Let Growing Blog parent education and educators

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A few months ago I wrote a post on how and why make an educational App. Today, App talking about in that article is a reality and can download Children´s Day Map one of the first applications dedicated exclusively to learn the routines in English while the kids play.

As many of you know in the development of this App I have worked with Alvaro Castro-Castilla Fourthbit. I, for my part, I drafted the contents, I have counseled educational quality, above all, in testing the App, as he has done development work itself.

There have been some intense months, but especially in those who have worked with great enthusiasm. The main purpose of developing this App was to provide both teachers and parents a tool to, their children or students, they could learn the main routines in English. Always in a playful way, without children feel that they are learning, creating at all times they are playing.

Therefore, perhaps the most difficult moment of the whole process was the day I first introduced my students App. I think I've never been more nervous in a long time. I have mentioned many times that children are the most demanding public that we can have. If what you're telling them we are interested in real, I assure you that they will not make any effort to listen.

So I came to class with my nerves, the "beta" version of the App, projected on the whiteboard and ... For a long time my kids were not so quiet and excited!

Why do so attractive this App? During the months that we worked on developing the App, I used to investigate and study a little about how games affect learning and development of children.

When we talk about game theory are increasingly academics who talk about this topic. Today I will comment above theory posed James Paul Gee of Arizona State University. I will not put too much on analyzing the 13 principles that speaks, that's material for another post, but if I speak of the three categories that are embodied these principles and how we applied each of these categories in the development of Children´s Day Map.

1. Category. Empowered Learners.

This means empowering students the students. Nobody learns anything unless they feel they are "deciding" to learn. Further, must feel that what they are learning matters and that will be good for them.

How are we empowering students with Children´s Day Map? Because they are the ones who choose between different options, App does not advance because if they do not give the right answer ... this way the kids feel they have control over the implementation by very simple it is.

2. Category. Problem Based Learning.

Today the learning is based on giving and giving information to students to pass the exam after these. Games and educational applications, conversely, are based on solving problems.

In Children´s Day Map the students must seek, either individually or in group, the right solution, hear and see the alternatives, think, to finally decide. They are interacting with content.

3. Category. Deep Understanding.

Most of the knowledge acquired at school we forget between 6 months and one year after having acquired. This means that the lessons have not been truly meanings, are not settled in our head.

Conversely, with games like Children´s Day Map, to interact with the content they are producing meaningful learning that will last in the individual.

You see the use of new technology in learning can be very positive if we know how to do it and raise it. If you are interested in this topic stay tuned because I'll keep treating it in next post.

Hopefully link to download Children´s Day Map OMG you and me telling how is your experience with the kids.

Disponéis a shortcut here on the blog. Further, through website App, where you have got all the information, you will see that you can play directly from your computer or download it for Android the iOS.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have voted Children's Day Map as App of the week. Thanks to you we are on the Podium. You can see more information I Heart this App.

Thanks for your time.

A hug,

Cristina

"The emergence of new technologies requires us to educate children differently"

Howard Gardner

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Tags: android, app, educational app, learn English, children, day, educate, english, ipad, play, map, routines, tablet

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 14th, 2014 at 5:57 pm and is filed under Technologies. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.