Friday, June 21, 2013

{Review} Fun with Directions by Hamaguchi Apps

I have a lot of students working on following directions, so I was really excited to review "Fun with Directions" by Hamaguchi Apps and put it to the test!


"Fun with Directions" targets listening skills, direction following, colors, spatial concepts, auditory memory, and auditory processing!  Easy, intermediate, and advanced directions are built around ten different concepts, including:

- give
- touch
- open
- close
- top
- middle
- bottom
- push
- color
- erase

Getting started is easy!  Simply add individual users by typing their name in the top box and then touching "add individual user".  Make sure to click on the individual student so that they are highlighted in blue and then touch "play".


To create a group, simply add the individual players by clicking "add members" a wa-la, you now have a whole group activity!  You can also rename the group so that you can easily recognize each different group.


Now it's time to choose the settings.  


The "levels" option allows you to choose between easy, intermediate, and advanced directions.


The "concepts" option allows you to choose which concepts are targeted, including bottom, color, close, erase, give, middle, open, push, top, and touch.


The "order of concepts" option allows you to decide if you want the directions provided randomly or if you want to target just one type of direction and complete all of the activities in each concept.  It also allows you to pick if you want to automatically show the next direction or manually show the next direction.


The "superstar direction" option allows you to choose how often you would like superstar directions presented: never, after each question, after 3 questions, after 5 questions, after 10 questions, or randomly.


The "track progress" option gives you the choice of having the progress tracker and displayed scores on or off.


The "touch/drag" option allows you to decide if you want students to touch and drag objects or touch and tap objects in order to move them.


Now, you are officially ready to get started, so just touch "play".

The screen will pop up with a variety of objects and directions are verbally presented.  Here, the direction was to "put the red ball in the bottom box".  As you can see, there's a good amount of incorrect options, so students really have to know their stuff!


Here, the direction was to "find something yellow in the bottom row and put it in the basket".


Superstar directions add an expressive component to this app.  Students must complete the direction, but then also remember what the direction was.  They can record their voice...


...and listen to both their recording, as well as the correct answer.


Last, but not least, the app automatically tracks data for you!  It even breaks down the percentages for each concept!  You can email the results or print them if you choose to.


What I love about this app:
- it targets many of the early concept words in a very basic format.
- it has a variety of levels (easy - intermediate - advanced), which makes the app more versatile.
- it collects data for you!
- it incorporates an expressive component, with superstar directions.
- it has cute animations to keep students engaged - items appear behind doors, the crayon automatically colors objects, etc.

You can find out more about this great app at the Hamaguchi Apps website or you can find the app for $15.99 in iTunes!

Do you have this app?  If so, what's your favorite part about it?


Disclaimer: This app was given to me for review.  No other compensation was provided.

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