Liz Kolb and research team note 9 features to look for in great educational apps
The team’s research-backed criteria help users find apps that truly support student learning.
A research team at the Marsal School’s Eileen Lappin Weiser Center for the Learning Sciences—helmed by Liz Kolb, and including Wanting Qian, Yuyue Zhao, Heidi Bennett, Thomas Drake, and Leslie Rupert Herrenkohl—is developing an evidence-based tool to help educators identify characteristics of high-quality apps that can lead to growth in learning. In an article published on ASCD, the team encourages educators to focus on the following characteristics to make informed choices that enhance their students' educational experiences.
1. Active Involvement: High-quality educational apps engage learners both cognitively and physically through interactive content that aligns with learning goals.
2. Meaningful Connections: A well-designed app should include content that reflects children's everyday life experiences and facilitates knowledge transfer.
3. Social Interaction: When apps foster social engagement among children or provide a parasocial experience, they create more opportunities for children to reflect on their learning and co-construct knowledge with others.
4. Accessibility: For an app to be accessible to all students, it should be designed with an emphasis on ability-based features.
5. Strategic Instruction: Apps should have clearly defined learning objectives and activities that align with those objectives, while minimizing distractions that could disrupt students’ learning.
6. Timely Feedback: Feedback is crucial for supporting learning, as timely feedback and progress tracking are essential for meaningful improvement.
7. Free from Bias: Since humans develop apps, apps are inherently embedded with social biases. By examining educational technologies for bias, educators can make informed decisions about the tools and materials they use with young learners.
8. Avoid Manipulative Design: Some educational apps incorporate addictive elements designed to keep learners engaged for longer periods. It's essential for educators to recognize which features can be manipulative and which promote healthy usage.
9. Safety and Security: In the United States, all apps intended for use with younger children must comply with both FERPA and COPPA regulations.
