The Mighty Jungle: Animals ~Review~

The Mighty Jungle: Animals

This app focuses on animal appearances and animal habitats.The graphics are very clear and characters are adorable making it very appealing to students. The colors help keep the attention of the user. The "game" set up as a hide and seek adventure to find 3 friends. There are 3 levels: LEVEL 1 Appearances - The users are asked to figure out the animals that Bruce met along his journey. The narrator gives the clues to which animals to find while pictures of 4 animals are shown. LEVEL 2 HABITAT - The users are asked to figure out the animals that Rhonda met along her journey. The narrator gives the clues to which animals to find while pictures of 4 animals are shown. This level gets a little harder as it the pictures not only show animal, but something about the animal, such as eating habits or habitat AND the user is asked to choose more than one picture. LEVEL 3 LIVING HABITATS - The users are asked to figure out the animals that Wendel met along his journey. The narrator gives the clues to which animals to find while pictures of 4 animals are shown. This level also gets more difficult as user is asked to choose more than one picture relating to common habitat. When a wrong answer is given, the picture of "grey"ed out laving correct choices in color. This was definitely a helpful feature for my students. It gave them a way to always feel they "got the right answer" even if it took them a couple of tried. All instructions are read to user so no need for reading skills on the part of the user.


The students really enjoyed playing this app; however, they were not always patient enough to wait for the full directions. Not a fault of the app, just impatient 7 year olds! Since my students are still working on following simple directions and building basic language skills, LEVEL 1 was the only level that a couple of my students could somewhat successfully use on there own. LEVELS 2 and 3 needed adult facilitation which isn't a bad thing because the app would be a great way to work on following directions and language skills. As I researched this app, I was excited to see that the app characters are from a PBS Sprout and Disney show which would make the familiar characters appealing to kids.



Additional IEP applications
As mentioned above, this app could be used with following directions and working on basic language skills. This app also would be great for working on categorizing animals and identifying common characteristic of animals.



Suggestions
There are a couple of suggestions that would enhance this app:

1. It would be helpful for the animal choices (in picture frame) were labeled with name. I have a student who is such visual learner that printed word is almost more important than the picture. Having the printed work and the picture paired together would be very beneficial for him.
2. Instead of touching question mark to repeat question, I think it would make more sense for the user to touch the narrator animal (sorry I don't know his name, think I need to seek out a few episodes on Spout soon!).
3. It would be nice to have an option of how student is reinforced with sound. I have student who enjoyed hearing the "wrong" buzzer sound, so turn this off would help him focus on the task versus hearing the buzz.

Conclusion
Overall, this is solid app that has many uses in both the general education classroom as well as intervention settings. I can really see it being used in an SLP pull-out setting where they often work on categorizing items. This app would also be very appropriate for any primary class to reinforce animals and their habitats. Within my classroom, I see this app as being a teacher facilitated activity with most of my students. At $2.99, this app is decently priced, especially if you have a user who is a fan of the Mighty Jungle.

APP INFO
developer: iLearn With
website: http://www.ilearnwith.com/
itunes: The Mighty Jungle: Animals
category: Education
recently updated: April 11, 2011

Jungle Coins and Jungle Time ~Review~

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to take a look at 2 apps: Jungle Coins and Jungle Time. It couldn't have been more timely as I was starting both of these skills with of few of the students in my class. I was eager to try them out. Before trying them with my students, I decided to use them with a few students from the kindergarten class first. These apps fit perfectly into the kindergarten curriculum as well as with some of my intervention students. These 2 apps are part of only a handful of apps that i have on my iPad that I can truly say are able to be differentiated across skill levels as well as grade levels.

Jungle Coins 

Initially, I was a little overwhelmed by the "jungle theme" -  the sounds, lion graphic, and set up that accompanied this app. My first goal was to find the options section, hoping that there was a sound on/off option. Thankfully, in settings, there were several options for sound (thank you!). Now that I could back to focusing on the app itself, I was happy to notice the options and the ability to customize the app for individual needs. The app has the option to change the currency from US dollars to over 10 different currencies. It contains various levels: Level 1 is for pennies/nickels only through Level 5 is for all coins, including half dollars and dollar coins. Within each level, you have the ability to FIND (sorting coins), COUNT (app gives you coins, you count amount and set dial to correct amount), COMPARE (gives 2 groups of coins, you determine <,=,>), CORRECT CHANGE (app gives you item cost and how much you paid, you slide coins to side to tell change), and LEARN (step by step tutorial of coins). All students I tried this with enjoyed it. They were not bothered by the roar of the lion, nor did any of the excessively flip the coins as I had thought. Lastly, I think the price for this app is fair considering the activities and the ability to customize.

Additional IEP applications:
Obviously, this app can be used in conjunction with money identification and counting skills; however, it can also be used just for simple sorting. By using just penny and nickel, you can work on sorting "brown" and "silver". The FIND section could also be used for working on "touch and drag" practice.

Suggestions
There are a few things that I saw as issues and would like to see changes to make this app even better.

1. Due to some of the fine motor issues of my students, the "tool bar" at the bottom of the page was accidentally activated many times during the sessions we used it. The student would inadvertently activate it with the heal of hand due to trying to stabilize hand before touching screen. It would be helpful to have tool bar at top
2. A couple of students found setting the dial to tell amount very difficult. I think having an option of calculator like input or dial would help with access for all students.
3. The reinforcement "roar" if student gets an answer correct didn't seem very motivating and students often were unsure if the answer was correct. A way to better acknowledge correctly responses.
4. The buttons "DONE" and SHAKE" also took some time getting used to using. For students with special needs, something more concrete like "GO", "FINISHED" might be more appropriate. I can picture a student reading "SHAKE" and shaking the whole iPad.
5. An option of having the directions read to user would be helpful. I have a couple of students who are working on money or sorting, but cannot read yet. Although I used this as an interactive tool between me and the student, the still needed to rely on me even if they wanted to 'practice'.

Conclusion

Overall, I think this app has some great educational value. This app would be a definite asset to a classroom or any student who needs an activity to reinforce money skills. The jungle theme may be a little more busy for some students, but with the sound options and the activity variations, I see this app working for ALL students. Not only is it a nice tool for student independent use, I found it to be a great interactive tool as well.

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Jungle Time

Initially, (AGAIN) I was a little overwhelmed by the "jungle theme". I quickly looked in settings and found the sound options. I was thrilled to see the options and the ability to customize the app for individual needs was similar to Jungle Coins. The app has the option to use 12 or 24 hour clock. (Since my husband is law enforcement and frequently uses military time, I may be using this app to brush up on the whole 24 hour option!) It contains various levels: Level 1 is times in hour intervals through Level 5 which is 1 minute intervals. Within each level, you have the ability to TELL TIME (app gives you clock, you set dial to correct time), SET TIME (app give auditory prompt of time, you move hand of clock to set time), TIME ELAPSED (app shows 2 clocks, you must set dial to show difference), SET ELAPSED (app shows 2 clocks with same time, app give auditory prompt of elapsed time, you must move hands of one clock and set time), and LEARN (step by step tutorial of clock, describing face and hands). The students enjoyed this app as well; although, most of them really struggled with the time concept in general (both Kdg and intervention students). Again, I think the price for this app is fair considering the activities and the ability to customize.

Suggestions
The things that I saw as issues and would like to see changes are similar to the above review.

1. The "tool bar" was accidentally pressed.  (see above)
2. The dial for the answers was difficult for the students to maneuver, possible change to give the option of typing in numbers
3. The buttons "DONE" and SHAKE" continued to be an issue. They need to be more concrete and universal.
4. Option for the directions be read to users if needed.
   

Conclusion

Overall, I think this app is a great was to introduce time (through the LEARN section) as well we reinforce skills already taught. I see myself using this app with several students next year. 

Lastly, I showed these 2 apps to my teaching partner who teaches students grades 2-5 (multiple disabilities). She immediately contacted our tech department to purchase these apps. She is currently using them as well!

APP INFO
developer: Andrew Short
website: http://jungleeducation.com/
itunes: Jungle Coins AND Jungle Time

category: education
recently updated: February 23, 2011

~Melanie

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

As we begin this very WET spring season, I am excited to start one of my favorite units = caterpillars and butterflies. And there is no better book to do this with than The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.The pictures are amazing and the students enjoying watching the caterpillar eat all the food. I found some nice information on Eric Carle's website. It has a short video of Eric Carle reading the story as well as a short video of how he did the illustrations. The website also contains project resources, newsletter information, and a variety of downloads.

I also created a very simple SMART notebook file of  a few slides. One being the "create your own caterpillar" slide. The students can "errorlessly" create their own caterpillar. The student have enjoyed making various caterpillars, from long and skinny to short and fat.

Here are a few examples of the students' work.

KW's Very Hungry Caterpillar

JS's Very Hungry Caterpillar

RC's Very Hungry Caterpillar

KR's Very Hungry Caterpillar

embracing a child's talent of drawing

I just had to share this website. This student attends the school where I work. Although I have not worked with him directly, nor have many of the staff at our school come to think of it. Yet, he has touched all of your lives. He brings a smile to my face each time he looks at me, smiles and says "Hi #98!".

I am touched that his parents are embracing his talent and cultivating it! And not only is he a wonderful artist, he also is an amazing author. Maybe something for the future?? ☺

Please take a minute, check out his site, and consider supporting his fundraising for ASD.


Kieran's Kreations

Thanks!
Melanie

My First App ~Review~

In attempt to write my first app review, I thought it appropriate to choose the collection of apps created by My First App. Although I call this a review, which I guess it technically is, I think of it more as a discussion. It is me “discussing” the apps that I have used in the classroom - what worked, what didn't work, and how the students reacted. Initially, I downloaded these apps with a couple of students in mind. I was looking for basic educational apps that would reinforce the ‘touch and drag’ concept of using the iPad that were “fun” for the students, yet graphics were simple. I often find an app that I think will be great, then the visual stimulation of the app is too much for me to handle. My First App gave me 2 apps that were exactly what I was looking for and a couple more that were able to engage all my students. Due to using a modified TEACCH work system in my classroom, I found these apps to make a nice connection between the concrete work and same skills on a more abstract level.Visit about my classroom for more information about the students using these apps.

Here is my first attempt at an app review....here goes!

My First App has created a collection of apps that develop the matching, visual perception and spacial skills of users. Meant for ages 1.5+ years, each of the apps assist in developing hand-eye coordination, categorizing skills, and fine motor skills through engaging the user in a variety of matching activities. Currently, there are 6 apps available in the app store. According to myfirstapp.com, they are working 6 additional apps. With each of the apps (minus Slide and Spin), six activities are included in the FREE download, with an additional 3 activities, per app are available for $0.99 upgrade per app. Additional screen shots and directions are available on the developers site for review before downloading.

Match it up 1 - This app offers simple matching tasks, such as by color, shape, and by picture. I have used with with students to teach and assess simple matching skills. I like that the activity is similar to the independent matching tasks that the students are familiar with completing. It takes the skill to a different level from the concrete matching to the touch screen. It is a great way to use simple skills to develop the concept to “touch and drag”.

Match it up 2 - This app offers slightly more abstract matching activities relating to part to whole, such as find the other half of a picture, matching color icon to black-line drawings, or matching color icon to shadow of the icon. Some of my students found this one more difficult, so it was more of teaching tool versus an activity they could complete independently.

Match it up 3 - This app continues to build on the matching skills from the first two apps. With Match it up 3, users are given tasks relating to more detailed matching, such as matching the picture to a shape (pumpkin=circle), animals to habitat, and environmental pictures that are related (rain to raincloud). This app was only appropriate for a couple of my students due to the increased difficulty in the concepts. This app also is primarily utilized as a teaching tool.

Build it up - I like to think of this app as a “virtual ring stacker”. It develops early math skills of spacial awareness by presenting activities that require the user to order or build pictures by item size, such as the ring stacker toy or building a snowman from bottom up. The activities use bright colors and nice pictures that make the app more enjoyable for the user.

Slide and Spin - This app is similar to the toy I used to call the “twist and pop” with my kids.  This app develops cause and effect as well as fine motor skills requiring the user to slide or spin a virtual knob to get the picture to show up. The students will play with this app occasionally, but it doesn’t keep their interest as much as other cause and effect apps. Addition of a music component versus the cheer may help increase interest.

My Scene - This app was not in my initial download of My First App apps. I became aware of it while I was searching for information on the app developers. I would describe My Scene as a big sticker book. It presents the user with a choice of scenes (hence, the app name), such as playground, beach, or circus. Once a scene is chosen and displayed, various pictures relating to that scene are available to touch and drag into the scene. This app has many potentials. It could be used for developing vocabulary, teaching spacial concepts, or used to create a story. I look forward to utilizing this app soon.

I do have a few suggestions that would make these even better. I wish the apps would included a options that would allow for more individualization per user, such as:

• having an option to let all choice still show once a match is made to make she that student can truly match all icons
• having an option to set the number of choice so that you could start with one matching and increase as student begins to master the skill
• an app option OR blank app that would allow for picture import so that the app could contain images that would be motivating to the user

In conclusion, I have been very pleased with these apps. I was surprised to see some of the negative comments within the app store reviews. They are definitely apps the fit into the category “can’t believe these are free”.

developer: My First App

website: http://myfirstapp.com/Site/Home.html
itunes: My First App
category: educational
recently updated in April, 2011

~Melanie