Are Educational Apps Really Educational? How Parents Can Tell the Difference.

Mobile applications (apps) have become an increasingly popular tool in ed-tech inside and outside the classroom. Especially post COVID-19 pandemic, children have been relying in many instances on educational apps to keep their learning going. However, research has shown that not all apps labeled as "educational" are truly educational. In fact, many are not. So how can parents tell the difference?

What Makes an App Truly Educational?

According to research, truly educational apps have several key characteristics:

Active Learning: The app requires children to actively engage with the content, not just passively watch or tap. Active learning involves problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative expression.

Engagement Without Distraction: Educational apps should engage children in the learning process without relying on distracting elements like excessive animations, sound effects, or rewards that have nothing to do with learning.

Meaningful Content: The app's content should be relevant and meaningful to the child's life and prior knowledge. It should build on what children already know and connect to their experiences.

Social Interaction: The best educational apps encourage social interaction — either by allowing multiple children to use the app together or by prompting conversations between children and parents.

Questions Parents Should Ask

When evaluating an educational app for your child, consider these questions:

1. Does the app require active thinking? Look for apps that ask children to solve problems, make decisions, or create something rather than just tapping or swiping.

2. Are the distractions limited? Does the app have pop-ups, ads, or features that take the child out of the learning experience?

3. Is the learning scaffolded? Does the app gradually increase in difficulty as the child masters concepts?

4. Does it provide feedback? Good educational apps tell children when they're right and explain when they're wrong.

5. Can parents be involved? Look for apps that provide parent dashboards, reports, or offline activities to extend learning.

The STEM Buddies app was designed with these educational principles in mind. It engages children actively through questions, activities, and experiments. The content is scaffolded and provides meaningful feedback through certificates and assessments. It also provides offline activities for parents and children to do together, fostering that important social interaction.

When choosing educational apps, parents should always look beyond the educational label and examine how the app actually engages children. The best apps turn screen time into learning time, and the STEM Buddies app does exactly that.