- #SCHIESEL Video Games Worth Waiting for in 2012: http://t.co/QVVhjBS6 #
- Now We Are Six – The Hormone Surge of Middle Childhood – http://t.co/B26Implb http://t.co/DdAoChux examines often overlooked dev period. #
The Quest for the Best: Announcing the 2012 KAPi Awards
Eight Products and Two Individuals Are Awarded the Kids at Play Interactive “KAPi” Award at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
Grab your fancy shoes and dim the lights. It’s time to celebrate the best of the past year in children’s interactive media.
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Kids at Play Interactive Awards, aka the KAPis; an ambitious attempt to identify and formally recognize excellence in children’s interactive media over the past 12 months. The winners will be formerly recognized on Janurary 12 at world’s largest technology gathering, the Consumer Electronic’s Show in Las Vegas.
Blagojevic, B. (2011). iPads in K-3: Notes From Maine’s Leveraging Learning Institute. Children’s Technology Review, December 2011, Vol. 19, No 12, Issue 141 p. 4-5.
Download this article as a PDF as it originally appeared in the print issue.
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iPads in K-3: Notes From Maine’s Leveraging Learning Institute
By Bonnie Blagojevic
“All kids are rockets. Our job as educators is to ignite the fuse.” Tom Morrill, Former Maine Superintendent
When the Auburn, Maine schools announced last April every Kindergartener in the district would receive an iPad, some people had their doubts. How could such an expense pay off? These questions were discussed last month (Nov 16-18) during a three-day conference, called the Leveraging Learning Institute. In case you weren’t one of the 100 participants, here’s a run through the agenda, along with some links that will let you follow Auburn’s iPad initiative.
- App Smart Extra: Top 10 New iPhone Gaming Apps for 2011 – BOB TEDESCHI http://t.co/B26Implb – http://t.co/lsOVEkI1 #
- Our annual #i80 view: white knuckle rain but at least no snow. http://t.co/zuCj2gTv #
- Xmas flight http://t.co/V5DUSJ0k #
- Just posted @Hexbug Larva video — how it works, how it moves http://t.co/qU3EK5bh via @youtube #
- Why I Love My 3D Printer by Schuyler St Leger http://t.co/hYa5Ocau via @youtube #
- Larry Magid asks if teens are safer since advent of social media like Facebook where porn is forbidden @larrymagid http://t.co/2olew681 #
- Just posted @Hexbug Larva video — how it works, how it moves http://t.co/qU3EK5bh via @youtube #
- Why I Love My 3D Printer by Schuyler St Leger http://t.co/hYa5Ocau via @youtube #
- Larry Magid asks if teens are safer since advent of social media like Facebook where porn is forbidden @larrymagid http://t.co/2olew681 #
This toy/screen experience turns your Nintendo DS into a remote control for a robotic dog. Instead of using standard infra-red signals, however, this dog is controlled by sound, in the form of coded chirps that come out of your Nintendo DS speakers. A microphone in Wappy Dog can “hear” the chirps, which can be sent to Wappy Dog’s computer for different responses. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
The Xbox 360 version of Instant Artist, the title that comes bundled with the $80 uDraw game tablet package, includes all the drawing basics — pencils, brushes, chalk and charcoals, and an infinite number of colors. You can easily fill or undo with one button, and a redraw feature lets you review your painting, as you drew it. A smart pallet system remembers your most frequently used colors and tools. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Toca Kitchen turns your iPad or iPhone into a virtual kitchen. You start by choosing from one of four characters to feed (a boy, girl, goat or cat). You then choose from 12 food items in the fridge by dragging and dropping the items on the plate. To feed your person, you touch the food and drag it near the mouth. They will either eat it, or refuse it. If it is the latter, you can visit the kitchen where you can cut it, blend it, boil it, fry it, or use a microwave. Each item can be made in many different ways. Each of the characters in the app have specific food preferences, and their reactions are dependent on how your prepare the food. They may refuse to eat certain foods, or they may start drooling even if the food is uncooked. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Stretching the term “non-fiction,” The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library is an ebook adaptation of the Dr. Seuss series, done in classic Oceanhouse Media style, where you can touch any item or word to see it labeled. You can also tap the stars on some of the pages to reveal constellations and see them identified. Other titles in the series will explore subjects including dinosaurs, pets, marine life and trees, each featuring classic characters from the original The Cat in the Hat series. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Along with Mario Kart 7, this title marks Mario’s debut on the Nintendo 3DS. By combining the motion sensing abilities of the Nintendo 3DS with a 3D screen, you can use depths and distances to get from one platform to the next. You can also share the game with another player using the Street Pass feature. New enemies include Goombas with tails, tall stacks of Goombas, and a Piranha Plant that spits ink to obscure your view. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure combines a video game with collectible toys, with a set of 32 plastic figurines (three come with it) that interact with the game using a “Portal of Power”. The toys “come to life” within the game for you to control when placed upon the Portal of Power. You take on the role of a powerful Portal Master and can control 32 different characters, including the fire-breathing dragon Spyro. As you explore the 3D world, you fight creatures, collect gold and solve puzzles while trying to save your world from Kaol, the evil Portal Master. Each interaction figure remembers your shared experiences and leveled-up abilities, allowing you to customize and power-up your toys, and bring them to life on a friend’s Portal of Power for co-op play and player-versus-player arena battles. This feature makes this one of the most innovative toy/video game marriages to date. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
As with other editions of Scribblenauts, children use language to unlock puzzles, by typing in the items they need. Need to kill a shark? Type “hair dryer” and drop it in the water, to electrocute it. Want to get through a gate? Type “shovel” and dig under it. Content includes 10 original levels designed specifically for Apple devices, along with 40 fan favorite levels from Scribblenauts and Super Scribblenauts. The more levels you solve, the more Starites you earn, and these unlock in-game achievements. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Two years after the the original Mindflex (CTR Feb 2009), comes Mindflex Duel — with two headsets for two players instead of one, and a higher price. The headset fits tightly onto your head so it can capture information related to your body’s electromagnetic energy, by way of two sensors — one you clip on your ear lobe, and the other that you fit on your forehead. The levels of energy are fed into a computer that controls a small blower that causes a small foam ball to go up or down, Bernoulli Blower style. When in two player mode the game is like a tug-of-war — the idea is to move the ball across the game’s obstacle platform to your opponent’s side. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This app features two puzzle sets, each with nine puzzles that start easy (with six large pieces) and become more difficult. A hint system makes trial and error possible. The pirate is playful and it is hard to not complete a puzzle to see the ending. Preferences let you turn off the background music. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Based on the children’s line of plush pillows from CJ Products, the idea is to collect accessories for your pets by completing each level. You also help pets find their friends. The story idea works well. Content includes 16 Pillow Pets characters, levels that include “Fantasy Woods,” and “Rainbow Valley”, and the ability to accessorize your pets with 40 items. Developed by First Playable. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Mix-and-match different heads, bodies and legs of animals, in order to make a match. To change a part, you swipe. As more characters are created, more surprises are revealed: kids can poke animals to hear them roar, chirp or tweet; balls bounce; and a lion helps keep count of his steaks. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Noodle Words: Active Words Set 1, is a set of 18 words that wait quietly until you touch them. The trick is that every action is directly related to the word. In addition, the child’s touch is the driving force behind each routine. Tap quickly three times on the word “pump” for example, and you’ll hear “pump, pump, pump” with the word getting fatter, as if it is being inflated like an inner tube. Keep on pumping and the word eventually starts hissing, and quickly deflates, zipping around the screen like a balloon that has been released, startling two little bugs who rest on every screen, waiting to see what you’ll do next. The app was designed by Mark Schlichting (creator of the Living Books) and programmed by KwiqApps using Cocos2d. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
This is a collection of 600 puzzles for one player. Games include Sudoku – the classic numbers game in 3D; Bridges – link all the islands on the screen with bridges, making sure to match the on-screen numbers to the amount of islands you are connecting together; Boxes – divide the board into rectangles where each piece has to be included with the digit that will be the size of the boxes; Museum – light up an entire hall without overlapping the lighting with the limited number of lights given to you; and an exclusive unlockable 3D puzzle created specifically for the Nintendo 3DS. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This 2.1 megapixel digital camera comes with a 1.5 inch LCD preview screen and uses three AAA batteries, not included. The interface is confusing to use. Features include a flash and a digital zoom. The camera connects to your computer with the included USB cable. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This Kindle-sized Android powered tablet comes with a Kid Mode that gives parents what they’ve been asking for on an iPad — a parent-controlled, password-protected interface that locks a child inside a gated digital community. This means you can pick the apps, videos and sites you want your child to see, and because the app runs Flash, this can include sites like PBS kids. If you want to use the tablet to watch a movie or check your own email, you start “Mommy Mode” by entering your password. At this point Nabi is no different than any other Android tablet. Fifteen apps come pre-installed, plus some ebooks and movie trailers. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
This toy delivers a close to endless supply of letter-related skits, stories and-or songs, delivered on a very low-tech black and white LCD screen. It is possible to personalize the content with your child’s name, including customized emails from family and a music playlist. Note, however, that this requires plugging the device into an Internet-connected Mac or Windows computer. This also syncs the device with the Leapfrog’s online Learning Path. Included content includes one story, one email and three songs, and holds up to five stories, ten songs and three emails at a time. Requires 3 AA batteries which are included. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Now Moshi Monsters (the popular virtual world)can fit in your pocket, in the form of this one player Nintendo DS game. Your mission is to explore eight areas of the Wooly Wilderness to see if you can spot hiding creatures, called Moshlings. There are 52 Moshlings to find, and each has specific needs that are met by shopping, searching and combining various elements such as the string with a banjo. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
MadPad, the latest app from Smule (of Magic Piano and Ocarina fame), turns your camera equipped iPhone or iPad into a sound mix board. Instead of using existing songs and beats, it lets you capture everyday sounds, which can be easily recorded and played back or warped with a two finger swipe. To make your first sound collection, you touch “create” to divide the screen into 12 empty squares. Touch one of the squares and your microphone instantly starts listening. A feature called “SoundTrigger” grabs up to about 4 seconds of sound. To make a set you tap any box to start the recorder, or you can import sounds from the Smule server. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
To make the program, 2K Play told me that they used motion capture on professional cheerleaders, which adds a sense of realism to the models that you follow. If you miss a move, you see a glowing region around your weak spot. At the end of the routine, you are scored and you get to unlock new levels or try again. You will learn High V, Broken T, and Right Punch, as well as more advanced, combination moves including the Blad Cap and Touchdown Sway. Songs featured include both licensed cheerleading songs and popular cheer dance hits including Rihanna’s Disturbia and Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
This one player Zelda game turns your Wii into a flying, sword-fighting puzzle solving adventure, complete with problem solving opportunities and reading. Note the E10+ rating, for plenty of fantasy violence mostly due to the realistic fighting. Also note the gender bias, with a story line full girls who tend to giggle and boys who are warriors who must prove themselves for the girl’s approval. You must play the male role. This title requires a Wii MotionPlus controller. Zelda, like Mario, is one of the hallmark Nintendo characters. As a result, the limited-edition version of the game ($70) includes a gold Wii RemotePlus controller and a music CD featuring the Zelda Symphony. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Created by Frontier (the same studio that made Kinectimals) Kinect Disneyland Adventures lets you move around a realistic 3D version of Disneyland. To walk, you point your hand. To walk faster you raise your hand higher — a navigation scheme that takes a while to learn. At any time, a second player can jump in (or out) making this a great context for social play. Each activity has you moving in a different way. In Frontierland, you can jump onto a mine cart in Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, pumping your arms to go faster or slower. You can fly through Neverland with Peter Pan, with your arms extended like wings or challenge Captain Hook to a sword fight. Content includes 18 rides or attractions and 35 Disney characters. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Put a science center in your iPad, with this collection of three activities, featuring Sid the Science Kid characters. Following a noisy introduction — just like the show — you tap one of the three Sid characters to start a no-fail activity. In the Collection Inspection, you use a magnifying glass to notice subtle differences in 14 sets of items. Chart It presents seven collections, which vary by shape, color and pattern. You can move them onto dynamic charts. Wrong answers fall back to the bottom of the screen, giving the charts authenticity, and realtime feedback. Time Machine lets you play with time relationships as you freely explore 14 sets of objects such as an apple being eaten, a candle burning or a plant growing. Created by Jim Henson Studios and Carsten’s Studios for PBS Kids. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
As with other I SPY titles, the riddles form the basis of the castle theme. They also hide 12 mini games and three logic puzzles. The more riddles you solve, the more items you collect. These, in turn, unlock more rooms. A hint system helps you find the most challenging objects. There are three sign-in slots, so three players can save their progress. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Combine the board game Monopoly with the zany spirit of Nintendo and you get Fortune Street, a fast-paced business game that contains 15 game boards based on popular Mushroom Kingdom and Dragon Quest locales. Using virtual dice, you move around one of 15 themed boards in random intervals, buying shops to build your portfolio and collecting symbols you can cash in at the bank to earn gold. You can play the stock market, purchase shops and collect shopping fees. Players with multiple shops adjacent to one another see them grow in value and their shops level up, and if another player lands on those squares they have to pay an increased fee. A beginner setting lets you learn the basics, and there is an advanced mode with more challenges, options, and the ability to play the stock market. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Inspired by the 1963 book “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown and moved into the age of apps and Facebook by Dale Hubert, a Canadian elementary teacher, the Flat Stanley App is a free download that lets you superimpose a Flat Stanley cutout character over a photo taken with your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch camera. The idea is not unlike a message in a bottle. But instead of a bottle, your image captures your location, and you can type a little story about what Stanley is seeing. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
This is part of a series of apps that feature a new Mom-Comm tracking mechanism, that lets you look over the should on what your child does using Facebook or email. Play Maker was created for Fingerprint by Krome studios. After you design a character by mixing and matching heads, bodies and legs, you can record a happy sound and sad sound. Next, you see your character filling the screen with letters attached to them. You are asked to match all the characters holding a number 9 card, and are told not to touch a robot with the wrong number or you’ll loose. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
One of the first ever math facts programs to use augmented reality, Lunch Rush provides an “out of device” experience. Here’s how it works. After you download the app, you must print out a set of cards from the Fetch Lunch Rush web site: http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/hollywood/lunchrush.html. There are nine cards; one per number. You lay the cards around a table (or room) and sign into the program. You’re then given a math problem, such as 14 – ? = 5. To enter the answer, you find the correct card (9) using the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch camera. This also causes a set of food items to appear over the numeral, superimposing computer graphics onto the real camera image. Content includes five rounds of addition or subtraction questions (three per round). Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.
Using the PlayStation Move controller and PlayStation Eye camera to track and score moves, you can test your dancing skills with three difficulty levels, each featuring unique routines. You can also dance solo, team up with a friend for a cooperative Partner Routine, challenge a friend to a competitive Dance Battle, or use the Party Play mode where up to 20 players can go head-to-head in the ultimate dance-off. The game features a Dance Class feature to improve your skills through routine breakdowns, a Dance Creator feature that lets you develop your own choreography, a Dance Workout that tracks your fitness progress and calories burned; and Sing-Along. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
This “talk and draw” experience makes self-narrating and sharing a drawing into a nearly one-step process, providing you have an iPad. In addition, having an active YouTube account is handy for the optional sharing part. This is a very important App; a fact that was recognized by the 2012 KAPi jurors when they called DoodleCast the “best app for younger children.” For young children, this app turns the iPad screen into a creativity space where sounds and drawing can be mashed into the same project seamlessly. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating, and see why this received our Editor’s Choice Award.
Disney AppMates ($20 for two) are matchbox-sized cars that transform the multi-touch screen into a slippery playspace, where roads and ramps scroll automatically. The base of each car is a pattern of three capacitive sensors that let the iPad “see” each car. Not only does it know the difference between Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater, but it can tell which direction they’re headed and scroll appropriately, with the correct sound effects. In addition, a block of white pixels is used to send light through a window in the bottom of the car, giving it the illusion that the lights are working. No batteries are required. Once you download the app, you can either drive around the scrolling streets of Radiator Springs or complete missions, such as delivering a lost tow hook to Mater while earning hubcaps. Effects include working headlights (you see the beams in front of your car, in real time) and a large mirror where you see a perfect digital reflection of your car. Subscribers, please log into our database using your password to read the full review along with our rating.