48 | SPECIAL REPORT: REVIEW OF THE YEAR | INDUSTRY
BECAUSE I’M ‘APPY…
With over 153,000 educational apps in the market trying to achieve recognition,
compiling a ‘top five’ for a school environment for 2014 is extremely difficult. The suitability of each varies on factors including the key stage, subject and learning style, but Justin Smith, CEO and founder of the Educational App Store, selects the following five contenders.
1
King Of Maths: Suitable for KS1 and KS2 pupils, it
deserves recognition for its successful game-based implementation whilst covering all the major topics and curriculum objectives for maths, making it an ideal and addictive game for anyone to play!
2
Justin’s World – Goldilocks: An exciting early years app
encouraging younger pupils to follow their favourite television entertainer on a new adventure and enjoy the fundamentals of story time through interactive reading.
3
Lightbot-Programming Puzzles: With technology revolutionising
the 21st century it has been emphasised that UK pupils need to develop a beter understanding of computer science and the physics revolving around programming; this is an excellent way for pupils of all ages, primarily KS1 and KS2, to understand the fundamentals of algorithms, creating and debugging programs and more.
4 5
GCSE Maths Complete: For older KS4 pupils, this app
is loved by its users in its ability to successfully explain concepts and demonstrate the use of formulas, testing whether the information is processed and retained with two different quizzes within each topic.
Squeebles Spelling Test: Vocabulary develops continually as
a child grows; this exciting app makes learning how to spell convenient and personalised to the user.
A 3D FUTURE
GETTING SOCIAL T
he key communication barrier for learning institutions to overcome in 2014 is connecting
with learners when not in the classroom. Paradoxically, pupils use social media as their core communication means while email is teachers’ primary tool. WAMBiz has devised the WAMedu app to bridge this gap, providing elements such as peer-to-peer learning and pupil engagement while safeguarding teachers’ professional integrity (so pupils won’t ‘like’ photos of teachers in bikinis.) Indeed, new Ofsted legislation means there will be more emphasis on schools needing social media safeguards
and “well developed strategies in place to keep learners safe”. Designed with the end users in mind
to avoid ‘clunkiness’, an ongoing pilot project at South Staffordshire College seeks to overcome traditionally higher drop-out rates seen in part-time courses brought about by less student/teacher classroom/face-to-face time. WAMBiz is responding to students’
needs. CEO Harry Jawanda said: “The most unexpected, yet valuable feedback from the pilot period before the summer
RIGHT: The WAMedu app
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72