Pogg - kids game for language

Features
Price $1.99
Age Range Early Childhood
App Type Learning App
Version Reviewed 1.8
Android Available?
Lite Version Available?
Help Provided?

Bloom's Thinking Process
Creating
Evaluating
Analysing
Applying
Understanding
Remembering

Adaptability
Includes animation
Includes text

Review Comments
Pogg is one of the most delightful ways of learning vocabulary. Pogg is a cute, green alien. He acts out all of the nouns and verbs in this app. This is a terrific way for young children to learn vocabulary. Action verbs need movement to convey their meaning. Students really enjoy watching Pogg cook pancakes and throw one in his face. He is quite a character and will engage students while they learn. I just wish Pogg said the word - this would be a great way for students to copy new words. It would be even better if the student could record their voice on to the animation. The words are written in upper case and this is only shown at the beginning of the animation. Maybe in future versions? The words are: Nouns: moon, boat, holiday, ball, piano, bath, light, phone, hat, bell, dog, camp Verbs: dance, fly, drink, sneeze, wave, eat, read, jump, walk, draw, stand, hop, hide, yawn, cook, drive, clap, grow, sit, shout, swim, run, laugh, sing, sleep, party (also a noun), slide (also a noun), swing, climb, cycle, shiver, brush There is also a spelling section. The student types in one of the words and then Pogg shows the animation. The words need to be in the list above. This is quite a difficult task and would need to be used with older students who can use a QWERTY keyboard. I was not surprised that my older students also enjoyed this task. There is a lite version to try.

Review Comments

Pogg is one of the most delightful ways of learning vocabulary. Pogg is a cute, green alien. He acts out all of the nouns and verbs in this app.

This is a terrific way for young children to learn vocabulary. Action verbs need movement to convey their meaning. Students really enjoy watching Pogg cook pancakes and throw one in his face. He is quite a character and will engage students while they learn.

I just wish Pogg said the word - this would be a great way for students to copy new words. It would be even better if the student could record their voice on to the animation. The words are written in upper case and this is only shown at the beginning of the animation. Maybe in future versions?

The words are:

Nouns: moon, boat, holiday, ball, piano, bath, light, phone, hat, bell, dog, camp

Verbs: dance, fly, drink, sneeze, wave, eat, read, jump, walk, draw, stand, hop, hide, yawn, cook, drive, clap, grow, sit, shout, swim, run, laugh, sing, sleep, party (also a noun), slide (also a noun), swing, climb, cycle, shiver, brush

There is also a spelling section. The student types in one of the words and then Pogg shows the animation. The words need to be in the list above. This is quite a difficult task and would need to be used with older students who can use a QWERTY keyboard. I was not surprised that my older students also enjoyed this task.

There is a lite version to try.

Use	Rank (*)
Vocabulary		Ranked 4th of 31
Top Apps for Speech Pathologists		Ranked 13th of 16
First words		Ranked 4th of 26
Top Apps for Late Talkers		Ranked 3rd of 14

(*) This app has been ranked according to its' effectiveness to achieve the learning goals and strategies listed. Some apps may rank highly for achieving a specific use and lower for other uses. Some students will learn and engage with one app more than others, because of the individual nature of us all.

Learning App
Learning apps are designed for a specific purpose. The authors claim to teach a goal, skill or concept.

Bloom's Thinking Process
Bloom's Taxonomy is classification system used to explain the behaviours important in learning. Apps range from simple memory tasks such as flashcards apps through to creative apps which ask students to create an original story or video.

Bloom's Creating
The student creates new ideas, products or ways of viewing things. Activities include making, animating, designing, constructing, planning, producing and inventing.

Bloom's Evaluating
The student justifies a decision or course of action. Activities include counting to check, hypothesising, critiquing, experimenting and judging.

Bloom's Analysing
The student breaks the information into parts to explore understandings and relationships. Activities include explaining, ordering, inferring, comparing and organising.

Bloom's Applying
The student uses the information in a new situation. Activities include implementing, carrying out, using, illustrating, classifying and categorising.

Bloom's Understanding
The student comprehends the new information. Activities include describing, predicting showing understanding use a multiple choice.

Bloom's Remembering
The student recalls information they know. Activities include matching, 'fill in the blank', making a choice, answering using a multiple choice, naming a group.

Learning Connection
How well does the app teach the targeted skill or concept? This is the area where we refer to current research and pedagogy to evaluate the efficacy of the app.

Authenticity
Authenticity looks at the manner in which skills are learnt. Authentic apps use real life or genuine activities. Students learn in context rather than in a contrived or rote fashion (such as flashcards).

Feedback
Feedback needs to be specific and result in improved performance. Feedback should be supportive and encouraging rather than negative. Data should be available to support decision making.

Differentiation
Differentiation is the ability to customise the app to suit the student. The ability to record you voice, customise text, add pictures and alter settings enables individualisation of the app.

User Friendliness
User friendliness is a measure of how well a student can use the app independently. Some apps are simply intuitive to use. Others include audio or visual prompts which support the student.

Motivation
All apps are engaging the first time they are played. However, students with diverse learning needs may need to return to the app many times. Motivating apps offer rewards,games or incentives.

Vocabulary
These are apps which teach students everyday vocabulary. They include words such as nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

Top Apps for Speech Pathologists
This is a list of the Top Apps for Speech Pathologists

First words
These are apps which help the child learn simple everyday vocabulary. These apps usually don't have text. First word apps should include words which the child uses or experiences each day.

Top Apps for Late Talkers
This is a list of the Top Apps for Late Talkers

Domain	Score	Details
Learning Connection	4	Pogg is a fabulous way to teach vocabulary using animation. The animation helps students remember these words.
Authenticity	1	The student doesn't interact with the task. I wish the student could record their voice or somehow interact with Pogg.
Feedback	1	Feedback is not provided as the student doesn't perform a task.
Differentiation	1	All settings on Pogg are fixed.
User Friendliness	3	The student would need to be able to read the title, which is written in upper case.
Motivation	4	Pogg is one of my most requested apps. Some of the animations are hilarious. Pogg is such an endearing character.

From the App Store

Developer Ricky Vuckovic
App Store Rating (from 5 reviews)
Current Version Rating (from 5 reviews)
Current Version 2.01

Developer's Description
Pogg is a game that will help your kids learn words, objects, actions, and have a great time in the process! It's a fun educational game for young children, as well as a proven useful tool in kids' language development. It stars Pogg, a little green alien who can do all sorts of things. Pogg is built on the open question, “What should Pogg do now?”, allowing you to type in whatever you like, and Pogg will most likely be able to do it – type in “run” and he’ll go for a run… type in “cook” and he cooks! You can also watch all of Pogg’s actions through Picture Mode, which presents each action as an easy to press icon. Pogg is receiving consistently high ratings from parents, teachers, game reviewers, speech therapists and disability workers. It has found a warm place in the hearts of special education children and their teachers and parents, and received the endorsement of multiple speech therapists as well as being cited in publications as a useful app for helping the language development of special education students. "It is without doubt one of the best games for kids I have seen in the App Store. It is creative and useful, and just plain fun." (iPhone Footprint review) If you like fun, you’ll like Pogg :)

Developer's Description

Pogg is a game that will help your kids learn words, objects, actions, and have a great time in the process!

It's a fun educational game for young children, as well as a proven useful tool in kids' language development. It stars Pogg, a little green alien who can do all sorts of things.

Pogg is built on the open question, “What should Pogg do now?”, allowing you to type in whatever you like, and Pogg will most likely be able to do it – type in “run” and he’ll go for a run… type in “cook” and he cooks!

You can also watch all of Pogg’s actions through Picture Mode, which presents each action as an easy to press icon.

Pogg is receiving consistently high ratings from parents, teachers, game reviewers, speech therapists and disability workers. It has found a warm place in the hearts of special education children and their teachers and parents, and received the endorsement of multiple speech therapists as well as being cited in publications as a useful app for helping the language development of special education students.

"It is without doubt one of the best games for kids I have seen in the App Store. It is creative and useful, and just plain fun." (iPhone Footprint review)

If you like fun, you’ll like Pogg :)

Disclaimer: The evaluations and rankings information provided here are based solely on the opinion of the author and are for informational purposes only. Families should seek professional advice before making decisions regarding interventions for their child.