Flow Free
Mindprint Rating
Tags
Skills
Mindprint Expert Review
Pros
- There are ten different board sizes, which makes this app appropriate for a wide range of students.
- Users can share their results in game center, which may appeal to students that are driven by competition.
- There are numerous puzzles in each skill level to hold students interest and provide ample practice in developing their skills.
Considerations
- There are advertisements and in--app purchases, which may be distracting to students with visual or attention weaknesses.
Mindprint Expert Review
This is an addictive problem-solving app that appeals to students and adults alike.The object of the game is to make pipes by connecting like colored dots without allowing the pipes to intersect. Students will use Abstract Reasoning and Spatial Perception to be successful. This app comes with 750 free puzzles, but more can be purchased with enough variety to provide an appropriate challenge to all skill levels. There are two different modes of play, free play and time trial. Free play allows users to spend as much time as necessary to complete each board. Time trial allows users to choose from 30 seconds to 4 minutes to try to complete as many boards as possible. Advertisements are shown at the bottom of the screen which may distract students with attention weaknesses. However, this app is so engaging, that most students hardly notice them since they will be so absorbed in solving the puzzles. Note: This review was originally written for iOS platforms. Minor differences may apply on Android devices.
Academic Benefits
Improves academic skills
- Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
- Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
- Presents educational concepts accurately
- Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
- Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
- Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
- Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)
Fun
Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range
- Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
- Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
- Visually appealing to children in the target age range
- Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
- Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
- Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
- Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option
Easy to Use
Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range
- Has a free or trial version
- Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
- Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
- Student should be able to use independently after first use
- Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
- Multiple users can save a profile
- Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
- Can play without sound and not distract others
- Students can save work between sessions
- Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
- Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
- Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
- Overall - Easy to use
Cognitive Concerns
May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs
- Attention
- Shows advertisements
- Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
- Self-regulation
- Shows advertisements
- Promotes purchases or upgrades to students