Educational apps are an excellent way to pacify children. But, do they really teach? Are children actually learning? According to Dr. Kate Highfield, from Macquarie University, it depends on the app and how it is used.
Apps can certainly be used as a tool when deemed necessary but as a daily routine to enhance learning, parent to child is best. However, well-chosen apps help students in areas of literacy, science and mathematics. Though, apps for drill and practice don’t promote higher level thinking skills. And, they do not promote creativity. These two skills have a much broader educational benefit.
An App That Teaches
With children utilizing screen time (including TV) for an average of three hours a day, screen time activities must be beneficial. There are several concepts that parents, educators and developers of an app use to determine what is educational and what simply looks educational.
- Minds-on learning, not passive learning. Students must think through a process. Students should not simply watch a screen. They must participate in the app activity to be hands-on minds-on.
- An app must be engaging, not distracting. Many story apps are distracting from the content. Make sure there are no extras such as: sound effects or various character movements that distract from the comprehension of a story.
- Make sure computer activity is meaningful. Children should not simply learn a song related to learning letters or numbers. Students must understand letters and numbers aren’t always related to music. Letters relate to sounds and form the ability to communicate. The knowledge of letters relating to a song has no deep understanding.
- An app that involves social interaction reinforce learning. The involvement of peers are the best resource for the learning process.
Apps Benefit Autistic Students
According to Dena Aucoin, M. Ed. students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, apps are useful for learning as well as social development. When choosing a program for ASD students, the child’s specific needs must be considered. Interactive programs for students without a diagnosis can be addictive. But, apps for a student with autism is a life changer. There are eleven apps recommended for children with ASD.
An App For All
There is much debate about the amount of screen time for students. However, more research demonstrates the vast benefits of learning through app technology. But, just because an app is interactive, doesn’t mean it’s a learning apps. One thing to look for is the context in which your child is learning.
