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Geography Drive USA

Mindprint Rating

Tags

Social Studies K-8 Android App

Skills

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • The app is very well-designed with fun and engaging graphics that are easy to read.
  • Students can take as long as they need to answer questions.
  • Questions cover a broad variety of material so students will learn a lot playing this app.

Considerations

  • The app does a poor job of helping children learn from their mistakes, with limited reinforcement of correct answers and buzzes and red X's for wrong answers.
  • Students may not know a lot of the information when they begin and they could quickly grow discouraged.
  • Though the app is enjoyable, students will primarily be answering multiple choice questions with few breaks.

Mindprint Expert Review

This app provides a truly unique and entertaining way for students to learn their state capitals, locations, landmarks and other information about the 50 United States. Students begin by customizing their car and garage. Students earn money by correctly answering multiple choice questions about the state. If they answer all three questions right, they earn the state. Either way, they move on to answer more general questions to earn more money or move to the next state and try again. The money they earn can be used to fly to a specific location, purchase fuel when they run low, or customize their cars. The graphics, music and voice-overs are engaging, the questions are generally well-written and easy to read (we did find a few minor mistakes though), and the app covers a broad range of information. Students can go to the Visitors Center to read about each state so they can improve their knowledge and do a better job answering the questions. There are bonus games once a student clears all 50 states. The biggest challenge with this app is a student overcoming initial discouragement. Most students will not be familiar with most of the information and the incentives may not be strong enough to keep them trying. However, students willing to persevere, will find this app to be an enjoyable way to learn US geography. *Note: This app was originally reviewed for iPhone/iPad. 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)

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