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Digital Storytelling: Children’s App Trends in Technology

NDFAuthors — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Plenty of children’s apps are accessible online but which of them are worth having a closer look at and are really child-friendly? Here is a list of trends to watch out for.

When observing public places and playgrounds, it has become common to recognize more and more children holding tablets and mobile phones in their hands. It seems that technological devices are finding growing acceptance in the everyday life of children. This development is not only true for entertaining purposes but also for learning and skill development. Unsurprisingly, many companies have started exploring the field designing apps specifically for children. Here are some key trends worth exploring over the next months.

Digital Storytelling

Digital book apps are a very popular choice to keep toddlers entertained and educated. Using all the advantages that come with an exciting story in an actual book, storytelling apps try to let children interact more closely with the story. Rather than just being able to turn pages digitally, kids can tap on the screen and decide to interact with scenery or characters.

A very popular app is called Dino Dog – a digging adventure created by StoryToys. Children travel the world with Dino Dog and his friend Bonnie the Bear to dig for bones and explore fossils.

Children Becoming the Storytellers

Do you remember the books back in the days that included a page with different statements at the end of each chapter allowing you to make a decision for the character and then leaving you at a different page of the book to read on? Some designers developed this own storytelling idea further and started to create apps around it allowing children to have a say rather than sticking to a story that remains decidedly linear. Children can select from pre-packed collections of sceneries, characters and situations. The British art gallery TATE created the ‘Noisy Neighbours’ app where children can even create their own characters.

Computer-coding Apps

Many app developers try to engage children to take their first steps in programming-like thinking and helping them to have an advantage in the classroom when pupils are introduced to the world of coding. Although the apps have sparked a debate, good apps can strengthen children’s critical-thinking and problem-solving skills which are both needed to excel the skills of computer programming.

A potential app that exposes children from the age of 5 to the logic of programming is called The Foos: Code for an Hour FREE girls and boys educational app. The app features monsters as characters and is built around drag-and-drop coding puzzles which need to be solved.

Robots and 3D Printing

Roberts and modern 3D printing are two other areas many app designers work on even though the products are very expensive and can take up quite some space as well. Nonetheless, there have been developments going on in the field. The robot package Dash and Dot is one of the examples where robots can be integrated in the learning and playing life of children. The pack comes with two robots and apps can be downloaded online. The apps mainly focus on teaching children to program one of the robots and chase each other. However, given the price of the package, it is more a long-term investment than a game.

3D printing is another expensive niche requiring a 3D printer at hand. The idea is that children can create anything they can think of through an app and then get their ideas printed.

Minecraft

Having been around for a long time now, Minecraft is more an established game in the technological scene rather than a new trend. But it is new that there is an increasing focus on the educational purpose of the game. The game itself is based on the idea to place as many blocks as you like in an area in order to build anything that comes into your mind. There are many YouTube channels that try to make educational use of Minecraft or to teach creativity skills. More and more children are also coming up with their own mods which they can share with a wider group on the platform.

YouTube Filters and Other Video Apps

Children’s videos on YouTube have been a trend for a long time. There are many channels on the platform focusing on entertaining and educating content. In order to ensure that children only watch child-friendly videos, YouTube launched an app called YouTube Kids. The app can be downloaded online and filters inappropriate content. For a list of recommended channels and a guide on the app read our blog post on 31 YouTube channels for kids to watch.

Musical Apps

Although these apps are not a replacement for an actual instrument they can help children to explore rhythm and melody, and allow them to creating their own music from scratch. The app called Sago Mini Music Box is a musical adventure journey. Children can explore sounds by taping on the screen and moving their animal friends.

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Early Childhood Education: Trending Tools for Teachers

NDFAuthors — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

With the rise of technology in today’s world, it’s no surprise that it is has made its way into the world of early childhood education.

Teachers must work to find a balance between allowing children to explore and use their imagination away from technology, but also adapting to it to develop skills they’ll need in the future. Kids’ educators around the country are turning to these top trends to do so:

Virtual Collaboration

Video chat tools such as Skype and Google Hangouts have transformed early childhood education. Kids in classrooms across the world are using these tools to connect to each other, share information and materials, and learn about kids in other parts of the world. Although Skype and Google Hangouts aren’t made specifically for education, there are other tools, such as ePals Global Community, that are designed just for this purpose.

Video chats and virtual collaboration are changing education for special needs children as well with the introduction of the virtual classroom. These students now are connected face-to-face with teachers to receive individualized help that greatly benefits them throughout their childhood.

E-books

Teachers no longer have to feel limited in what they can provide when it comes to children’s books, since there are countless e-books available. Not only do these e-books take up much less space, since they’re accessed through a digital device, but they’re also less expensive, so teachers don’t have to fear budget cutbacks. A great source of kid-friendly e-books is Disney Story Central, where teachers can access dozens of books for the classroom right at their fingertips.

Getting Parents Involved

Even if parents have to work while their children are at school, new technology allows teachers to involve parents in their child’s early education. Apps such as Class Dojo give teachers the opportunity to quickly and privately message parents, share photos or videos from the classroom, or send important updates. Teachers can also use apps like Class Dojo to track kids’ classroom behavior and keep busy parents informed. The app gives teachers the power to award points to students who have behaved well and then notify their parents so they can receive recognition at home as well. The best part? Class Dojo has vowed to always be free for teachers!

Foster Kids’ Imagination

Although many people believe that technology may interfere with a child’s ability to express their creativity and use their imagination, some tools are actually encouraging kids to exercise these skills. One of these tools is Storybird, an app that allows kids to create their own stories complete with illustrations. Not only does this app help kids enhance their reading and writing skills, but it also engages their creativity, forcing them to think of unique storylines and find pictures that match their words. Over the course of a year, teachers can work together with students in the classroom to create a library of e-books written and illustrated by them! Over 400,000 teachers and 5 million students currently use Storybird, and this number is expected to grow as technology continues to become more important in early childhood education.

Tablet Apps

Some schools allow children to bring their own tablets to the classroom, while others provide the devices to each student. Either way, the use of tablet apps to enhance early childhood education has increased over the last few years. There are hundreds of free apps designed for use in the classroom, but some kid-friendly favorites include ABCya, created to help kids develop language skills, SpellingCity, which features interactive spelling and word association games, and Stack the States, a fun trivia game. These apps help to engage kids and allow them to realize early on in life that learning can be fun!

Educational Websites

Instead of writing out addition and subtraction problems on a chalkboard, today’s kids can work on solving math problems through one of the many educational websites used in the classroom. Websites such as XtraMath and Math Magician give kids the opportunity to work at their own pace to learn new math concepts in a non-threatening and unintimidating environment. Teachers will be able to see their progress through reporting, and then identify potential areas for improvement.

All of these trending technological tools work wonders in the classroom, especially during the early years.

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