UK MNer with at least one child aged 4-14? Sign up to test Smartick’s online after-school maths programme

[EllieMumsnet]

Smartick are looking for Mumsnet users and their children to trial its online after-school maths programme for children. This product test is open to all UK MNers with at least one child between the ages of 4 and 14, that have access to an internet-enabled computer/laptop or tablet. Selected testers will receive a six-month subscription (a value of over £100) to Smartick after testing is completed and have up to 4 weeks to try and review it.

Here’s what Smartick have to say: “Smartick is an award-winning, AI-based, online maths programme designed to develop mathematical abilities in children ages 4 to 14. Smartick promotes an understanding of maths through personalised and accelerated learning by adapting to each child's level and learning pace in real time, allowing them to work according to their maths needs and capability. Each child has a unique and personalised path that constantly adjusts to help fill in gaps in knowledge.

There are more than 20,000 users of Smartick in over 100 countries. e've collaborated with the MIT G-Lab and been published by Harvard Business Review and Forbes as well as featured as an app favourite by Apple.”

Selected testers can register for the program through a web browser on their PC or by downloading the Smartick app available for iOS or Android tablets. Smartick recommends that children work on their daily 15-minute sessions at least 5 days per week. This is not mandatory however it is suggested to get a better scope of the program.

All testers will be required to leave feedback on a thread on Mumsnet and also fill in a short survey, everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where 3 MNers will win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

To sign up to test Smartick, please click here.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

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DD did her 2nd day today.

Some of the questions have to be answered in a long and convoluted way which means that the response time is slow even when DD has worked out the answer immediately. Instead of typing in the answer to the word problem, DD had to click through several different stages to drag numbers and coloured bars into boxes before being allowed to actually put the answer in. She found that frustrating.

The questions are getting better though and DD loved the games again.

DD had the American voiceover yesterday. I discovered that you can change it to the UK version by clicking on the flag at the top of the screen. Much less annoying.

My 5 year old thinks it's incredible! Was the first thing he asked for this morning. As a parent, the questions seem very simple at the minute, don't seem to be adjusting to his abilities very quickly but he's still loving it. The games are very well done from what I've seen so far.

our subscription ends on June 14th so not 6 months.

dd 11 said she don't like the site.

The subscription date has now changed to the 14 July - which is the four weeks of testing I was expecting.

We did third session still testing to find their levels - which proved to be too much testing for DS but they have now found the level for both DS and DD2.

DS got every frustrated then more frustrated when after struggling the questions went too easy. We’ll see how he gets on with actual lessons/levels.

It has thrown up some area of weakness – his algebra was strong before secondary, but he claims they’ve done none in year 7 and he does now seem rusty.

They’ve discovered the game and competition sections today as well – they seem to like those.

Day 1- daughter got quite upset as she didn't understand most of the questions & she decided she didn't like it as she "failed" (her words not mine)

Day 2- gave her questions she understood, likes it better , was looking forward to day 3

Day 3- understood questions & did excellent on them, really boosted her confidence and she can't wait to do more,

She loves the fact that it emails me with the results so I can see how good she's done!
I really like it so far, and she seems to be too, looking forward to see how she feels about it going forward over the next few weeks!

Mine's changed to a 4-week subscription now too.

Day 3 and this time DD had a tutorial video to watch and then some questions. It was difficult enough to make her have to think about it but not hard enough to put her off. Just about right I think.

I really like the emails about the progress, and DD likes seeing her scores/percentage going up in the games area.

I was selected (or DD was), but wasn't emailed a link?

My bad, I didn't read the email properly! Once I've signed up following the link on my phone, can DD download the app on her tablet and log in?

It's a shame u can't play it on a phone; just a tablet. Can't download on Imac either

They got to the lessons today - they seemed happier about that. They found them straight forward bit too easy TBH but will see how they develop over next few weeks.

Ok, my DD is just 8. Our email had gone to spam so late getting started. She did first session today and enjoyed it. It did make her think.

I like the email assessment, I read it to DD and we're looking forward to tomorrow session. She's currently playing the games to unlock trophies.

We've changed the voice to English. I like that the games are thought provoking too and not simply games for the sake of it. DD likes reading out the instructions too.

I think the questions are ok at the moment. We'll see how she progresses.

I definitely wouldn't pay £40 a month.

I home educate DD and it's costly enough as it is.

"Everyone gets their first 2 weeks free, so your 6 month free subscription as a Mumsnet users will be added to your account by Smartick once your child completes their first session

• You will get 4 weeks to fully test out the service"

* Is it only me that's still confused about this?* *First 2 weeks free, then you get 6 months added but you get 4 weeks to fully test it?

"Everyone (meaning general public, MN users, anyone who signs up) get their first 2 weeks free, however as this is a MN trial all testers will receive a 6 month free subscription on top of this 2 weeks. Smartick cannot add this 6 month free subscription until your child has completed their first session. As you have a 6 month subscription, you have 4 weeks to test it out.

I hope that makes sense. "

Just cleared it up for me, thank you Ellie!

We've just started. DS found the assessment long but enjoyed it, though some of the questions on reasoning made no sense to either of us at first. Other than that he found it very easy.

First thoughts - I don't like the voices. We will be playing muted.

I like the way it looks - very clean. I wouldn't pay £40 a month for it though.

The subscription now comes up at 6 months - they've done fifth day of it and had second lot of lessons and seem happier with it now it's stopped testing.

We've just started, DS just done his first session.

He's definitely enjoying it, he cried when I told him it was time for bed! He's done the first assessment/session and had a little play about with the shop area.

He can't read the questions as yet so we can't play it on muted unless I read them for him.

Mine is also showing November 11th 19 now

DD has done her 5th day now.

She seems to like the lesson days much more than the assessment questions. Some of the assessment questions are/were very easy and others had some very odd answers.

Her only real complaint so far is that it seems to take a long time to save up enough stars to be able to buy anything interesting in the shops.

The subscription has now been extended until November. :o

Today's only issue was questions about a rekenrek. DD had no idea what it was and I'd never heard of it either.

A later google search found a video called "What the heck is a rekenrek?" so presumably we're not the only ones to have no idea. :o

We had an issue with a number line with a triangle on with DS - and having to move it left or right so many places.

Negative numbers seem to think left/right was opposite to DS right/left but positive number bit the same as his right/left - confused us by what was being meant by left/right.

DD2 seems quite happy with it.

I also started DD1 on it – she’s just in the age range but I found her yet again doing bare minimum on IXL on a topic she doesn’t need practise on– so figured having topic picked out for her and set practise time would be better. She less enamoured by the graphics but the level testing thrown up slow areas – so could be useful.

Tried it out for the first time with ds tonight. He seemed happy doing the assessment, and particularly likes the 'brain training' (his words) type games in the village. He is only 5 so some of the games a little hard for him at this stage but he is keen to keep going so that has to be a good sign!

Ours has been quite glitchy so far on an iPad, not letting you fill in answers. The village is quite clunky compared to the apps/ games most kids are used to playing. I was sitting with him while he did it, and I don’t think it’s very intuitive at all.

My son isn’t keen to try it again, which is a real shame as he could really do with strengthening his maths. I’ll persevere though!

Boys aged 8, 7 and 5 trying it here.
The 5 year old's tasks seem very simple, with a lot of repetition, but he loves it. He can't read the tasks but uses the voice button.
The 7 year old does too and is getting up early to do it! It seems to be the shopping and bubble pop game which he likes most.
The 8 year old finds maths harder, and seems to have been given slightly easier tasks after the testing. He is enjoying it too.
They all want more stars so that they could buy a cat...
The screen doesn't quite fit on our laptop, so they often stop to pull it down to see their progress