MyMaths and Tablet Computers

Some MyMaths users have been asking us how to use the site on iPads and other tablets. While MyMaths does work on some tablets, if you’ve given it a go you’ve probably found it’s been a case of finding clunky workarounds; or you may have given up entirely. We know how frustrating this is (we’re frustrated too) so we’ve been putting a lot of effort into getting MyMaths working – properly – on a wide range of tablets.

It’s been important to us to do this properly. One of the strengths of MyMaths is the variety of technical approaches. Our writers have always had the freedom to teach the maths the best way they know how, regardless of whether it’s using a piece of programming we already have. This is great, but it means there’s no easy fix for us. So we’re working through each piece of content and rewriting it to work as well on a tablet as it does on a laptop.

Over the next several months, we’ll be bringing more and more of our functionality to tablets. From the start of the new school year, browsing the curriculum, setting work and seeing results will all work on your device (parents and pupils can see work set and results too). We’ll also start making our teaching and homework content available on tablets. It won’t all be ready at once, but we hope there’ll soon be enough to get your students using MyMaths on their tablets.

We’re excited about this: not just because we’ll soon be working on so many more devices, but because it’s been a chance to take a look at other parts of the MyMaths experience. Before we started work on rewriting the site, we talked to lots of users about what they liked and disliked, and what features they’d like to see introduced. We’ve taken the opportunity to include as many of these improvements as we can, while keeping hold of everything that has made MyMaths the trusted site it is.

We’re really looking forward to sharing more with you soon!

25/6/2013 – When we wrote this post, we expected that tablet functionality would be ready as soon as teaching begins in August and September 2013. Unfortunately, and in the interests of making sure our new developments are fully tested, we’ve had to push that date back a bit. We’ll make sure we keep you informed. This won’t delay the arrival of new teaching content in the new school year.

Q. What’s the problem?

MyMaths, like lots of online educational software, is written using a technology called Flash. Flash has been the ideal platform. The plug-in is found in close to 100% of web browsers on desktop and laptops; and it gives very consistent results whether our activities are running on Mac, PC or Linux. Unfortunately, tablet computers by and large either don’t support Flash, or don’t support it very well.

There are other problems too; lots of MyMaths is interactive, and we have to make sure this stays easy to use on the tablet. For example, it’s very common for a website to use mouseover interactions. But most tablets can’t distinguish a mouseover from a click. Then there’s the question of size – can you reliably find and click a small button on the tablet, even if it was easy using a mouse on your PC?

Q. What are you doing about it?

First of all, we’ve been rebuilding the website so that it no longer depends on Flash. This work is nearly done, and so we’ll soon be able to share it with you. From this point, every type of administration will become possible on your tablet. You’ll be able to manage students, set work, see results, give feedback and so on. Students too will be able to see work set, browse the site, see their results and leave feedback.

Meanwhile, we’re working on the content. We will start by making available a number of lessons and homeworks in tablet-compatible versions; and we will add to these periodically. All new content from now on will work on tablets immediately.

Q. Will this disrupt my teaching?

We certainly hope not! We’re taking care to keep all the features in the current version of the site. On the other hand, the newly programmed site will be easier for us to maintain, so the whole experience should be smoother.