App review by Amanda Bindel, Common Sense Education | Updated July 2015

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PlayART by Tapook

Name: PlayART by Tapook
Item: PlayART by Tapook
Rating: 3
Author: Amanda Bindel

Mimic and remix the great masters in playful but limited art tool

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Editorial review by Common Sense Education

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Grades

K–4 This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.

Subjects & Skills

Arts, Creativity

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5 images

Combine artist's style and work to create an original masterpiece.

Choose a background as the base and then drag in elements.

Add original touches with the paint feature.

Pros: Lets kids copy masterpieces and make them their own.

Cons: Features only male and mostly European artists.

Bottom Line: Fun method of art exploration and remix makes a nice supplement for art appreciation, but lacks the art history context one expects.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Art teachers could use PlayART with students after completing units on any of the artists included or just on general masterpieces. If the study was on a specific artist, students could then create their own piece with inspiration and elements from that artist's work. For a more general art appreciation unit, kids could create masterpieces from various artists; here, teachers can introduce students to a more diverse group of artists than is featured in PlayART. To add a reflective writing activity, students could write about why they chose the elements they did and what their piece means.

What Is It?

Students choose from eight artists -- Katsushika Hokusai, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Henri Rousseau, Vincent Van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, Paul Klee, and Amedeo Modigliani. After selecting an artist, they can then choose a background from one of the artist's iconic works and then add in specific elements and details -- birds, flowers, or moons, for example -- from several of the artist's works. The elements can be pinched to resize them, turned, and moved. The artist tool box also includes an undo and eraser, send to back and bring forward, mirror image, and paint feature. The unique works can be saved to the museum, where some of the artists' original masterpieces are also included as suggestions. Students can also create a mash-up of features from all of the included artists by starting in the My Favorites section where each artist and the elements used previously are easily accessible.

Is It Good for Learning?

If students aren't already familiar with some of the work of these artists, they won't get as much from the experience. No background information about the artists or the techniques they used is included, and only one work from each artist is featured in the museum. Students who are familiar with the work of these masters, though, will have a great time re-creating famous works or adapting them, and that sense of remix of these venerable works is valuable. PlayART isn't so much about artistic technique or creation as it is about art appreciation. The paint feature is more play quality than professional caliber. The app does reinforce the characteristics of each artist's style, which will develop kids' appreciation and recognition of the artist's works.

Learning Rating

Overall Rating

Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

Plenty of flexibility -- from dragging in elements from different classic paintings to choosing backgrounds to painting original details -- engage kids to create impressive works they'll be proud to show off.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

Learning comes from hands-on exploration, but there's no background information about the artists or the techniques.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

Easy-to-read help screen quickly explains how each tool works. There is no easy way to view the original works by the artist side-by-side as kids create.

Common Sense reviewer

Amanda Bindel Classroom teacher

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