Caveat Emptor: Old words for a new product
Apps are a new kind of product in a virtual market, and there are few objective standards or benchmarks to guide the consumer, so the old adage 'let the buyer beware' is as relevant here as with any other purchase .
Apple has recently launched the "Kids" category in conjunction with the iOS7 upgrade for mobile devices. The apps in this new category must comply with privacy standards; the apps cannot ask for personal information that can be used for targeted advertising. The apps in the "Kids" category also have either no in-app purchases or restricted access to where a supervising adult can make a purchase, if needed. The 'Kids' section is a good place to start when looking for apps for young children, but don't restrict your search to this section. There are many worthwhile apps that are aimed at older children or a general audience. Consider whether the app is intended as a shared resource, a tool to use with individual children, a stimulus for exploring a particular science field, or a way of responding to children's interests.
Emma Chizett: getting value for money
A general principle seems to be the slicker the graphics and the more interactive features an app has, the higher the cost of the app, but even here there seems to be little standardisation in relation to the cost of an app and product quality. Some free apps are introductory, or lite, versions of a full priced product. They have limited functions but it is possible to try before buying; the downside is that lite apps often feature advertising which cannot be filtered. Not all free apps are ad-filled lite versions; worthy organisations such as NASA have good quality, advertisement free apps, in this review the 'Planets' app, 'Tinkerbox' and 'Bugs and Buttons 2' were also ad free apps. Very many apps are low cost (under $5), the most expensive single app in this review is under $10. Some apps are part of an existing or intended series of apps: purchasing one can give an indication of whether the rest of the series is worthwhile.
Big Bytes: consider app size:
The number of megabytes an app has is an easy factor to overlook. Apps over 100MB cannot be downloaded via a mobile connection, but needs connected to Wi-Fi or another computer. The size of the app can have an over all effect on the functioning of the iPad, depending what is already on the device; downloading a number of large apps can also affect how well an ISP works. (Downloading too many large apps can cause an ISP to be slowed down)
Thinking caps on: Learning classifications: What kind of skills, dispositions or understandings are encouraged by using the app? What sort of learning style does the app promote?
*Instructive apps: These apps have specific set 'educational' goals, they often have a "drill-and-practise" approach to learning, they offer the user less opportunity for creativity. Often the user is presented with 'right or wrong' choices.
*Manipulable apps: These apps offer the user greater creativity within a designed framework. There are many components that can be manipulated by the user; experimentation, exploration and problem-solving is encouraged. These apps have goals which are broader, and have multiple possibilities.
*Constructive apps: These offer the user a virtual blank canvas with the greatest opportunity for creativity and experimentation. The goals are generally defined by the user. Word processing apps like 'Pages', drawing apps are examples of constructive apps.
(Adapted from Goodwin and Highfield, 2012)
*Reference apps: These apps can serve as a catalyst to creativity, curiosity and experimentation. They do not have many manipulable components, but are invaluable tools for research. Map apps such as Google Earth, and planetary guides are examples of this type of app.
Why is it so? Science learning: Science learning for children is about helping them develop the skills and processes that lead to inquiry. It is about channelling children's natural curiosity about the world around them into critical, thoughtful investigation of phenomena. As with any other science resource, worthwhile science-related apps open the possibility of inquiry and exploration of the world that compliments real-world experiences. Look for apps that offer the possibility of exploring environments or a phenomena that are beyond a child's local environment is valuable, as these can broaden a child's understanding.
Some apps were like a digital replica of a book and did not fully utilise the iPad’s functions. Better apps utilised the camera, microphone,
accelerometer function, and the intuitive ‘swipe, pinch, tap’ actions .
In this review three science categories were used: life science, earth and space science and physical science. The general science section was for apps that did not fit into a single category, either because the app spanned all sciences, or were not specifically science related at all.