Raising ‘App-y’ LearnersApps to support school-aged children

Clara Hendricks, Children’s LibrarianWellesley Free LibraryApril 3, 2015

Technology and Children

• All screens are not created equally• Tablets/smartphones are multi-functional: camera,

notepad, picture book, TV, arcade, etc.

• Engage with your child when usingtechnology

• Importance of building digital literacy• “Technology Pyramid” –

provide healthy doses of‘nourishing’ choices

• Limit screens in the bedroom and before bedtime

Content, Context, Child• Content• Thoughtfully assess apps, rather than just setting time limits• Anything can call itself ‘educational’

• Context• In what context is the app being used?• What role does technology play in the child’s life?

• Child• Children have individual developmental needs

Guernsey, L. (2012). Screen time: How electronic media-from baby videos to educational software-affects your young child. New York: Basic Books.

Another great resource: Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s “Family Time with Apps” FREE iBook available through itunes or at www.joanganzcooneycenter.org

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Technology and the Real World

• Quality apps give kids tools that they can’t access in the “real-world”

• Make connections between technology and real-life experiences

• Educational apps can make connections with school curriculum

• Use technology to enhance, not replace real-life experiences.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnyHMSz7JDE

Swimming in a sea of apps: criteria for choosing quality apps

• Option to turn sound/narration on/off• No ads or push-to-buy• Ease of use• Plain, clear, legible fonts• Not busy/distracting• Lasting power• Supports exploration, creativity, interaction• Don’t use an app if there is a better real-life

solution• Customize your apps

App Reviews & Recommendations

• Wellesley Free Libraryhttp://www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org/Childrens/Apps.html • Common Sense Media: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/• Reading Rockets: http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/reading101/literacyapps/• Parents’ Choice: http://www.parents-choice.org/• Digital Storytime http://digital-storytime.com/• Moms with Apps (search tool, not all reviewed) https://momswithapps.com/discover • CTrex from Children’s Tech Review (paid service, ltd. free results) http://reviews.childrenstech.com/

Apps for phonics/spelling:

Word Wagon

SpellingCityAlpha Writer

Endless Wordplay

Storytelling apps:

Draw & Tell HD Toontastic

Book Creator

Sentence Builder

Apps for Social Studies:

Apps from Kids DiscoverBarefoot World Atlas

State Bingo & Road Trip USAGeography Drive USA

News-o-MaticFREE

Science apps – natural world:

On Beyond Bugs

DinosaursSolar Walk

Nat Geo Explorer - FREE

Science apps – building & coding

Toca Builders

Hopscotch - FREE

Kodable - FREE

Tinkerbox - FREE

Go Car Go

Math apps for the younger set:

Bedtime Math - FREE

Montessori: First operations

Wild Kratts Creature Math

Math apps for the older set:

Dragon Shapes - FREE

Mystery Math Museum Motion Math

Sushi Math

Questions?

My contact information:

Clara Hendricks, Children’s LibrarianWellesley Free Library781-235-1610 x 1108chendricks@minlib.netwww.wellesleyfreelibrary.org