Recommended Space apps:
Skyguide: View stars day or night. Fifth Star Labs LLC (www.fifthlabs.com) Category: Education
Cost: $1.99 Size: 73.5MB (satellite tracking available as an in-app purchase for $1.99) Age: 4+ Science: Space
Education classification: Manipulable
This is a beautifully designed star and planetary guide. The guide aligns to the correct sky position via an in-built compass, so that the app can be used without a GPS signal. The display shows photorealistic images of the night sky, figurative graphics of the constellations. Written scientific and mythological information about the stars is accessed by touching the images on-screen. One particularly interesting feature is the sound emitted when touching the featured stars; the tone corresponds with what scientists know about the frequencies produced by the stars; it gives an old notion of ' the music of the spheres' new meaning.
Usability: This app can be used both as a stimulus for a group project on space science, and as a fascinating individual learning tool. The information text requires teacher support as it is quite detailed.
Cost: $1.99 Size: 73.5MB (satellite tracking available as an in-app purchase for $1.99) Age: 4+ Science: Space
Education classification: Manipulable
This is a beautifully designed star and planetary guide. The guide aligns to the correct sky position via an in-built compass, so that the app can be used without a GPS signal. The display shows photorealistic images of the night sky, figurative graphics of the constellations. Written scientific and mythological information about the stars is accessed by touching the images on-screen. One particularly interesting feature is the sound emitted when touching the featured stars; the tone corresponds with what scientists know about the frequencies produced by the stars; it gives an old notion of ' the music of the spheres' new meaning.
Usability: This app can be used both as a stimulus for a group project on space science, and as a fascinating individual learning tool. The information text requires teacher support as it is quite detailed.
Planets by Q Continuum Category: Utility Cost: Free (no ads) Age: 4+ Size: 12.2MB Education Classification: Reference
This is a no cost, low MB star and planetary guide; it is simple, functional and has lots of useful information. The constellations are rendered as linear diagrams with major stars. The guide can be viewed in 2D or 3D format (the 3D format is the best view); the 3-dimensional format has a variety of displays besides the usual visual display: infrared, X-ray, gamma ray, radio, microwave and hydrogen a. As with the previous star guide, the screen can be aligned with the correct sky position by tapping an on-screen compass. The app also has a visibility guide, showing when the sun, moon and planets are visible in the sky. There is also a image of the rotating earth with night casting its shadow over half the globe.
This is a no cost, low MB star and planetary guide; it is simple, functional and has lots of useful information. The constellations are rendered as linear diagrams with major stars. The guide can be viewed in 2D or 3D format (the 3D format is the best view); the 3-dimensional format has a variety of displays besides the usual visual display: infrared, X-ray, gamma ray, radio, microwave and hydrogen a. As with the previous star guide, the screen can be aligned with the correct sky position by tapping an on-screen compass. The app also has a visibility guide, showing when the sun, moon and planets are visible in the sky. There is also a image of the rotating earth with night casting its shadow over half the globe.
NASA app by NASA Ames Research Centre Category: Education Cost: Free Size: 9.3MB Education Classification: Instructive/Reference
This app is worth having just for the images, and proves there are some really good apps that are genuinely free. An app that provides comprehensive information about NASA's involvement in the exploration of space: information about NASA's missions, images of different aspects of space, , video footage.
This app is worth having just for the images, and proves there are some really good apps that are genuinely free. An app that provides comprehensive information about NASA's involvement in the exploration of space: information about NASA's missions, images of different aspects of space, , video footage.
Stella and Sam Adventure story pack. by zinc Roe Category: Kids Cost: $4.49. (The pack consists of five stories; the individual stories are available separately for $1.99) Size: 359 MB Age: Made for under 5s Educational classification: Instructive
This is a set of animated, interactive stories based on series of picture books. The stories are visually appealing with graceful illustrations and no text; they convey the wonder of the natural world in an engaging way. The stories are told through the interactions of Stella and Sam, voiced by two child narrators; together they explore the world around them, examining various phenomena such as the weather and seasons, creatures the backyard, and the stars at night.
Usability: Suitable for independent exploration.
Note: 'Backyard at Twilight' one of the stories in the pack, was also downloaded separately, but will not be reviewed separately.
This is a set of animated, interactive stories based on series of picture books. The stories are visually appealing with graceful illustrations and no text; they convey the wonder of the natural world in an engaging way. The stories are told through the interactions of Stella and Sam, voiced by two child narrators; together they explore the world around them, examining various phenomena such as the weather and seasons, creatures the backyard, and the stars at night.
Usability: Suitable for independent exploration.
Note: 'Backyard at Twilight' one of the stories in the pack, was also downloaded separately, but will not be reviewed separately.
Google Earth by Google, Inc Category: Travel Cost: Free Size: 28MB Education Classification: Reference
This utilitarian reference app can provide a fascinating insight into the world where we live. Virtually any place on the globe can be viewed from street level right up to space viewpoint. Whether locating one's own house, or a national monument or a geographical feature it is possible to travel the globe at the swipe of a finger. Google Earth also has information about earthquake zones, electoral boundaries, the environment, the earth at night. A very useful resource.
Usability: Suitable for independent and peer supported exploration, and an excellent resource for group learning projects.
This utilitarian reference app can provide a fascinating insight into the world where we live. Virtually any place on the globe can be viewed from street level right up to space viewpoint. Whether locating one's own house, or a national monument or a geographical feature it is possible to travel the globe at the swipe of a finger. Google Earth also has information about earthquake zones, electoral boundaries, the environment, the earth at night. A very useful resource.
Usability: Suitable for independent and peer supported exploration, and an excellent resource for group learning projects.
iLearn Solar System HD by Sprite Labs Category: Education Cost: $2.99 Size: 36.1 Age: 4+ Education Classification: Instructive
An interactive planetary guide to the solar system and an accompanying quiz. The images of the Sun, moon and planets are rendered in photographic detail; each of the planetary bodies can be enlarged and rotated. Factual information is spoken by an animated astronaut character, the same information is given as text. The planetary guide is well crafted and the information is conveyed simply and factually. The quiz is based on the information given in the app; three correct answers given in a row earns a 'sticker'. The alien creature in the quiz section is a rather annoying though.
Usability: Suitable for independent, peer supported and group interest projects
An interactive planetary guide to the solar system and an accompanying quiz. The images of the Sun, moon and planets are rendered in photographic detail; each of the planetary bodies can be enlarged and rotated. Factual information is spoken by an animated astronaut character, the same information is given as text. The planetary guide is well crafted and the information is conveyed simply and factually. The quiz is based on the information given in the app; three correct answers given in a row earns a 'sticker'. The alien creature in the quiz section is a rather annoying though.
Usability: Suitable for independent, peer supported and group interest projects
Less inspired apps:
Ocean Science by Ringier Studios Category: Education Cost: Free Age: 4+ Size: 178MB
Education Classification: Instructive/reference
Why is such a beautiful looking app rated as 'less inspired' ? Because there seem to be faults in the design and the app crashes on a regular basis, although it is by no means the largest app under review. The information is primarily text based so that this combination of crashing, design flaws and large amounts of text would make the app less engaging for young children.
Usability: High amount of teacher support needed due to the large amount of text.
Education Classification: Instructive/reference
Why is such a beautiful looking app rated as 'less inspired' ? Because there seem to be faults in the design and the app crashes on a regular basis, although it is by no means the largest app under review. The information is primarily text based so that this combination of crashing, design flaws and large amounts of text would make the app less engaging for young children.
Usability: High amount of teacher support needed due to the large amount of text.
Seasons and Weather! by Tribal Nova Category: Education Cost: Free lite version Age: Made for under 5s Education classification: Instructive
Although made for children under 5 years the app is not in the 'Kids' as it has a number of in-app purchase options that are not in a restricted area. This is another disappointing app; three games were supplied with the lite version. In one, the user guesses the correct picture by listening to the spoken clues; in the second the user must match the activity to the kind of weather; and the third encourages to spot the items that do not belong to the weather conditions. Finding the correct answer can achieved by guesswork as there is no explanation regarding why a choice is appropriate
Although made for children under 5 years the app is not in the 'Kids' as it has a number of in-app purchase options that are not in a restricted area. This is another disappointing app; three games were supplied with the lite version. In one, the user guesses the correct picture by listening to the spoken clues; in the second the user must match the activity to the kind of weather; and the third encourages to spot the items that do not belong to the weather conditions. Finding the correct answer can achieved by guesswork as there is no explanation regarding why a choice is appropriate