Review by Amanda Bindel, Common Sense Education | Updated September 2014

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Brain Jump Pro - Brain training and education for kids with Ned the Neuron

Name: Brain Jump Pro - Brain training and education for kids with Ned the Neuron
Item: Brain Jump Pro - Brain training and education for kids with Ned the Neuron
Rating: 4
Author: Amanda Bindel

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Brain research explained in fun videos; practiced in challenging games

Subjects & skills

Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.

2–5

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5 images

Neurons are featured characters in the videos and games.

Written instruction and brief demos show how to play each game.

Videos teach about neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and the importance of memory, attention, and concentration.

Each game adds more items to the memory games and adds distractions.

Students earn badges for accomplishments and for persevering.

Pros: Cute videos teach kids the reasons for playing brain games.

Cons: Lacks the ability to set up multiple accounts, so only one user's info can be tracked.

Bottom Line: Packs a positive message, real science, and challenging memory games into an app that teaches and challenges.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

This isn't an app that seamlessly fits into a standards-based curriculum, but teachers could incorporate it into study skills or social-emotional learning periods, or use it for brain-break activities during the week. Teachers could show a video to the entire class and discuss it, asking kids what they think of failure and what they can do when work gets hard. This is a great lesson for students of all ages, so even though it's designed for kids age 6-10, middle school students can also learn from the videos and be challenged by the games.

What Is It?

In this app, Ned the Neuron gives kids double the learning with memory games that challenge their brains and short video lessons that explain the neuroscience of how brains work. In one video, Ned introduces kids to neurons and explains how challenges increase their power; another teaches about neuroplasticity. Kids earn points for a “brain power meter” by watching the videos and playing brain games. In "Think Tank," kids recall where neurons appeared in grid-like windows of a submarine. In "Neurons in Space," they repeat a sequence of firing rockets, and in "Wizard Match," they tap boxes in numerical order from memory.

Challenges increase quickly, adding distractions. Kids earn badges for completing different goals that encourage them to stick with the challenges. The positive message of the videos encourages kids to persevere through challenges and to view failure as a learning experience.

Is It Good for Learning?

Plenty of challenging puzzle and memory apps are available for both kids and adults; what sets Brain Jump apart is that it explains the science of why challenges are valuable, and delivers a message about the importance of challenging ourselves by trying new things, especially when we fail at first.

The animated neurons are fun, and the badge system keeps kids engaged, while the 54 levels of games challenge kids and adults of all ages. When kids make a mistake, they take one step back (or rocket back a short distance) and try again. The challenge progresses based on how kids do, increasing the number of objects on-screen and adding distractions that students have to tune out. The game doesn't end or start over, sending the message to kids that when they fail, they should simply take a step back and try again.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Cute neurons and challenging games keep kids engaged, and a badge system motivates them to tackle difficult challenges.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Games, explained with brief written directions and a short demo, progress quickly, keeping kids just a bit out of their comfort zone and adapting to their performance.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

There are no user accounts, so only one student's progress can be tracked at a time. Students pass levels, earning points and stars to unlock subsequent levels.

Common Sense Reviewer

Amanda Bindel Classroom teacher

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