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Complete Grade 8 by GoLearningBus

Mindprint Rating

Tags

Mathematics ELA: Reading Science ELA: Writing MS/HS/College Android App

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • App provides concise explanations of main topics in 8th grade science, English, and math.
  • App includes helpful flashcards for each key topic.
  • Quizzes provide immediate explanations for incorrect answers.

Considerations

  • The concise explanations will be insufficient for some students.
  • The app has mistakes which can misinform and distract students.
  • The app is bland with no engaging features.

Mindprint Expert Review

This app provides a concise overview of 8th grade math, English, and science, but there are errors in the tutorials which makes it an app to avoid. The app has the feel of a straight-forward textbook with no engaging features and limited visuals beyond the introductory screens. Students are able to sample the tutorial and the first flashcard and quiz in each subject, but they will need to purchase upgrades to access the full subject. The tutorial section includes 20-30 topics per subject. Topics are broken into small sections so students can easily scroll and find the explanation they need. The explanations are clear and concise and will be useful for students who need to refresh their learning or remember a specific topic. However, students who struggle with the topics might feel confused trying to follow along independently as they might find the explanations insufficient. There are also errors scattered throughout, which make this app generally not worth the risk of misinforming. Errors include: "a sentence always ends with a period" and "types of sentence". The digital flashcards are based on the material in the tutorial and are easy to read though some students could find the background images distracting. The multiple-choice quizzes are straight-forward, provide immediate corrections with explanation, and a report card that can be emailed. While this app has some potential to be a good refresher for 8th grade material, the mistakes need to be corrected and the format will not be suitable for students who struggle with the material. *Note: This app was originally reviewed for iPad/iPhone. Some differences might apply.

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)

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

  • Abstract Reasoning
  • Attention
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • Problems or examples are not interesting for the target age range
    • Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
    • Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Verbal Memory
    • Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
    • Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options
  • Verbal Reasoning
    • Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Visual Discrimination
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • Words used during activity can be too small or difficult to read
    • Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
    • Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement