An 'App' a day keeps the problems away!

Sixth Grade Learning Games is a free educational app designed by Kevin Bradford in 2013. This app is specifically designed for Grade 6 learners (generally aged 12). These lessons are, however, also ideal for learners that are just about to enter 6th grade, or for the current 6th graders who need a bit of help mastering a specific lesson. All 10 game lessons are fun, interactive and designed according to real Sixth Grade curriculums and are modelled after Common Core State Standards. Parents and educators are ensured that the information and content is aimed at Grade 6, ensuring that the learners are practicing and learning content they need to know. 

The games teach subjects such as Language (English) and Mathematics mainly, including topics like: geometry, algebra, probability, statistics, number sense, reading comprehension, synonyms and vocabulary.

Benefits:

This app is designed in a way that learners do not only practice, learn and improve their Grade 6 core content, but also have fun at the same time. The interactive games ensure learners to improve answering questions in a specific time, to complete the ‘race’, building process or card game (teaching learners to be determined and goal-orientated) or even try a more advanced level. Learners are therefore provided with the opportunity to improve individually at a fun-filled and suitable pace according to their level (easy/medium/hard) and educational need.

The game on numbers sense, for example, specifically takes the format of a racing game. Depending on whether learners can answer the set questions along the track, their speed will increase while competing against the other cars. With each question asked, a question mark button is provided, allowing additional help and a brief description (if required) on the content tested in the question. This is very helpful, as all learners will not necessarily be up to date with what is asked or tested. Consequently, they are now encouraged to try, to participate and to excel.

Teaching numbers sense or words in class could be considered boring and unentertaining. Yet, if teachers introduce this app as an educational resource game in glass, learners may be inspired to pay attention and collaborate with others. The teacher could project the app on a white board and invite the learners at the end of the teaching session to participate in a topic-related game for a few minutes. The app would therefore not merely replace the formal ‘teaching and learning’ in class, but serve as an additional tool to ensure learner participation, excitement, learning and fun.

Furthermore, this app is also recently designed (2013), which makes the learning content updated and trustworthy.

Potential Challenges:

This specific version only includes 3 games to try for free. Even though you may unlock all 10 games through a simple in-app purchase, it will require additional cost. If the app is used in the classroom (as suggested with the projection screen), the teacher will have to download the app before-hand on a cell phone or computer/ other device. Should the free version be used, the teacher will need to find access to an Android phone (2.2 and up) and make sure that there is enough data/ space to download the app of 20 MB. This might be a problem, as not all teachers will necessarily have access to these specific requirements.

If the app should be used for individual learner practice at home (whether it be for individual improvement or for a specific homework task), the same problem may occur: not all learners will have the specific cell phone requirements or data to download the app. You could arrange a few minutes in class for small collaborative groups to share cell phones for usage in group format, but: it will be your responsibility to get the parents’ approval, find out from the school whether this is in line and acceptable with the school’s cell phone policy and to also ensure that learners are, in fact, working on the lesson game (not surfing the net or accessing other social networks in class time!).

Practicality:

Despite the potential challenges, I still think that there will be a way to incorporate this app within the class – even if only once a month for a few minutes at the end of the week. Teachers and friends could assist or help you to make Sixth Grade Learning Games part of your classroom. A further bonus: the app only requires 20 MB.

These are not simple lesson games that only focus on one-specific type of question, but the lessons all explore several fields applicable for the Grade 6 Classroom. See for yourself:

• Number Sense (FREE): - Absolute Value, Roman Numerals, Number Lines, and More 
• Probability and Statistics (FREE): Median, Mode, Range, and Probability
• Geometry: Congruency, symmetry, and angle types 
• Consumer Math: Learn about sales, tax, tips, and other ways to calculate money 
• Algebra: Use the distributive property, evaluate expressions, and solve for x 
• Word Memory (FREE): Use clues to match words
• Spelling : Hundreds of spelling words of varying difficulty 
• Vocabulary:  Learn the definitions of challenging words
•  Reading Comprehension: Reading articles and then answer questions   
• Synonyms and Antonyms : Identify different words that mean the same or opposite