Crammer
© 2008 LeapFrog
Leapfrog's new study aid, Crammer ($60, www.leapfrog.com) puts 16,000 flashcard-style quiz questions in your child's pocket. Because the device uses headphones and can also store traditional MP3s, it makes it easy to "zone in" on specific fact-based content, say for that daily bus ride to school. Leapfrog PR notes that if you put all 16,000 questions on traditional 3 x 5-inch flash cards, they'd weigh 72 pounds. Content, which is managed online, specifically targets grades 3-8, or ages 8-13 years, with existing lists of content including science, math, spelling words, Spanish vocabulary, and social studies (see the complete list at www.leapfrog.com/crammer). It is also possible to customize your questions with any content that you provide. So a young attorney could use Crammer to study for a bar exam, although the questions would need to be created from scratch. Powered by three AAA batteries, the device has an interesting interface. The LCD screen rocks left/right or up/down so it is easy to jump to a multiple-choice question. An enter key on the top of the device lets you finalize your selection. Options on the main menu include either quiz or flash-card modes, two games and a music player. In order to load new games or sets of grade specific flash cards, you need to connect the device to your Mac or Windows computer. To customize your content you need to go online, where you can create your own spelling lists if you like. As any student knows, when it comes to school-related facts, there's always room to shoehorn in another, and Leapfrog's Crammer is a great tool for the job. Getting them to stick? Now that's another problem.
$60, Windows, Mac OSX with Internet connection
Teaches: all school subjects, math, reading, science
CTR Rating: 94%