Today we want to talk about three other methods that have proven to be helpful in the process as well:

3. Repetition- Think of your favorite song; how many times did you play it and sang it before you learned the lyrics and even the melody?

-        If you notice, we often forget information we learned in school or college but the lyrics to our all-time favorites are always present in our minds.

-       Repetition has proven to be an extremely helpful method in the learning process. Reviewing our material, going over it over and over again, and fully understanding the concepts we are trying to remember lead to a better learning pattern.

-       In fact, studies have proven that repetition is one of the key tools that infants rely on when learning to speak. Repeatedly reviewing information on educational apps is no different.

4. Association- The American Psychological Association defines Associative Learning as “the ability to learn and remember the relationship between unrelated items such as the name of someone we have just met or the aroma of a particular perfume.”

-        Creating these links between the new information we are looking to learn and things we already know and understand can also contribute in our learning process.

-       So when you’re reading mLearning apps, you most likely are presented with video, audio and photographs of the information described in the specific educational app you are studying.-

-       Remembering these visuals and learning tools and associating them to the concepts studied is a way to set the difference between briefly memorizing it and making sure you remember and learn it for good.

5. Bad Memories- Interestingly enough, sometimes when we missed an answer on an exam, for instance, it is when we know for certain that we will never again forget the right answer.

-       We know, we know… although it can be a little too late in many occasions, those bad experiences where we could have gained a few extra points or so contribute in our learning process without us even realizing it.

-       So if we rely on memories to help us learn things we can establish a strong difference in our educational experience.

-       Can you think of any information you have learned because of this unfortunate setting?

Like these, there are many other factors that can help you turn a simple education app into a rewarding, long-lasting learning experience. We have to remember that even though thanks to the technological advances in education, the transition between the traditional books to eLearning/mLearning processes is not to be considered one size fits all method either.

Using the internet and technology as educational tools has been an ongoing trend in the past few years, but we all learn differently even though we use the same tools or methods.

The incorporation of tablets and other mobile devices into the classroom has a potential to make the learning process more interactive, more modern, and yes, even less “boring.” However, how we use these tools to learn will be different in every different person; therefore, educational apps should and are starting to be designed in a way that you learn at your own rhythm and convenience.

As we’ve mentioned in other of our blogs, You Can Learn, Inc.’s initiatives to pioneer and innovate in this field look to do just that. How have you used educational apps in your learning experience? Tell us on Twitter, our Facebook page or below.

How many of the things we “studied” do we remember to this day? It’s interesting to see how many things we simply memorized for a short period of time compared to those we learned “by heart.”

The process of trying to learn is not exactly an easy task. Whether we prefer making flash cards, answering questionnaires, dedicating lengthy hours in a library desk or many other methods, we all study and learn differently.

Here is a the first part of a compilation of factors that contribute to our long term learning process that establishes an advantage for learning as opposed to just memorizing information over a short period of time:

1. Level of Interest- Often, the subjects we like the least are the ones that give us the most trouble. Having the notion or hidden voice that tells us we could easily be doing much more interesting activities instead distract us and it gets in the way of our learning process.

•  A solution to preventing our levels of interest to interfere with our education can be committing to the class or subject and even have a slight change of attitude.

• For example, we don’t have to like the class but coming to the realization that we have to take it and making the best of it by learning from it can give you an advantage. 

•  Think of things positively and even if “we will never, ever use this in our careers or daily lives,” you can make small talk about the information you do learn.

2. Fun factors- How much fun we have while learning is closely related to the level of interest that influences our learning experience. Educational apps in the market take advantage of this factor to make the mLearning or eLearning applications a visual and stimulating tool that gives us a head start between learning or just memorizing the new information we are given.

•      Bringing the “fun factor” to eLearning and mLearning platforms is perhaps one of the main appeals that technological advances in education have to offer.

•       Group studying often works in terms of success for students because the interaction, support, exchange of ideas and more with other students can end up being a fun experience that helps us remember and understand better.

So even though these two components or factors are sometimes taken for granted, you will notice that the things you do know that you’ve learned over the years have had a lot to do with them.

Stay tuned for the following three factors we believe influence your learning skills against just retaining details and new information for a shorter time.

You Can Learn, Inc., enlists the help of Kickstarter.comto raise funds for developing their flagship, adaptable educational app in space science. Kickstarter.com provides a platform for entrepreneurs and innovators to raise funds for projects by asking the general public for support. This fledgling company aims to transform learning by using the technology that is already a part of our lives such as the iPad, iPhone and Android.

You Can Learn – Big Ideas in Space Science

Kickstarter campaigns operate under an “all-or-nothing” funding model so if the You Can Learn™ project doesn’t reach its goal at the end of 30 days it won’t receive any funds from its campaign. Backers can donate as little as $1 to help these innovators reach their goal. However, if backers decide to donate more, You Can Learn™ will reward them with gifts such as the Big Ideas in Space Science app, Apple iPod Touch or iPad 2 with WiFi.

You Can Learn™ has a solution for developing educational apps that are meaningful by using something called the Building Block Methodology. The app adapts to the way a student is learning by adjusting how much or how little information is received. As a student progresses through the course, they receive a unique educational experience customized just for them. Combined with a rich multimedia experience (i.e. images, audio, video, website links, interactive sequences, question sets, flash cards), these dynamic lessons provide a deeper and more personal learning experience.

For more information visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/youcanlearn

The exposition, which will take place at the end of August, seeks to exhibit local entrepreneurs and small businesses to showcase not only emerging brands, but to show the growth and potential in America’s economy. The event will also create a forum for entrepreneurs and policy makers to share ideas and opinions, as well as facilitate networking among small businesses.

Read the full press release here!

In recent months, multimedia additions have been added to the list of upcoming features for our apps. A text-reader will soon be incorporated to aid auditory learners, and tools such as flash cards and matching games will be available for study. These will feature in both lessons and in assessment elements to aid the app in tailoring content to individual student needs.

To date, all released You Can Learn apps have been built under the multi-level methodology, which allows for a linear set of lessons to be presented based on a single pre-course survey. Each lesson is already set to the detailed, standard, or brief version based upon user input. That paradigm will be altered for Building Block^TM apps.

Building Block^TM apps will encompass entire subjects tailored towards specific age groups. They will be suitable for classroom use on a semester or year-long basis, or for individual learners who want to get a head start or use a refresher course.

One of the most appealing features of Building Block^TM apps are the assessment tools. As students in a classroom setting move through lessons, their progress will be tracked and sent to their teacher, allowing him or her to know as soon as problems or gaps in learning arise and remedy the situation with in-person instruction. This feature will help keep students from falling behind while identifying issues at both the individual student and classroom levels.

There are exciting developments happening at You Can Learn, Inc.! If you have ideas, question, or would like to speak with us about creating an app for your use, please contact us – we would love to hear from you!

• eLearning- Learning material that is delivered electronically, via the internet or a program that contains the material, and possibly supplemental material or media.
• mLearning – Learning material is hosted on a mobile device, such as a phone, tablet, laptop, or reader. The availability of media and supplementary material is dictated by the capabilities of the device.

Since all mobile devices are electronic by nature, what really are the differences between mLearning and eLearning? Some might say that there is no difference, but the markets for eLearning and mLearning products are distinctly divided.

mLearning is, by its nature, intended to take place anywhere at any time. This idea changes the expected duration of a learning session. mLearning must be able to stop and start at any time, whereas eLearning can be designed to be completed in set increments that the student will be expected to complete. Because of this, many mobile devices carry a plethora of quick reference guides and learning games, but not full courses.

The idea is that eLearning is best for education and training that requires retention, and mLearning should host information that needs to be called up quickly and does not necessarily rely on retention. It also creates a concept that eLearning is for ongoing knowledge and education, where mLearning is for information to be applied immediately.

Though tablet and mLearning markets have expanded exponentially in recent years as more users adopt mobile technology as their primary source of information, the prejudices discussed above have continued. A lack of full courses for learning, not just information gathering, has been created in app marketplaces, where learning material can be made most accessible and economical.

So why haven’t more course-level apps been created in today’s technology transition? Why are expensive textbooks and outdated Blackboard document delivery systems still the norm?

You Can Learn, Inc., is a part of a growing initiative to bring eLearning material to mobile technology. We believe that learning can take place anytime, anywhere, and that mobile devices can and should be a part of students’ education. The world and the classroom are merging more and more every day, and with mobility and comprehensive learning applications, it can be embraced!

One of the best methods to slip learning into the last dregs of summer vacation is to use games to keep things fun. By using fun, bright apps on kids’ favorite devices, your budding scholar won’t even notice they’re learning!

• Barefoot World Atlas – The Barefoot World Atlas is an interactive globe that allows students to explore facts and features about the world they live in. Geographer and BBC personality Nick Crane guides children around the world, exploring different environments, wildlife and landmarks. The app is created by Barefoot Books and Touch Press, pioneers of several learning apps.
• Star Walk – This is the definitive app for aspiring astronomers and stargazers. Spark interest in extraterrestrial bodies as children learn which stars they can see from their homes, identify constellations, and learn the phases of the moon.
• DragonBox- Stealthily teach children algebra skills by letting them solve puzzles involving a dragon box. Kids learn how to isolate elements before higher level puzzles appear with numbers, making them more difficult to solve. Apps for students in the algebra-learning age range are rare, making this one a rare gem.
• Word Mess – Kids learn to play with words and language by searing for words in the screen that fit a given rule.  Teach them how to categorize terms, find rhymes, and find duplicates by sorting through a ‘mess’ of terms on the screen. Since the game is unstructured, it isn’t intimidating like other, more mature games.

As summer winds down, take some time to make sure your kids enjoy the end of vacation and get ready to get back to school. Who knows – maybe they’ll enjoy it so much that they’ll look forward to getting back in the classroom!

With Textbooks for iPad supporting multi-touch gestures, reference features, and note taking ability, educators called for an easier way to create custom material for their students. That call was answered by iBooks Author, which allows for easy textbook creation. Textbook companies, as well as creators for individual classrooms, can update their information easily and as often as needed, creating more economic and environmentally friendly learning.

iTunes U caters more and more to the individual learner every day, as courses from institutions are available for download – many of them with multiple types of media and presentation. The iTunesU format eases the issues that disrupt learning time, such as looking for the right section of course material to answer questions, or the disadvantage of immobile. iTunesU allows educators to note where answers are, and enables the student to learn on the go.

Here are marked benefits to having learning hosted on the iPad (or other tablet devices as they become available and marketplaces grow). First, the use of apps can lower the cost of learning, as they are easy to update and generally have competitive pricing. Traditional textbooks, on the other hand, are expensive to produce and difficult to update.

Tablets also encourage curiosity and engage students in multi-sensory learning, as well as presenting information from a variety of sources in a centralized app. Apps can assess student progress and engage with interactive elements in a way that textbooks and traditional learning aids cannot.

Apps covering topics that are difficult to understand – specifically STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) apps, can help student learn with hands on learning that allows them to experiment and create in a controlled environment. These apps will help prepare students for the fastest-growing job markets in the coming decades.

In Florida, the Florida Virtual School offers complete courses via the internet. Its curriculum, which is both accredited and celebrated nationally, is free to Florida students and available at a charge for students across the United States. It facilitates learning for students with strict schedules, including those with health problems or extracurricular commitments, such as athletics. 2012 Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman used the Florida Virtual School to continue learning while training in gymnastics.

With more schools adopting eLearning practices, software companies like Adobe have risen to meet the need for virtual authoring tools. Adobe eLearning Suite 6, a set of integrated programs that help users create seamless, professional eLearning and mLearning content based in HTML5, allows educators to create content and deliver it how they see fit.

Adobe senior vice president of Print and Publishing Naresh Gupta explains the need for software systems like this. “Today’s eLearning professionals, educators and trainers are dealing with a growing mobile population, platform fragmentation and the need to communicate through video.”

This rise isn’t just seen in classroom adoption and tool creation – it’s also being documented in market research. In North America alone, the market for online learning is expected to reach $27.2 billion by 2016, with healthcare and educational institutions accounting for the largest purchasers. This market is growing at 4.4% each year, mirroring the 9.0% growth rate in cloud-based authoring tools for eLearning.

Clearly, education and training are moving into the digital age, creating a need for both eLearning and mLearning software and authoring tools for educators to bring their specific content to students. With so much information and media at our fingertips, it’s easy to see how eLearning can help students learn and foster curiosity in the digital age.

According to the National Summer Learning Association, most students lose around two months of learning in mathematical skills over the summer. Low-income students, who may not have access to the same summer learning opportunities as their higher-income counterparts, may lose more than two months in reading achievement. Their middle-class peers, however, may make gains in their reading abilities.

What students lose in learning, they sometimes gain in weight. Studies show that students gain more weight over summer break than they during the year – a contributing factor to childhood obesity rates.

So what are parents to do when summer learning opportunities are scarce? The number of mLearning sources is rising every day, giving summer scholars the chance to learn anytime, anywhere. You Can Learn^TM apps are in good company on the iTunes app store.

The Barefoot World Atlas promises to take children around the world, exploring the “regions and countries of the world, discovering hundreds of fascinating features and immersing themselves in the rich wonders of the planet,” creating a tactile, touch-screen geography lesson.

Motion Math: Wings allows students to use visuals to learn math skills such as counting, comparing quantities, and multiplication. Instead of memorizing multiplication tables from flash cards, children learn to conceptualize the process and understand how it works.

Solar Walk takes students on a 3D tour of the solar system, showing our planetary neighborhood in stunning graphics. This interactive representation of the Milky Way Galaxy shows the planets, their moons, and movement trajectories, giving students a strong concept of how the celestial bodies move and interact.

National Geographic’s Ultimate Dinopedia gives students an extreme history lesson, taking students back to the time of dinosaurs. It gives the details on more than 700 dinosaurs and is based on National Geographic’s award winning dinosaur encyclopedia. It takes students from dinosaur birth to the finding of fossils in modern day, creating the most complete guide to dinosaurs available today for children.

If you’re looking for ways to keep your children engaged and entertained, look no further than the devices at your fingertips – the app store may have the answer when other opportunities are out of reach. These apps and more are available right now, and though the summer break is drawing to a close, it’s never too late to keep learning.