China’s primary students are being given the chance to participate in a series of mobile app-based math contests launched on Sept. 21, 2016 in Beijing.

The "Light of Math" contest consists of three legs: "Happy Oral Calculation," "Interesting Math," and "Fun Science." Participants need to download a mobile app called Calculation Box, and seek to achieve the best record in terms of accuracy within the time set to complete each challenge.

Contestants with the highest scores will be invited to the final competition, "Science Carnival," which will be held offline in Beijing next January.

The contest's primary organizer, Calculation Box's developer Knowbox, wanted to help consolidate primary students' ability in basic math by means of game-style exercises on a mobile terminal, said Jia Xiaoming, the Chief Marketing Officer of Knowbox, at a launch ceremony.

To promote the contest among a wider range of participants nationwide, Knowbox teamed up with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), named after the late wife of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, to use the latter's influence and prestige. Knowbox also donated one million yuan (US$149.84 thousand) to set up a special fund with CSCLF to provide necessary financing for the contest.

Calculation Box has received many positive reviews since the free mobile app hit the market in March last year. Zhu Jingyan, a teacher from Shanghai Guangling Road Primary School, said that Calculation Box improved the efficiency for both teachers and students.

She said students in the first and second grade aren't allowed to be given written homework as per local educational authority's concern to lessen young students' burden; however, calculation practice is essential and should be carried out on the daily basis.

"In the past, we advised parents to supervise their basic math practices, for which they have to buy exercise sheets. With Calculation Box, things are easier now. Corrections are made automatically, and the learning process is more interesting," said Ms. Zhu.

On Calculation Box, she could easily assign exercises of basic math so that all students instantly receive them on their parents' cellphones or iPads. The app will automatically correct students' exercises, saving teachers time in correction and allowing them space to analyze different student's weakness and come up with differentiated remedies, according to Ms. Zhu.

Most primary and middle schools in China have a ban on students' using cellphones or iPads, among other electronic devices, to prevent students from being distracted, so the promotion of an educational mobile app seems at odds with such a ban.

However, Knowbox CMO Jia said the app actually targets students' extracurricular time more, adding that the app is advised to be installed on parents' phones since their supervision is also part of the educational program.

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