Cynthia Chiong, PhD, reviews and rates educational apps for children. Ms. Chiong recently posted her wish list of what she would like to see in a children’s app. Here are the highlights. First, Ms. Chiong wants to see apps that are more than just a drill. She looks for apps that teach strategy and reasoning, not just memorization. Second, Ms. Chiong favors apps that target the full spectrum. For example, apps that teach reading should not stop at phonics or alphabet, but also teach vocabulary and comprehension. Third, Ms. Chiong prefers apps that involve parents. She’s noticed a trend of reporting systems for parents, and she wants to encourage parental involvement more. Fourth, she’d like to see more of the merging of the apps with real-life activities (such as an app that teaches about animals that can be part of the science trip to the zoo). Finally, Ms. Chiong warns about the number and necessity of interactive features in e-books and whether they really add to the experience. Read the full article at the Cooney Center Blog.
