BrainPOP is an educational website and app that uses animated videos featuring characters Tim and Moby to teach a variety of math concepts in a fun and engaging way through short 3-minute videos and quizzes, and it allows teachers to search educational resources aligned with their region and grade level standards to supplement classroom lessons or assign for homework. While the videos effectively teach cognitive and affective skills, the program could better support communication, connections between subjects, and kinesthetic learning styles through modifications like in-class discussions applying the video concepts.

1. Using BrainPOP in Mathematics
Presentation by: William Nicholls-Allison
Evaluations based off of BC Grade 8 Mathematics IRP

2. Featuring: Tim and Moby
Tim: teenaged boy and primary narrator (a relatable character
for many students)
Moby: silly orange robot (because comic relief is always
welcome)

3. @Home and on the go
@Home (or computer lab) for iPad
• Tonnes of movies in • Simple interface
many subject areas • Hundreds of free
• Searchable by subject quizzes
• BrainPOP Educators • Tracks progress over
(more later) time
• Encourages learning • Monthly spotlight
with technology • Great for use in 1:1
programs

4. Evaluation
Wide variety of topics covering
many areas specified in the
PLOs, including:
• Number Skill: squares and
roots, exponents,
percentages, ratio,
proportion, fractions and
mixed numbers, and integers
• Patterns
• Shapes and Space:
measurement, 3D and 2D
geometry, transformations
• Statistics and Probability

5. Evaluation
Videos and Quizzes appeal to
the spectrum of Domains of
Learning:
• Cognitive: provides
knowledge as well as an
understanding of purpose.
Testing covers basic
memorization to synthesis.
Students may evaluate their
progress
• Affective: Tim and Moby
explore situations where skills
are applicable and discuss
past and future real life
applications
• Psychomotor: Students are
encouraged to apply skills
learned in videos while Image from iPad app
watching as well as
afterward

6. Criticism
Many, but not all of the
Mathematical Processes are
addressed:
• Communication is one-sided
• Learners are not engaged
in learning until quizzing
• Social aspect of learning is
denied
• Connections between
subjects are very rarely
made
Similarly, not all of the Principles
of Learning are addressed:
• Learners are an audience
rather than participants
• Not helpful for kinesthetic
learners or those with
sensorimotor over-excitability Image from iPad app
• Only the individual process of
learning is emphasized

7. Solutions
Do away with homework! In
stead, have students watch
videos at home and engage in
group discussion/application on
the subject during class time.
In discussion:
• Connect ideas learned in
videos with previously
learned material
• Replicate applications from
videos (see image on the
right!)
• Encourage cooperation and
collaborative learning
among students
As an added bonus, family may
choose to view videos with the Image from iPad app
learner. Guardian investment in
a child’s learning is a positive
influence.

8. BrainPOP
Educators
Allows for teachers to search for
materials by:
• Region
• Canada (3 Provinces)
• USA (30+ States)
• Subject
• Health
• ELA
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Technology
• Arts & Music
• Grade
• Kindergarten – Grade 12
Brings up a huge list of PLOs
satisfied by different materials
(easy to use!)

9. Subscription
Support for different age ranges! Leaping Language Boundaries!
• BrainPOP Jr. (K-3) • BrainPOP Español
$8.45/month or $85/year $8.45/month or $85/year
• BrainPOP • BrainPOP ESL
$9.95/month or $99/year $7.45/month or $75/year
For the iPad!
• BrainPOP Full Access
$6.99/month
• BrainPop Explorer (4 rotating videos a
day)
$1.99/month
• Free app includes several free videos
per subject and a rotating monthly
video

10. Subscription
• Discounts are also given on the basis of
class size:
– Homeschool use
– Classroom use
– School use
– School district use
– Virtual school use

11. Check it out!
Don’t just take my word, watch a video for yourself!
Tim has an accent in this video
because it’s from BrainPOP UK
Click to start

12. …and that’s the end of the
story!
Download the free app from the
AppStore to check it out and see
if it would work for your
classroom!