Math Early Childhood - Essay Example

Math; Early Childhood Naida Kardas Arizona Overview of the applications A Bee Sees Developed by Software H. and available at the Apple app store, the application targets children between the ages of 1 to 6 years and has the option of allowing adults to select the range of content to be learnt. It has the advantage of aiding learning among children without direct assistances of parents and guardians. Description of each applicationIt has a ‘happy balloon popping’ that aids children in learning numbers and letters.

A child can simply touch the screen of the learning gadget, be it an iPhone or iPad to set off the correct balloon which makes it user friendly even to the youngest of children. It has voice instructions that guide users on what to pick before they touch the visible balloon for the bee to set off.Early MathAvailable at http://www.appolicious.com/education/apps/, this application is intended for early year teaching of math with the target age bracket being children between 1-6 years. It has shapes in both 2D and 3D and numbers between 1and 10 with numerous colourful flash cards to help children learn better through the stages.

Description of each applicationThe app incorporates basic concepts of object comparison to help understand measurements among the target group. With the visible 3D shapes, kids can differentiate between the objects left and those taken to help develop their addition and subtraction skills.Park MathAlso available at http://www.appolicious.com/education/apps, it has won several awards among the 2011 Silver Award by the Parents’ Choice Foundation. It invites kids to learn how to count, add subtract and sort in a park setting with its target users being between the ages of 1and 6 years.

Description of each applicationIt has seven fun learning activities that start with swing numbers that help in counting rabbit swings up to 50, slide additions where a duck climbs on top of each slide as the user counts thereby learning how to make additions, Apple tree for subtraction where users learn how to subtract as Apples fall from a tree and picnic for counting where kids feed a hippo with the right food items just to highlight a fraction of the activities.Comparison and contrast of the applications The application has sufficient details with the all the required elements of a good app from the results of the evaluation.

It has both operational variety and interest that stir user curiosity. The evaluation tool therefore awarded it optimum points with regards to accessibility, content and individualization.The three applications have a similar target group of between years 1 and 6 with the distinction n the mode of learning where the first app employs a bee and balloon, second uses shapes in 2D and 3D while the last brings an outdoor setting in the form of a park. The apps have different learning levels that aim at harnessing math skills in kids differently but with the common objective of imparting basic mathematical concepts in learners within the target age bracket.

Description of strengths/weaknesses of each applicationA Bee SeesHas the strength of being pre set by adults and do not therefore require close supervision during the learning process. The weaknesses witnessed are that; it’s boring with one function of a bee and balloons, does not give proper positive feedback to encourage learners in the event of a successful action and lacks thrill due to its monotonous nature.Early MathIt has the strength of learning processes divided into over 10 experiences which provides the kind of variety lacking in the above app.

It however has the weakness of not being interactive as the child only observes shapes. The other weakness is the lack of strong positive feedbacks to encourage learners through the process.Park MathThe outstanding strengths of this app are:It has an outdoor feel with all its activities undertaken in a park settingVery interactive in the various learning activitiesLearning is segmented into 7 very distinct and interesting activities.The weakness witnessed is that it requires the absolute involvement of an adult through the learning processRecommendationThe above apps are very distinct and can all be used in different occasions to avoid monotony and boredom related to one learning tool.

Being adventures and with their minimal concentration, children do appreciate variety that makes their learning processes interesting and therefore using the three apps is important in achieving the intended results. Park Math can be used as a elementary learning starter, possibly at the very start of learning to stir interests of the children in math while A bee Sees and Early Math be used after children’s attention has been fully drawn to the study of the subject, in build up lessons that add on the foundations laid by Park Math (Blake, 2011).

References Blake, S. (2011). Child development and the use of technology perspectives, applications and experiences. Hershey, Pa.: IGI Global (701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, USA). Appolicious ™ iPhone and iPad App Directory. (n.d.). iPhone apps and iPad apps | Appolicious ™ App Directory. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from http://www.appolicious.com/education/apps/377413-park-math-by-duck-duck-moose- duck-duck-moose-partnership/developer_notesSoftware, H., & Inc.. (n.d.).

App Store - A Bee Sees - Learning Letters, Numbers, and Colors. Apple - iTunes - Everything you need to be entertained.. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from http://itunes.apple.com/app/bee-sees-learning-letters/id345831563?ign- mpt=uo%3D6&mt=8