Kandoobi: Animal Edition

 

Kandoobi: Animal Edition

by Kandoobi

Has your child “kandoobi” lately?  Are you wondering what that even means?  If so, then it’s time to meet the next educational app developers from Kandoobi.  They are a development group designing apps so “kids can do” on their own or with the support of a parent.  They recently released Kandoobi: Animals Edition for all Apple devices running iOS 4.3 or later.  It is a creative application designed for toddlers and preschoolers.  This target audience love to manipulate and explore.  Well, now it is time to accomplish those two things as they encounter 100+ adorable animals all dolled up.  For $2.99 and one simple download, users will get their hands on four interactive games.   Whether you are playing at home, school or on the go, your child will soon be saying they “kando.” Kandoobi: Animal Edition encourages letter recognition, builds one’s creativity and imagination and allows users to manipulate and match animals from all types of environments.  Come fly, swim, slither or walk in order to have some fun!

Knowing the population that this educational app was designed for, developers have certainly created a very kid friendly navigation menu, intuitive tasks and buttons as directions are very short and sweet.  In addition, we immediately noticed how both verbal and visual representations were incorporated on the main menu as a way to support all learning styles. Whether your child is a toddler, preschooler or grade level, they want to hear or see words of encouragement.  Throughout each game, reinforcements are presented as auditory sounds such as: a bounce, pop or magical stars. As they game for a reason, users will certainly not be surprised or confused when they play the pre-installed games - Letters, Coloring, Scratch & Fill or Matching.

Letters -  Upon entering the first academic game, users are presented with a 6 page catalogue of animals to choose from. Whether the animal is known as a creature to fear or “ooh and ahh” over, illustrators have done a nice job at designing colorful and eye pleasing graphics with their wonderful expressions and unusual accessories. It is up to the user where they would like to begin.  As an animal is chosen, game play within Letters continues in order from that particular animal.   Immediately, users will notice that the screen is divided into three parts: draggable Scrabble pieces on the left, animal graphic on the right and its corresponding word at the bottom, grayed out.  It is up to the user to match those grayed out letters at the bottom with those Scrabble like pieces by simply dragging and dropping them into their correct places. If a Scrabble like piece is tapped, the narrator will announce that letters name. As users begin to recognize and match letters, it is also important to note that they do not have to be dropped in any particular order.  If letters are dropped incorrectly, they will bounce back.  Once the animal’s name is spelled, both letters and animal will animate across the screen.  Game play continues as the train drops off and introduces the next animal friend.

The next gaming option is Coloring which allows users to be creative as they learn various art skills.  As they color with Kandoobi: Animal Edition, children will build their vocabulary of color names while manipulating three writing utensils: a pencil, paint brush and an eraser.  Coloring exploration can occur in two ways, with those animals previously seen in the “animal catalogue” or as free choice.  Regardless of which is chosen, users are given a paint palette of both primary and secondary colors. Depending on a users age and creative need will determine if a thin lined pencil or a thick stroke of a paint brush is required for their coloring page.  If mistakes are made, no need to panic, developers have also included an eraser.  As coloring pages are complete, share them with others by simply tapping the button in the upper left hand corner, as it is saved to your devices camera roll.

Does your child or student have difficulty with their fine motor skills, but love to be creative?  Then, the next gaming option of Scratch & Fill is just what you are looking for. Scratch & Fill does not require users to stay within the lines, simply swipe your finger from left to right, up and down and the colors will come alive within the picture. The last gaming feature called Matching is one that has children manipulating with puzzles.  At the top of the screen users will see an outline of an animal.  While at the bottom of the screen are three choices.  The goal is to simply drag, drop and match the correct animal puzzle piece.

Kandoobi: Animal Edition is very academically appropriate for this age level.  It provides just the right amount of repetition, supports ones creativity, and allows for independence.  It is an educational app that disguises learning as fun.  To learn more about the Kandoobi development group be sure to visit their website here.  If you are looking to stimulate your child’s need for creativity and imagination, then begin downloading Kandoobi: Animal Edition to your iTunes library by simply clicking here.

This review and many others are featured on Fun Educational Apps, AppStar Picks and iear.org

Felt Board for iPad by Applicable2U

Felt Board for iPad

by Software Smoothie

As I follow my Twitter feed, one of the latest technology trends being “tweeted” about is the educational benefits of storytelling. It has been researched by many that storytelling is an excellent teaching strategy. Amazingly it can spark student interest as it helps children create vivid mental images while activating their thinking process. Storytelling can provide many opportunities to make connections to events and concepts as a way to better understand and recall information. As of late, several educators are incorporating a more differentiated form of instruction with the help of online resources. But with so many schools going the mobile device route, storytelling is once again changing. At the beginning of March, developers from Software Smoothie released Felt Board for iPad. Currently designed for your iPad device running iOS 4.3 or later, with an update coming for those with the iPad 3. Creatively tell a real or imaginary story with the help of felt like pieces.

Felt Board for iPad caused Applicable2U to recall a personal discussion that was had with a friend and parent at the beginning of the school year. This parent was told by her daughter’s kindergarten teacher that her daughter doesn’t associate the correct colors with items, objects or people. At such a young age, why does that matter? Can children not creatively envision things? Sad, but true in some educational settings. Happily we knew Felt Board for iPad had an alternative approach, just take a look at their application icon.

Upon entering this application, users will immediately get a craft like feeling as every aspect of this educational app is created with felt. Use your fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills to develop amazing stories as you tap, drag, drop, pinch and zoom pieces into a scene. Felt Board for iPad is a very user friendly application for children young and old. It is an application that encourages all learning styles as children can work collaboratively or independently. With an Apple like dock that can appear or disappear on the left hand side, storytellers will have access to eight categories of felt objects. Categories include a large selection of backgrounds, people, articles of clothing, animals, nature, letters and numbers. Also included on ones canvas is a recycle bin for unwanted items, a camera to screen shot stories and a bottle of glue to group objects as one.

Felt Board for iPad can be implemented at home and at school. Unlike other storytelling applications, this does not include a recording or a typing feature. Stories are told through objects only. It provides an alternative method of assessment for various learning styles. As you study and read a variety of genres like fairy tales, fiction or nursery rhymes, teachers or home schoolers could connect their device to a projector and share their creations. When projected on a large screen in small or large groups, children can verbalize their stories to classmates, parents or educators. Regardless of who creates the stories, this form of storytelling encourages further discussions on the elements of a story: characters, setting, plot and such. In addition, developers also encourage users to create stories that include letters and numbers. For example, users can spell and place their name on scenes created. If working on a “letter of the week” tell a story centered around that letter. An alternative option would be as children understand numbers, tell a number story. Your child or student(s) story becomes a visual story problem to reinforce appropriate grade level operations. A note to the developers – might it be possible to save scenes within the application in addition to storing in the photo gallery. Have you also thought about adding the option of multiple scenes? By offering a saving and multiple scene feature, users that may need an extension could then sequence their stories.

Overall, Applicable2U loves what Felt Board for iPad has to offer. We are looking forward to seeing and hearing it in action with our own child. For a simple download of $1.99, let the storytelling begin. Your child will begin to make connections, build their understanding of a book read or can just tell a story with their imagination and fun. If you would like to learn more about Software Smoothie please visit their website here.  As you drag and drop objects, magically feel the softness of your story as it develops and comes alive. To begin downloading Felt Board for iPad to your iTunes library click here. You won’t regret it!

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Great Preschool App!

Name: Alien Buddies by artgigapps

Fee or Free: 1.99

Rating: 4.5 /5 stars



Why I Like it: This app has great graphics that compel young learners to explore. On the opening screen children are faced with three choices. These are pre-readers so they do not know that the choices are match, dot-to-dot, and stickers but after they explore on their own they will quickly have the functions memorized.  Once past this screen going left to right, young readers are given a choice of matching different colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. This where it really gets cool. In the top level learners are asked to find the alien among a line of six that matches a spaceship that flies up from below. Going back to the home screen for matching, learners can do matching through a listening activity which is great for building oral comprehension. The letter matching does lower case to lower case, upper case to upper case, and mixed giving learners a built-in challenge. The numbers are grouped 1-10, 1-20, and 1-50; again building on what children have learned and reinforcing their new knowledge at the same time.



In the dot-to-dot activity there are six choices of simple dot-to-dots (should be called stars-to-stars as children are connecting stars : ) ). Learners can ask for help if they connect to the question mark. In the help mode the next numbered star to connect to turns pink telling learners what to push.  In the I can do it myself mode the stars stay yellow. A bonus of the dot-to-dot that as the child hits each number it is said aloud so children get counting skills reinforced. The dot-to-dots get progressively harder as you move left to right and then down. Starting at ten going up to 17 stars to connect. If you are a parent working with your child you might take the opportunity to talk about constellations as the dot-to-dots are stars on a blue background.

Every time a child completes an activity successfully they get a sticker. Going back to the home csreen and choosing the far right choice children are presented with a landing screen showing eight different scenes. When they choose a screen they they are greeted with pleasant thematic music and the stickers they have earned are in a line at the bottom of the page. Stickers that they have not earned yet are transparent motivating them to go back and play more games to earn those stickers.

The graphics are engaging, the music is appealing and not obnoxious, the activities are age appropriate, and the children should get hours of play time from the 1.99 purchase.

Things I'd like to see to give it 5 stars. More challenging dot to dots. I'd like to see higher numbers, more complex pictures, and the use of an alphabet dot-to dot to reinforce the alphabet recognition taught in the app.

All in all, great job artgigapps!

 Visit Mobile iEducator for more app reviews!

Faces iMake by Applicable2U

Faces iMake – Right Brain Creativity

By iMagine machine LLC

As a learner what strategies work best for you? Are you left or right brained?  At this point are you wondering what that means?  If you are left brained then you like talking and writing, you are a planned and structured person and tend to control your feelings.  If however you are a right brain individual then you are spontaneous, prefer drawing and manipulating and respond well to demonstrated instructions.  iMagine Machine creator of Faces iMake have your hemispheric dominance, right or left brained, literally in the palm of your hands as you explore your creativity via your iPad device running iOS4.2 or later.  The creative juices of this application was developed alongside renowned artist, educator and author, Hanoch Piven. Faces iMake integrates a creative style of art as it entangles various benchmark assessments necessary for elementary students.  It explores various elements and principals of design: color, line, shape and space.

As we explored this multi-purpose application, we were intrigued to see in their About, a word cloud, Wordle describing what Faces iMake is capable of doing for your child(ren) or students.  iMagine machine describes this application as mind opening, original, social and provides the user an opportunity to try things.  It is an application that meets a child’s multiple intelligences.  To get started, users might find it helpful to explore the five pre-installed lessons.  Begin to develop your 21st century skills as you think outside the box.  Amazingly, Faces iMake has no right or wrong answers, it’s all about expanding your imagination.  Immediately, users will notice the various toolbars that can appear and disappear as needed.  Whether you are right or left brained, users may need some inspiration.  Click the “gallery” button and a sampling of twelve pieces of art are there to spark whichever side of your brain.  As you create, “bebop”  to the default application sounds or link to your own music.  Simply click the “plus” sign and your library of music will appear.  It is preloaded with a large library of clipart in such categories as: candy, toys, food and base templates.   In addition, users can incorporate their own objects by using the device’s camera.  Use those images already in your iPhoto library or shoot now.  The opportunities are endless.

No matter where you piece of art comes from, it can be manipulated in a variety of ways. As art is dropped onto the green canvas, users will immediately notice a dotted circle and a new toolbar.  Images can be cloned, locked in place, reversed, stacked, deleted and rotated.  Users will be manipulating and developing their fine motor skills as they make tapping movements like pinching, expanding and dragging.  As you imagine, build, giggle and smile, your artist does not have to be finished just yet.  Creations can be saved and shared to your iPad, emailed or posted to a Facebook account.  If however you want to take it one step further, share it via Tap2print.  Tap2print will turn your creation into a puzzle that can be purchased.  The artist inside you can now be manipulated in a whole new way.  An artist does not have to have a paint brush in their hand.  Art is taught in a variety of ways and Faces iMake is making that possible.  As a parent and educator, Applicable2U is impressed with the educational possibilities that this application has to offer.  Whatever  your child or student “imakes” it can then be integrated with a creative writing piece, thus stimulating those left brained students.

As we tried new things with this application, Applicable2U would definitely give it two thumbs up!  This is an application that does not focus on a particular age group, it’s for all to enjoy and learn from.  If you would like to learn more about iMagine machine, please visit their website here.  What faces do you make?  Put them to art today by downloading Faces iMake HD to your iTunes library today.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Picturebook by Applicable2U

Picturebook
by Maplekey Company, LLC

Does your little one love to tell stories?  As an adult we always love to share all kind of stories. Well now it is possible to tell those stories with the help of Maplekey Company and their recent launch of Picturebook applications for your iPad device.  It is an educational app that will spark ones imagination and creativity as it develops a users writing skills.  Reading is such a critical part of ones home and school life.  Now with the help of this mobile application, readers can put their imagination to work and become an author of their own creation(s).  Picturebook app provides the user a very simple and easy to navigate design.  At no cost, developers have offered the user(s) with three preloaded stories, a “how to” book on making your own story, a small library of images and two options for book covers.  With these few tools, writers can begin setting the stage as they add in characters and tell a story along the way.  As your little author gets older, you will be amazed at how their stories will change as they incorporate various characters, a setting, a conflict and resolution.  The added bonus, stories can then be saved to your device and viewed multiple times.  In addition, stories can also be shared with friends and family.

While exploring with this application, a variety of experiences were coming to mind for children and adults of all ages.  For those just learning to explore books, Picturebook would be an excellent addition to your iPad device.  Their first creation could simply be a book of their favorite clipart.  With the help of a parent, you could add a text box under each item. This opportunity would provide your little one the feeling of flipping their virtual book and a wonderful experience of developing vocabulary as they bond with you.  With what appears to be an unlimited amount of pages, your child’s story can be as small as 2 pages or similar to the length of a novel.  Interactively, clipart can be manipulated with a twist, pinch or double tap.  Very quickly images can extend from one page onto the next.  As you or your child’s story develops, images can be layered to give the feel of a 2 dimensional story. For a small in app purchase, additional images and/or covers can be added to your device which is then stored in “My Stuff”.  For those developing a more complex or detailed story, a variety of genres could be incorporated as this application is used within a classroom setting.  At this time, there is no recording option or sound, however, this would be an excellent addition for a future update. Such an experience would guide those struggling to read, a way for a far away friend or family to hear academic progress and a basic reinforcement of  reading skills.

From the parents point of view, I would love to use Picturebook as a way to scrapbook my child’s life while we are on the go.  It would be wonderful if the application had a connection or ability to choose from my photos library.  By having this application at the palm of my hands, all kinds of stories would never be missed.  The possibilities are endless with this creative application.  Applicable2U feels that this storybook application is applicable to you and should be added to your iTunes library.  To learn more about Maplekey Company, please visit their website here.  Or to begin telling your story today, simply click here to add Picturebook to your iTunes library.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Princess Piano by Applicable2U

  Princess Piano

     by Dented Pixel

  Musically inclined, I am not, but many others are.  So Applicable2u felt that it was important to share with other educators and parents the importance of apps that encourage children and yes, even adults, the world of music.  About a month ago, Dented Pixel brought to the Apple Store a rare find.  An educational app that offers a book like feel with an added twist. It is very simply called Princess Piano and can be played on your iPhone or iPad device. This elegant little princess once lived on Cloud Kingdom.  As of late, she is now living among a different world due to the evil witch, Beatrice Dafowl.  Thanks to her magical ballet slippers, Princess Piano was unharmed.  Although Earth is a wonderful new place to explore, she wants to return to Cloud Kingdom.  While exploring this application you will become a musician, learning how to read musical notes as you play on the piano. Let’s pirouette our way into Princess Piano’s world to help her return safely home to Cloud Kingdom.

What kind of musician are you?  Do you need to take things adagio or slowly?  Or are you familiar with musical notes that you can move allegro or more briskly?  Regardless of the type of person you are, this application can appeal to many.  It has been referred to as a “girls” application, but Applicable2U feels that some boys might be able to get past the beautiful princess and gravitate towards the main idea which is the musical part of the application.  If your little one is a sequential, follow the rules kind of child, then you will want to begin with the “play game” option first.  Here users will be provided a short story and directions on how to play.  As a user succeeds within each stage, Princess Piano will be that much closer to going home.  Levels of difficulty are labeled as: Beginner, Advanced and Virtuoso.  Within the beginner level a great deal of support will be provided. For example, keys will flash, as well as notes and keys will be labeled, and a 60% or better is required in order to earn rewards.  In the Advanced level, keys are still labeled but it is now required that musicians earn an 80% or better in order to move on. While in the Virtuoso level, users must get 90% or better in order to advance.  Players will be reinforced with a score card at the completion.  As users progress, stars will be earned, thus unlocking things that Princess Piano might need along the way.   Such things might include adorable dresses, cute shoes, and sweet accessories.  As your collection gets bigger they will be stored in the “dressing room” area.  Here users will go from being a musician to a fashionista.  Dress Princess Piano however you would like.  In Applicable2U’s opinion, Princess Piano is an application that makes many transitions.  It tells a brief story or fable, you learn how to read and play music as a way to finish this fable and gain the happy ending that we all love.  In addition, it has a puzzle like feel as you explore in the dressing room.

Through a users exploration, they will become more familiar with each note, thus allowing them to begin writing their own songs.  To do so, it might be time that your little one plays in the “song maker” mode.  Here songs can be saved and reloaded for future use.  With the option of notes and the ability to change the BPM’s (beats per minute), parents and educators might see a whole new side of their student or child.  Not sure if you like what you created, simply click the preview button.  Notes can be altered and deleted as you see fit.  Who knows your little one might just become the next great song writer.

Applicable2U would give this musical application a thumbs up!  It is certainly worth the download as it encourages children to love music in a whole new light!  Each child shines in a different way when it comes to their education.  Some are jocks, others are artists, mathematicians, scientists and yes even musicians.  With school budgets in jeopardy, specialty programs like music are usually the first to get cut.  Let’s not take away from our children those skills that open different educational opportunities.  By downloading Princess Piano to your iTunes library today, you will be supporting the art of music! If you would like to learn more about Dented Pixel, please visit their website here.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Color Mixing for Kids HD by Applicable2U

Color Mix for Kids HD
By Eightfold Education

As a child, whether you had a box of Crayola crayons or some other generic brand, the thought of blending colors to create something new would intrigue just about anyone. Now with the help of an educational app called Color Mix for Kids HD, technology and creativity will come together in one simple download. With only a painters palette for mixing, multiple types of canvases, a sponge and four primary colors, early elementary students will feel like an artist. Color Mix for Kids HD is not only fun to explore, but it also meets a number of academic requirements beginning at first through fourth grade.

With a very clean design as you navigate from page to page, users will quickly understand through visual clues or buttons what choices they have that will encourage or develop their artistic side. This educational app is suitable for both home and school use. To begin creating, simply tap the painters palette. Here users are given the four primary colors: red, green, yellow and blue.  The primary color toolbar is referred to as the mixing bar. Immediately users can begin creating a master piece on the right hand side.  To set themselves apart from other art applications, Eightfold Education has added the ability to have multiple fingers drawing at one time. A note to the developers – is it possible to have users each choosing their own color as they create at the same time?  This would encourage and build the life skill of working together and collaborating.   In addition, by selecting the paint palette button, users can explore and discover new colors. Through this discovery, users should recall various art terms learned such as: primary and secondary colors, warm and cool colors, analogous and complementary, or the color wheel depending on the grade level of the user. With very realistic paint blobs, budding arts can click on a color and drop it onto the mixing bar. If you want to remove or start a new color, simply tap the sponge to clean one or more of the mixing bar colors. Once the color exploration is complete, click the green checkmark to continue drawing. As pictures are completed, the user has the option to save their picture to the gallery, empty it into the trash can or to fix any mistakes. Free draw and this idea of color mixing provides an educator another way to assess their students understanding of key arts benchmarks in a less stressful way.

Free exploration is not the only option that a user has within Color Mixing for Kids. For those not yet in school and those that are in school, they also have the ability to color in a variety of animal coloring pages and environmental science lesson connect the dot pages.  A cross curricular application that also reinforces fine motor skills is definite bonus!  Each can be saved to the applications gallery or to your photo album on your iPad device. If desired, these pages can then be emailed, printed, assigned to a contact, turned into your wallpaper or copied. In addition, users can choose from 32 different backgrounds to extend their free drawing experience.   A note to the developer – might it be possible to choose different sized paint brushes as children are manipulating the coloring and dot to dot pages.  With this incorporated additional art standards would be mastered.

Overall, Applicable2U gives Color Mix for Kids HD a thumbs up!  It provides the user an educational, interactive, and fun experience.  If you like what you see now on this version, just wait until you see some of the upcoming updates.  To learn more about Eightfold Education, please visit their website here.  To encourage learners in a variety of ways, begin downloading Color Mix for Kids HD as a way to bring out the artist inside of them.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com