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US Presidents: History Challenge Lite

Mindprint Rating

Tags

Social Studies All Ages iOS App

Skills

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • Although the questions are timed, there is no timer on the screen and plenty of time for students to think about the correct answer.

Considerations

  • The page design is very crowded and the images do not reinforce the text.
  • The explanations of answers are insufficient and do not reinforce good learning.
  • The free version has limited variety and challenge.

Mindprint Expert Review

This trivia quiz app on US presidents could be good to interest younger children in US history but the poor design limits its usefulness. A student is given a multiple choice question and receives 0-3 points depending on the speed of the correct answer. After answering 20 questions, the player receives a final tally. There is always a picture next to the question, and a presidential quote when the answer appears. Unfortunately the question, picture, and quote often are unrelated. This poor set-up will confuse many students and is a lost opportunity to reinforce knowledge visually. Other shortcomings are the unnecessarily busy page design, small font used in the answers, and the big red "You are wrong!" for incorrect answers. In addition, there is limited explanation and reinforcement of wrong answers to help students learn. The free version reuses the same questions so parents will need to purchase the full version for variety.

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

  • Anxiety
    • Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
    • Gives negative feedback (red X's, buzzer)
    • A player's success depends on speed
  • Attention
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
    • Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Processing Speed
    • A player's success depends on speed
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Reading Basics
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Reading Comprehension
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Reading Fluency
    • A player's success depends on speed
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Self-regulation
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • Gives negative feedback (red X's, buzzer)
    • A player's success depends on speed
  • 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

Manufacturer Description

Think you're an expert on the U.S. Presidents?

Test your knowledge of Presidential history in the lite version of this fun, fast-paced and exciting history quiz written by a college history professor. Die-hard history buffs and those looking to learn more about about the 43 men from George Washington to Barack Obama will delight in this challenging app. How much do you know about the men, policies, crises, First Ladies, and wars of the Presidents?

The lite version of this popular app provides many engaging questions detailing the various men who held America's highest post. A dynamic multiple choice engine and a time-based scoring system reward the player for quick answers. Quotes and images further immerse the player in Presidential history. Each high quality question is a miniature history lesson!

Perfect for history buffs, students, or just those looking to learn more the history of the men who led America, History Challenge: Presidents Lite is a great quiz as well as a fun and fascinating historical experience.

From the name you trust- History Challenge!

Check us out on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/History-Challenge/171775482904945