App review by Ashley Kemper, Common Sense Education | Updated May 2015
Social Quest
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Social Quest

Robust and direct social learning tool provides thorough practice

Get it now
  • Download from App Store
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Grades
6–12
Subjects & Skills
English-Language Learning, Character & SEL, Communication & Collaboration
Great for
Special Needs
Price:  $21.99
Platforms:  iPad
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Take a look inside

7 images
The opening screen.
Settings can be adjusted based on student need and level.
Creating a character with specific focus: receptive language or expressive language.
Sixteen different environments available for students to practice.
In this receptive language example, students must choose the best options.
In this expressive language example, students verbalize their responses to the scenario.
The app tabulates data based on answers given by students.

Pros: Designed by professionals to target specific and appropriate language responses.

Cons: Visually busy, which may present problems for some students.

Bottom Line: This is a must-have for middle school students who need extra receptive and expressive language practice.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Teachers can use this product in isolation (during independent practice or homework, as a station focusing on specific scenarios, etc). They might require students to earn a percentage of correct responses in order to keep older students accountable for their time spent practicing language scenarios. In this case, headphones might be necessary, since the app will read each scenario aloud to the student. Teachers can use this tool as a whole-class or small-group activity as well. By selecting multiple users, students can each answer what they would do in each scenario, hear what their peers might choose, and then discuss similarities and differences. This might be especially beneficial for students who understand or have practiced socially acceptable language to model appropriate behavior to less practiced students. It might also help some students make connections to real-life practice, especially if they can think of an example when the scenario described in the tool existed in real time. 

Speech and language pathologists or other speech professionals might use this tool with 1-to-1 instruction of a student. The data collected while using the app can be accessed by parents, students, or the teacher, which may make pull-out instruction time results more easily accessible to a student's larger support system. Teachers might also access the extensive resources available on the developer's website.

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Standards:

At the start of the app, an adult will decide if the student(s) will work on receptive or expressive language, and then kids create a character by uploading an image or using an avatar. Teachers or speech professionals can also select the level of challenge involved with answering questions and what to do with erroneous responses. Students or teachers can then drag their avatars to one or more environments and then slide the transporter icon to begin their quests. Kids listen to a scenario and choose one or more options that best fit social norms associated with that situation. In receptive-language scenarios, correct answers are marked with a green check mark, and incorrect answers are marked with a red X. In expressive-language scenarios, teachers or mentors need to guide students toward the best things to say to solve the social problem. As a result, students receive apples for missed responses, silver coins for answers that are close, and gold coins for answers that meet the expectation of that social situation. Kids complete as many situations as they have time for but must answer each scenario correctly before moving on to the next.

Parents and other adults can access a user's progress in the "report card." Students can earn long-term rewards that are social-language-specific (such as binoculars to help kids remember to make eye contact).

An impressive volume of resources and scenarios appropriate for both pre-teen and teenager audiences makes Social Quest spectacular for targeted language practice. Kids navigate scenarios in up to 16 virtual environments that kids might encounter in real life, and instant feedback and long-term rewards help reinforce social problem-solving. The scenarios and responses are realistic, engaging, and helpful for kids who need straightforward social language practice. For some kids, the graphics-heavy interface might be distracting, so those kids might need more guidance to stay on task.

Overall Rating
Engagement

Engaging graphics and images add visual interest to each scenario; solid challenges meet the needs of students with both expressive and receptive language challenges.

Pedagogy

Both expressive and receptive language scenarios provide appropriate perspective-taking practice for kids who need extra pragmatic social practice. Scenarios provide sentence starters as kids grow confident in navigating these social situations.

Support

A video tutorial in the help section and help icons throughout support learning. More information is also provided on the developer's website, including a list of speech and language pathology resources.

Common Sense reviewer
Ashley Kemper STEM Project Manager
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Key Standards Supported

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.5.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.5.1c

    Pose and respond to specific questions by making comments that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.

  • SL.5.1d

    Review the key ideas expressed and draw conclusions in light of information and knowledge gained from the discussions.

  • SL.6.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.6.1c

    Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

  • SL.6.1d

    Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.

  • SL.7.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.7.1d

    Acknowledge new information expressed by others and, when warranted, modify their own views.

  • SL.7.3

    Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

  • SL.8.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.8.1d

    Acknowledge new information expressed by others, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views in light of the evidence presented.

  • SL.8.2

    Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.

  • SL.9-10.1

    Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

  • SL.9-10.1c

    Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.

  • SL.9-10.1d

    Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented.

  • SL.9-10.3

    Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.

  • SL.11-12.1

    Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11–12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

  • SL.11-12.1b

    Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed.

  • SL.11-12.1d

    Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives; synthesize comments, claims, and evidence made on all sides of an issue; resolve contradictions when possible; and determine what additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task.

  • SL.11-12.3

    Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.

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