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App of the Week: Geometry in 3D

volumize-app
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated with help from the editors of Graphite.org [1], a free service from Common Sense Education. Click here [2]to read the full app review.

Volumize [3]

What’s It Like? Volumize is an app that allows students to import photos from their iPads (using the built-in cameras or any other file in their library) and then draw virtual 3-D geometric solids over the photo to roughly approximate its form. They can adjust the interface’s measurement scale to accurately reflect real-world measurements, making this more than just a virtualization tool –- it’s a powerful 3-D ruler, too. The app then automatically calculates the area and surface area, showing the steps and pieces of those calculations and a net of each solid. For compound shapes, it does all the combination work for you.

Price: $3

Grades: 6-11

Pros: Intuitive interface, automatic calculations, and built-in tools for reporting mean it’s ready for classroom use right out of the box.

Cons: Automatic calculations remove the technical work from geometry, controls can be a bit finicky, and the shape palette is limited.

Bottom line: A quick way to make solids more tangible, especially when paired with good lesson plans that get students working directly with formulas.