selection of explorations which increase in challenge and move beyond traditional (and limiting) representations of symmetry.
The advantage of Symmetry School for any classroom teacher, or school district, is its uniqueness in providing an environment within which learners of all abilities can practice their skills and then move on to more challenging activities. From a mathematics education perspective engaging with the Symmetry School activities provide invaluable experiences in symmetry and the design features make it appropriate for use with learners across a wide span of school mathematics grade levels.”
- Dr. Aisling Leavy, Department of Mathematics Education, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland.
“Many students at CTYI, Dublin City University are good spatial learners and have very little opportunities to display their ability in their school environment. With the shortage of suitable graduates in the technology and engineering sector Symmetry School can go a long way to addressing this problem by exposing children to mathematical problems in a fun and interesting fashion.”
- Dr. Colm O’Reilly, Director, Centre for Talented Youth in Ireland (CTYI), Dublin City University, Ireland.
