Knowji Vocab App Review
App Info
Price: $9.99
Overview
Knowji Vocab 7-10 offers systematic teaching, review and quizzing of the top 500 SAT vocabulary words. The app offers a structured program to improve vocabulary for middle school and high school students as well as adults.
Features include:
- Common Core Alignment
- Images and example sentences for each word
- 4 learning modes
- Customizable and adaptable with record keeping
- Pronunciations included
Quality
Knowji Vocab 7-10 is a high quality app. It offers proven methods to truly learn vocabulary words together with a powerful and structured system to commit the information to memory. All features of the app work smoothly, it includes a detailed tutorial as well as a video tutorial, and the controls are intuitive. The only thing missing is the capability to keep records for multiple users, which would make it ideal for the classroom setting or for families with multiple learners.
Education
This app offers a comprehensive review and teaching system that, if used regularly, will help teen and adult students learn words to boost success on high-stakes tests such as the SAT and ACT. The app features 1600 high level vocabulary words and gives users the capability to remove words that are already mastered from study. It optimizes itself for the user, presenting difficult words more frequently than words that are consistently correct. The four learning modes allow users to begin with multiple choice format (the easiest), and progress through a system called “spaced repetition” that optimizes practice. The app suggests when and how often you should practice. It allows users to set goals and keep track of progress.
Each word is accompanied by a definition, an example sentence, a graphic illustration, and information about the word such as its etiology. The pictures can be turned on and off, which will make the exercises more challenging. Students can practice with multiple choice exercises, spelling and other active learning techniques. They can record themselves saying each word and compare their pronunciation with that of the computer. Users can set goals and target dates to complete studying each section, as well.
Entertainment
This app is not really intended to be entertaining, but the developers have managed to inject a bit of fun anyway. The illustrations provided with each word are colorful cartoons that clearly show the meaning of the word. Many users will also appreciate the challenge of turning the progress bar to the successful green color that indicates lessons have been mastered, or will like competing with themselves or others for high scores on the quizzes.
Value
Though this app seems pricy ($9.99 in the App Store), it is well worth the investment for serious vocabulary students as well as for teens whose parents or teachers are trying to coax into studying harder words. It includes 1600 words that high school and college students really should know and understand, and will keep students learning for years. It also provides an excellent review for students, which is likely to improve their scores on the high-stakes exams that are necessary to move into college or graduate school.
Child Friendliness
This app is not meant for younger users who need monitoring and protection from open internet access. There are links to internet content that will open browsers, links to email, a link to rate the app, and links to other apps by the same developer. The app does disclose that it collects some anonymous user information for quality control, and refers users to the developers’ privacy policy for details, but the policy is not readily accessible from the information page. That being said, all of these connections are hidden away in an Information Section accessible by tapping the small “i” in the lower right corner of the home screen. In other words, students are not likely to find most of it without looking. There is, however, a link that opens a pre-written email recommending the app to send to friends that is also accessible from the home screen (the “send” icon at the lower left of the screen). It would be safer for younger students if these things were not so accessible, but the app is intended for teens and adults who already usually have access to the internet.
- NO in-app purchase
- NO 3rd party ads
- NO social media links
- YES “more apps” links (in information section)
- YES rating request (in information section)
- YES external links (in information section)
- YES recommendation email (lower left of home screen)
