SmartyPal
© 2015 SmartyPal Inc.
SmartyPal is a subscription-based video and ebook curation service that keeps individualized records for children. The stories and videos appear to be custom made. We looked at one of the free stories, Zoopal: A Gift, and found illustration and narration to be low quality, with little interactivity, no text scaffolding, and sluggish transitions when loading the multiple-choice comprehension activities. And adaptive learning engine (funded in part by an NSF grant) tailors activities to children. The app is free, with in-app story purchases that range from $1.99 to $2.99 per story. Given the quality of the samples we tested, we'd avoid SmartyPal. The company lists Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff as advisors.
iPad
Teaches: reading, language
CTR Rating: 44%