App review by Marc Lesser, Common Sense Education | Updated August 2013

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SpongeBob SquarePants Typing

Name: SpongeBob SquarePants Typing
Item: SpongeBob SquarePants Typing
Rating: 3
Author: Marc Lesser

Silly mix of games adds some frills to typing drills

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Learning rating

Editorial review by Common Sense Education

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Grades

1–5 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

English Language Arts, Critical Thinking

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Typing practice includes 17 lessons and multiple levels of challenge.

Silly characters make typing practice more fun.

Lesson progress is mapped out for students.

Pros: SpongeBob and friends keep things fun with a good variety of games and drills.

Cons: Students may roll their eyes if teachers oversell it as a game, and support cues are often hard to follow.

Bottom Line: Teachers will get a package of good but not great typing drills and games silly enough to grab some young learners.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Mix in SpongeBob SquarePants Typing tournaments in short intervals as part of computer lab time or your regular class. Challenge students to complete as many rounds of the Tournament mode as possible over the course of a month or two early in the year, with a goal of improving accuracy and words per minute (WPM) each time. Consider creating an offline leaderboard with their printed certificates, but be careful of making things too competitive and turning off slow typers; adding up everyone's words per minute and recording the classwide scores each week might help in making such an individualized skill feel a bit more collaborative.

For students needing extra practice or who simply gravitate toward the title for its SpongeBob appeal, make the recommendation to parents that it can work as a good practice option at home during designated screen time. Be aware, of course, that it might not be a worthwhile expense for every family, especially since there are a number of free typing programs available.

What Is It?

SpongeBob SquarePants Typing is a good alternative to drill-based typing software. It runs the risk of boring some students, but for SpongeBob fans, it's a big win, featuring all the goofy characters that make the popular Nickelodeon show silly fun. While the game has playful art and a comical story that has the player helping SpongeBob in a typing tourney, learners will inevitably tune in to what the "lessons" truly offer -- less a game than typing practice. The upside is that developers pepper practice drills with game-like interludes that do well to break up the tedium involved with practicing QWERTY. With 17 lessons and multiple levels of challenge, it gives teachers and students options, though students are likely to be drawn to Glove World, the shortcut to games that are more fun.

Is It Good for Learning?

Learning to type is tough to make fun, but SpongeBob SquarePants Typing takes a solid crack at the challenge. What it lacks in gameplay, it makes up for with silly charm and -- maybe most important -- some variety. Teachers will want to use Tournament lessons for serious practice and assessment, since useful metrics like accuracy and words per minute are captured after each drill. But don't ignore the Practice and Glove World sections, which offer more interesting game-based scenarios for students.

Learning supports are audio- and text-based, so be aware that some reading is required, and some students might be distracted by -- and should turn off -- SpongeBob's encouraging and goofy looped sound bytes. The lessons and games in this title don't serve as a complete typing curriculum, but for early and middle elementary grades, it's an engaging alternative to dictated drills and other software that can sometimes be too sterile for young learners.

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?

Kids hooked on the popular SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon shouldn't need much coaxing, but when the goofs wear thin, the mini-game variety will come in handy.

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?

Half of the title consists of familiar drill-driven keyboard practice lessons with silly SquarePants flair. Decent mini-games break up the monotony, though, and printable certificates and progress metrics keep teachers in mind.

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?

Most supports are audio cues from SpongeBob, and they aren't always easy to follow. Players probably won't mind, as they'll learn quickly that the only real game mechanic is to hit the right key.

Common Sense reviewer

Marc Lesser

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Featured review by
Lisa K. , Technology coordinator

Technology coordinator

Babson College
Wellesley, United States

Fun for SpongeBob fans but distracting for others.

This software can be used best as a practice tool. For students who are just beginning to learn how to type, SpongeBob telling jokes as students help him win a typing tourney can be distracting. The game side to the software can be fun for those who have beginner typing skills. There are very good practice drills and many challenge levels. The tournament lessons are good for practice and assessment because the software keeps track of lessons and skills that need improvement and also allow students to ...

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