Enjoy the Counting Numbers Game for Kids in Japanese!


Knowledge is on the rise in the land of the rising sun and this can be seen through various mediums. In the current context, one of the most direct examples of these mediums can be termed as mobile applications. Take a look at the pie chart given below which displays the tech-savvy kids of Japan in terms of playing online educational games on mobile applications .


Image courtesy: www.whatjapanthinks.com


As can be seen from the pie-chart, a total of 11% engage in online games almost every single day – the percentage is quite infinitesimal however an important one. This is because it does throw light on the emerging awareness of Japan about mobile applications.

It therefore makes business sense to use this fact to one’s advantage – one fact that most mobile application companies have taken advantage. Citing some examples: Intellijoy, Duck Duck Moose and Chifro Studios!


What can be the learning advantages of apps in Japanese?
Perceptions are likely to differ however some of them have been given below as reflective examples. They are also accompanied by suitable screenshots as well. 

   Learning Japanese letters through their corresponding pronunciations with the aid of English language alphabets!



    
   
               Learn essential phrases of Japanese


                                                 Image Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com 

               Learn primary conversations of Japanese.




                                                 Image Source: Human Japanese Lite


How about a game which teaches your kid counting as well as an extra skill: Japanese? Japanese is the language which is getting widely accepted internationally. It is easier for a kid to adapt the new learning at an early age – however hold your horses for we give to you an app that not only strengthens your Japanese but also strengthens your concept of counting as well.

Enter an app called Kids Math Count Numbers Game!




This app teaches the concept of counting through the numbers 1-10 through a set of interactive activities modeled on the three learning styles:
        1 )      Visual learning
        2 )       Auditory learning
       3 )     Kinesthetic learning

Apart from this feature, the multimedia elements of this app have been boosted with the element of Phonics that go that extra mile in increasing the comprehension level of children as far as the concept of counting is concerned.

This app teaches the following counting through the following activities:
1)      Write Numbers
2)      Learn Counting
3)      Number Names
4)      Connect Dot
5)      Greater Numbers
6)      Missing Numbers

It certainly would be an advantage to the children of Japan to get their hands on this mobile application and therefore their parents should install it from Google Play Store with a moment delay.

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A Voyage of Discovery with Shapes



Ancient Greece saw two thinkers discovering a total of 17 shapes! They were Plato and Archimedes. The first discoveries of shapes were made by them and although their original works have been lost yet the teachings have been handed down from generation-to-generation verbally as was the tradition of the Greeks.

Both Archimedes and Plato used basic shapes like triangle, square etc. to put forth multiple shapes that stemmed from these basic ones.




Plato put forth a set of 3D shapes known as Platonic Solids in his dialogue: the Timaeus. Those shapes have been given below.

  • Tetrahedron
  • Hexahedron
  • Octahedron
  • Dodecahedron
  • Icosahedron
Archimedes put forth a set of 13 polyhedra shapes collectively known as the Archimedean Solids in his long-lost work Pappus. The list of those shapes has been given below.

  • Truncated tetrahedron
  • Cuboctahedron
  • Truncated Cube
  • Truncated Octahedron
  • Rhombicuboctahedron
  • Truncated Cuboctahedron
  • Snub Cube
  • Icosidodecahedron
  • Truncated Dodecahedron
  • Truncated Icosahedron
  • Rhombicosidodecahedron
  • Truncated Icosidodecahedron
  • Snub Dodecahedron

Although the history of shapes bases its soul primarily upon the discovery of the Platonic and the Catalan Solids, it would be incorrect to say that there were no other thinkers or scientists who did have anything to do with the discovery of shapes.

After all, who can forget the Father of Geometry, Euclid himself – Euclid or Euclid of Alexandria was a Greek mathematician who discovered all the basic shapes that we know today. Some of the shapes discovered by him have been given below.

  • Square
  • Circle
  • Rectangle
  • Triangle
This blog would feign to uphold the brilliance of Plato and Archimedes without a brief description of their life and works. The following paragraphs are a humble attempt from the writer to do the same.

Plato lived during 427 to 347 BC and was the son of Ariston, a descendant of Codrus – an ancient king of Athens, and Perictione, a descendant of the famous Athenian lawgiver Solon. The time of Plato is also known as the golden age of intellect of Greece with most of the famous thinkers, scientists, and philosophers being present then. Plato was greatly influenced by Pythagoras and Socrates. As Marcus Tulius Cicero, a Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, and orator, said, “Platonem ferunt didicisse Pythagorea omnia” or “They say Plato learned all things Pythagorean.”

Archimedes (287 BC – 212 BC) was born in Syracuse, Italy, as per the statement of a Byzantine Greek Historian John Tzetzes. As cited by Plutarch in his Parallel Live, Archimedes was related to King Hiero II, the ruler of Syracuse. Archimedes is well known for inventing or discovering quite a lot of things. Some of the notable ones among them include the following:

  • The Archimedes Principle
  • Archimedes Screw
  • The Claw of Archimedes
  • Heat Ray
The Archimedes Principle is a law of Fluid Mechanics and was invented by Archimedes. According to this law:

“The upward buoyant force exerted on a fully or partially submerged body is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces”.

The exact words of Archimedes to put forth this law can be found in his treatise on Hydrostatics called On Floating Bodies:
“Any object, wholly or partially immersed in a fluid, is buoyant up to a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.”
The Archimedes Screw

This device was simply a tool for transferring liquid from a low-lying liquid-body. For example, the transfer of water from a low-lying water-body into irrigation ditches, as the Greeks used to do for farming. The idea about such a screw is said to have come to Archimedes during his visit to Egypt. Some historians have also claimed that this device was in use by Assyrians somewhere around 350 years ago.

The Archimedes Claw

The Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus was perhaps the best person to turn to for an accurate account of the Archimedes Claw. After all, he faced the wrath of this weapon when he attacked the city of Syracuse with a fleet of 60 Quinqueremes. However, the ingeniousness of this weapon was put to a test in the modern world by a group of scientists who actually created a working model of the Archimedes Claw.

The Heat Ray

This invention of Archimedes comprised a set of mirrors placed strategically to collect the rays of the Sun and heat them! The heated rays were concentrated onto enemy ships with the intention of burning and destroying them.

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Worry Not, Calvin! Addition will be fun too!

Has math ever been your favorite subject? Go back to your well-loved Sunday morning comic strip: Calvin and Hobbes. I am sure most of us will wholeheartedly agree with Calvin:



Image@ BillWaterson


Now ponder over the phrase ‘Math Atheist’. Every time I go through this strip, I realize I have always shared Calvin’s sentiments toward math. When I was a kid, I had a tough time figuring out the miracle called ‘Math’. Why do numbers add up the way they do? What is their inherent logic? I did figure it out later though. Looking back, I wonder what if I had developed an early liking towards math! It would have definitely affected my academic and career choices.

 The choices and preferences a kid develops in school therefore play a fundamental role in molding his/her future choices. Developing an early interest in math is key to the overall growth and progress of a child. Understanding this imperative, a large number of companies have come up with unique digital interactive games for kids. Digital games for kids are one of the most enviable marvels of technology that has been bestowed upon us today. If you are still not convinced about their efficiency, you might want to go through the following:


Are digital games a good way of learning?

Math based mobile games are slowly gaining prominence in the education market. More and more teachers and instructors are now incorporating game-based digital learning methods into their curriculum to inculcate in students an early liking towards math. Some of the benefits of such e-learning methods are given below:








·        Mobile applications for kids motivate them to push their boundaries beyond their wonted capabilities.
·         One of the most important benefits of m-learning is its portability. Mobile phones can be carried everywhere making learning a continuous process.
·         The portability of a mobile phone makes learning more accessible. You can access educational content anytime, anywhere.

·         No longer confined to geographical and physical boundaries, m-learning is more convenient and agreeable than traditional learning methods.
·         Providing a wide spectrum of interesting games and animated characters, educational mobile applications, needless to say, are much more engaging and alluring than textbooks.
·         Liberating learning from the formality of a classroom, m-learning provides educational guides which are informal and fun.

Where can you find practical digital aids to enhance your kid’s learning abilities?
The Android and iOS market is vested with a number of mobile applications that claim to enhance a child’s learning ability. Choosing the correct application can be a tough and time-consuming decision. However, putting an end to all your dilemmas, we have just the perfect solution for you! Chifro Studios, an emergent leader in the field of mobile-application development, is the one-stop shop for all your app-solutions. 




Let’s make addition fun!
Having known the importance of educational mobile applications for kids, let us now go back to our initial question: how can we make math engaging to kids? Your answer is: Chifro Studios’ Math Addition Game for Kids. Living up to its byline ‘Addition is fun’, this app presents a unique take on the basic mathematical concept of addition. Math is no longer boring! Assisted by funny animated characters and engaging quizzes, this app introduces the young learners to addition in a never-before-seen way.



The world of technology has transformed our realities in unthinkable ways. No longer confined to blackboards and boring classrooms, we now have a world where an amusing bunny rabbit and a mischievous monkey lure imaginative kids like Calvin into the dreaded world of math. The result of this association is a smiling kid who is no longer afraid of numbers.

A standing testimony to this fact, Math Addition Game for Kids has been a game changer in the field of m-learning. Providing an unforgettable experience, it has already created ripples in the Android market. Taking into account its immense success, Chifro Studios has decided to launch this amazing app on iOS. No longer confined to Android alone, iPhone users can now avail this app to give their Calvins the experience they deserve!

Eight Reasons Why QuizOHolic Is Awesome!


                         You can play it anytime, anywhere!

                    Bored at home? Travelling? Want a break from office work? QuizOHolic will come to your rescue! You can play this amazing game whenever and wherever you want to!


                     Be spoilt for choice!

                     QuizOHolic provides the users with a wide range of categories to choose from.  Grammar   Nazis, History Buffs, Technophiles, and Geeks- whoever you are- we have something for     everyone!            


            Your treasure trove of knowledge!

This unending saga of knowledge will leave you asking for more. Fill up your brain with interesting trivia about a wide range of subjects!



       Enchanting formats! Exciting Questions!

QuizOHolic incorporates a myriad of question-answer formats that will keep the users hooked! We have a variety of image based questions that will give your brain the much needed workout! 




           Are you game?

Are you a quiz-addict? Do you love challenges? Do you have an undying thirst for knowledge? QuizOHolic is just for you! Take up the challenge now!


        Know your challengers!
                         How much of a QuizOHolic are you? Check the Leader Board to know your rank among the other global players!

        All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy

                         QuizOHolic is your daily dose of infotainment. It is fun, entertaining, challenging and informative. With a versatile global content, QuizOHolic is your key to the largest knowledge getaway!

     Everyone will love this app!
                         Quirky friends, amazing mothers, cool dads, bored teenagers, eccentric grandparents, friendly neighbors- QuizOHolic will make everyone fall in love with it! This app has been uniquely designed to cater to all age groups. Play QuizOHolic with your friends and family and add the touch of perfection to your Sunday afternoons!
















Priceless Harbingers of Priceless Learning: Teachers



The education given by Aristotle to Alexander played a pivotal role in shaping him (the young prince of Macedonia) into the formidable emperor known as ‘Alexander the Great’.
It was the teachings of Chanakya that guided Chandragupta in his life as Chandragupta Maurya – The greatest of the Mauryan rulers.
It was the teachings and guidance of your teachers that has made you into a successful person today.
To put it in a lucid manner, the role of teachers is an important one for mankind, irrespective of great emperors or normal persons.
The roles of teachers therefore can’t be undermined in any manner. So, it befits all students to accept the role of their students into making their lives.
Countless success-stories can be mentioned, but let’s take two of them as examples: The renowned writer Jhumpa Lahiri and our former-president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Muthu Iyer – This person was the teacher of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam during his elementary school years. In his website: www.abdulkalam.com, he fondly remembers his elementary school days when his teacher, Mr. Iyer gave him a three-page long exercise for improvement of handwriting even though he taught a different subject.
Born as Nilanjana Sudeshna, Jhumpa Lahiri’s kindergarden teachers addressed her as Jhumpa. The writer fondly remembers that her nickname became the source for ‘Gogol’ the central character in her novel The Namesake. She, herself, has played the role of a teacher by taking classes on creative writing at the Boston University and the Rhode Island School of Design.
These two accounts – the former one being a nostalgic recollection and the latter one being a short snapshot – are nothing but two gateways leading to the world of thoughts – Thoughts about the role of teachers in our lives.
Irrespective of learning theories, styles etc. information-dissemination would have been quite pointless had there not been teachers.
A Neanderthal would have not evolved had he not taught the knowledge of weapons to his fellow Neanderthal. An Egyptian architect would have wasted his knowledge had he not collated multiple assets of his knowledge using Hieroglyphics. A scientist would have wasted his lifetime of efforts of analysis had he not passed on the information to his students.

At a closing note, all the above simply forth the following fact in different manners and forms: Teachers are priceless!

Are There Apps That Have Used Learning Analytics for Their Basic Homework


According to Sara Rathburn, a quiz is a versatile teaching medium because it:
·         Provides information
·         Gathers information about the degree to which children are meeting their learning goals
M/s Rathburn has been associated with the Colorado State University as the Professor of Geosciences during the time-period: 2007 – 2013.

Can this be equated with the core concept of Learning Analytics?
Well, the opinion of m/s Rathburn comes quite close to upholding the essence of Learning Analytics but it can’t be accurately affirmed whether or not her opinion is just a way of mentioning Learning Analytics.
This blog’s context is not about Learning Analytics solely in the first place but rather it is about the question: Are there any applications that have been created after an intensive analysis on the lines of Learning Analytics?

2014 – The mobile-application market does have numerous apps in existence which provide an online platform for the implementation of Learning Analytics. However, the answer to the question put forth in the previous paragraph can be put forth in one single sentence: There are indeed applications that have been created while keeping in mind the core essence of Learning Analytics.

With multiple applications having already implemented an online platform for Learning Analytics, researchers are started to look at the next step: Is it possible to undertake Learning Analytics at a real-time basis for every application before it gets created?

The answer is now present on Google Play Store and it goes by the name: Quizoholic. The fact that this application has been created after an intense Learning Analytics session is testament to the analysis of multiple surveys and teaching approaches having been conducted on a global scale. One particular constructivist approach titled CORI (Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction) has been particularly instilled in the core functionality of Quizoholic. Therefore, the quizzes have been designed in a manner which motivates users through different cognitive strategies.

CORI, technically an instructional program, was conceptualized initially as a project of the National Reading Research Center (NRCC) with the implementation site being two universities: Maryland and Georgia from 1992-1997. Today it stands as a successful instructional program with multiple research projects to its name – needless to say all being successful. Two examples have been given below.

·         The 7-year Reading Engagement Project (Collaboration between the University of Maryland and Frederick County Public Schools)

·         The 5-year Real Engagement Adolescent Learning (REAL) (Collaboration between the University of Maryland and St. Mary’s County Public Schools)
Quizoholic is also different from the rest of its existent brethren because it employs the concept of Andragogy under which:
·         One can learn at the pace at which one wants to
·         One is not coerced into learning; he/she takes up learning when ready when he/she wants to
·         Irrespective of having numerous quizzes modeled on multiple categories, the application is learner-oriented
It may not be incorrect to say that Quizoholic is also vested with the four important attributes of the Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle. This is because this application allows users to:
·         Engage in an extremely interesting activity of attempting a quiz
·         Takeaway price reflections and sub-conscious learning from those engagements
·         Learn subconsciously from those engagements
·         Experiment with the newly gained knowledge

On a closing note, an impartial analysis of this application leads to one single conclusion which is that the developers have undertaken an intensive session of Learning Analytics before actually going ahead with the actual development cycle. Various tenets of multiple learning theories have been included in the creation of this application and it simply answers the question: Are there any applications that have been created after an intensive analysis on the lines of Learning Analytics?




A Cognitive Gateway to Learning



Did you know that the Japanese woman Misao Okawa is the oldest woman alive?
Can you name the American novelist who accurately predicted his cause of death?
Ever heard of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world?
The answers to all these questions and more will now be at your fingertips with Chifro Studios’ newest application Quizoholic.

‘Knowledge’, said Shakespeare ‘is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven’. Knowledge is power, the source of every logical decision or action taken by us. In this world of technology, knowledge is just a click away. Everything that we need or want to know is available in the palm of our hands. Technology has thus changed our lives in unthinkable ways.

A part of this digital era, Chifro Studios nurtures the vision of transforming the field of education with the help of technological innovation. Its newest offering Quizoholic, is a positive step in this direction. True to its name, Quizoholic offers an exhaustive palette of knowledge that lures the users to challenge themselves and hone their intellect.

Cognitive processes are a very important part of learning. The act of knowing, understanding and remembering is paramount when it comes to a student’s development. In fact, not only a student, but the ability and potential of each one of us are dependent on our cognitive powers. The reason why quizzes have sustained their popularity over the years is precisely due to the cognitive challenges involved in them. We are never tired of quizzes; simply because, we are never tired of putting our mental capabilities to test. 
This is exactly what Quizoholic validates by offering a platform that presents knowledge in a fun and informative way. A collection of numerous MCQs on various subjects, users are never tired of exploring this game. They can set new challenges everyday, revisit and drill the information-storehouses in their brain without compromising on fun.

Quizoholic is perfect for all age groups. While it can be a learning tool for everyone, it is especially beneficial for the students. As a student, we never liked mugging up. A large part of our student life is spent on memorizing huge chunks of information. This process is tedious and tiresome. Quizoholic offers a relief from this by presenting knowledge in non-traditional ways. The format of a game allows the users to lose themselves without being conscious of the mental workout involved.

Quizzes compel us to retrieve the information already stored in our brains and also motivate us to learn what we do not know. Motivation, Assessment and Memory are the three important principles involved in a quiz game, all of which are essential for learning. Keeping in mind the effectiveness of quizzes and multiple choice questions as learning tools, Quizoholic incorporates the same in a versatile manner. In other words, Quizoholic not only allows you to assess what you already know but also instigates you to go beyond what has already being mastered.



Quizoholic: You Just Can’t Have Enough of It!


Human beings love challenges. We like testing our knowledge and assessing our strengths. This is perhaps the reason why quizzes have always been a popular medium of entertainment.  Think of the well-known TV shows like ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’ or closer home ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati?’ These shows have revolutionized the face of television.  Every time we sit in front of the television to watch a show like this, most of us end up playing the game mentally, along with the contestant onscreen.  Now, let me take another example. I am sure all of us remember the Oscar winning movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ where a penniless orphan from a Mumbai slum, ends up winning twenty million rupees on a quiz show.  People all over the country are seen hooked in front of their televisions, waiting with batted breath for the final moment of triumph. Such is the lure of quizzes! Exciting, engaging and often nerve racking, we cannot get enough of them!

Keeping in mind the ever-lasting charm of quizzes, Chifro’s newest mobile application is a quiz-based game, known as Quizoholic. This application offers everything that one can expect from a quiz game.  It is a treasure trove of knowledge and useful information.  But what sets this application aside, from its other online counterparts, is its versatility. Anyone who plays Quizoholic will be spoilt for choice. This application allows the user to choose from a wide variety of subjects which range from traditional ones (science, math, history, geography) to off-beat alternatives like electronics, logos, business and commerce.

How to Play?
 Quizoholic is an extremely user-friendly application. Players can follow the simple steps given below to enjoy this unique application:
·         Registration: The app is integrated with social media which allows easy registration for the users.
·         Choosing A Subject: Once you are registered, you will come across an interesting palette of options to choose from.  You just have to choose your favorite subject and start off!
·         The Game:  The game takes place between the user and Chifro. The quiz is based on MCQs. With every question, the application will keep a tab of the correct and incorrect answers.
·         Score: At the end of the game, the user will get a detailed report of the score. You can also track your progress by referring to the ’Leader Board’ option that allows you to compare your performance with other users, worldwide.

Why Quizoholic?
Unlike other mobile applications developed by Chifro Studios, Quizoholic is not just for kids alone. It caters to an extensive age-group. Parents, grandparents and siblings: everyone can play this game! If you are looking forward to a perfect Sunday and want to spend quality time with your family, then Quizoholic is the perfect app for you. Imagine an atmosphere charged by excitement, fun and anxious anticipation, while you dabble with knowledge at your fingertips: this is what Quizoholic has to offer.
Keeping aside the obvious fun element, Quizoholic is extremely informative. Irrespective of whether you have won or lost, with every game you are enriched with helpful information. Quizoholic is therefore, an exhaustive canvass of knowledge that you will never be tired of exploring.  Every time you play this game, you will come across a different set of questions which will take the game to another level. Playing Quizoholic is like a complete workout for your brain. 

So what are you waiting for?

Take the plunge and challenge yourself with Quizoholic! This amazing application will soon be available on Google Play Store. Keeping in mind the popularity of quizzes, Chifro Studios also plans to enhance the game in future. Very soon, the option of ‘Multiplayers’ will be added to Quizoholic. This feature will allow the users to challenge other players from all over the world. The Quizoholic experience is therefore an on-going process. We have a lot to look forward to!




Say No To Math Woes: Numbers Can Be Fun Too!

Remember the time you were little and had to spend hours counting numbers on your hands and toes? Remember when numbers were nightmares and a simple addition or subtraction would take you hours to solve? The skill of logical reasoning and arithmetic is the most basic and dreaded skill that a student develops in the formative years of education. I am sure most of us have gone through an ‘I-hate-math’ phase in school.  Our familiarity with numbers develops at an early age and soon grows on to be a subject that most of us end up hating. However, a timely intervention can make numbers interesting and fun! If you are wondering ‘how’, then Chifro Studios has the perfect solution for you.
 
The newest app developed by Chifro Studios targets the young learners who are being introduced to the confusing world of numbers for the first time. Challenging the traditional learning methods, Chifro offers a platform that is unique in its approach towards the basic mathematical challenges.  Chifro’s MathWorksheet is therefore exciting and engaging.

What Can You Expect?
A perfect combination of fun and study, Chifro’s Worksheet, as the name suggests, is a collection of different worksheets focusing on the development of basic counting, addition and subtraction skill of students. This app is designed exclusively to tap into the imaginative resources of a child’s mind.  The worksheets available in this application are extensive and varied.  Parents can expect worksheets on the following topics:
  • ·     Counting Numbers
  • ·          What Comes After
  • ·          What Comes before
  • ·         What’s In Between
  • ·         Addition
  • ·         Subtraction

What Makes This App Special?
What sets this mobile application apart is its prefect combination of simplicity and practicality. A student will lose himself in the game without realizing that he is actually learning! Some of the exciting features of this app are given below:
·         Use of simple, colorful images like teddy bears, smiling cars and train engines to teach basic mathematical operations like addition and subtraction
·         Appeals to the visual, critical and auditory senses of the learner
·         Easy to comprehend and understand
·         The app has been designed in a way that immediately appeals to a child and automatically lures him or her into the game
·         Ideal for children belonging to the age group of 2-5 years
·         Parents can keep a tab on their child’s performance through the progress analysis report.
·         Seeks to develop a love for mathematics at an early age

If you are a parent and have spent sleepless nights trying to make your kids complete the math homework, then this app will solve all your woes. The application presents the worksheets in a way that excites and heightens a learner’s interest in the subject. It has been observed that children automatically respond to pictures and bright colors. This mobile application is therefore a rite of passage for the little ones who are being initiated into the world of mathematics for the first time; while preparing them to take up bigger challenges later. 

The pedagogy of learning depends on a sound foundation. Therefore, the formative years are very important in deciding a student’s learning abilities. It has been noted, that a child develops his or her strengths and weaknesses at a young age.  Consequently, it is important to nurture cognitive and logical skills in a student at an impressionable age. Chifro’s educational applications are indispensable steps towards that direction.  After all, children are like clay and you can mould them through delightful ways. 

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Friday 26 December 2014

Enjoy the Counting Numbers Game for Kids in Japanese!


Knowledge is on the rise in the land of the rising sun and this can be seen through various mediums. In the current context, one of the most direct examples of these mediums can be termed as mobile applications. Take a look at the pie chart given below which displays the tech-savvy kids of Japan in terms of playing online educational games on mobile applications .


Image courtesy: www.whatjapanthinks.com


As can be seen from the pie-chart, a total of 11% engage in online games almost every single day – the percentage is quite infinitesimal however an important one. This is because it does throw light on the emerging awareness of Japan about mobile applications.

It therefore makes business sense to use this fact to one’s advantage – one fact that most mobile application companies have taken advantage. Citing some examples: Intellijoy, Duck Duck Moose and Chifro Studios!


What can be the learning advantages of apps in Japanese?
Perceptions are likely to differ however some of them have been given below as reflective examples. They are also accompanied by suitable screenshots as well. 

   Learning Japanese letters through their corresponding pronunciations with the aid of English language alphabets!



    
   
               Learn essential phrases of Japanese


                                                 Image Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com 

               Learn primary conversations of Japanese.




                                                 Image Source: Human Japanese Lite


How about a game which teaches your kid counting as well as an extra skill: Japanese? Japanese is the language which is getting widely accepted internationally. It is easier for a kid to adapt the new learning at an early age – however hold your horses for we give to you an app that not only strengthens your Japanese but also strengthens your concept of counting as well.

Enter an app called Kids Math Count Numbers Game!




This app teaches the concept of counting through the numbers 1-10 through a set of interactive activities modeled on the three learning styles:
        1 )      Visual learning
        2 )       Auditory learning
       3 )     Kinesthetic learning

Apart from this feature, the multimedia elements of this app have been boosted with the element of Phonics that go that extra mile in increasing the comprehension level of children as far as the concept of counting is concerned.

This app teaches the following counting through the following activities:
1)      Write Numbers
2)      Learn Counting
3)      Number Names
4)      Connect Dot
5)      Greater Numbers
6)      Missing Numbers

It certainly would be an advantage to the children of Japan to get their hands on this mobile application and therefore their parents should install it from Google Play Store with a moment delay.

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Sunday 7 December 2014

A Voyage of Discovery with Shapes



Ancient Greece saw two thinkers discovering a total of 17 shapes! They were Plato and Archimedes. The first discoveries of shapes were made by them and although their original works have been lost yet the teachings have been handed down from generation-to-generation verbally as was the tradition of the Greeks.

Both Archimedes and Plato used basic shapes like triangle, square etc. to put forth multiple shapes that stemmed from these basic ones.




Plato put forth a set of 3D shapes known as Platonic Solids in his dialogue: the Timaeus. Those shapes have been given below.

  • Tetrahedron
  • Hexahedron
  • Octahedron
  • Dodecahedron
  • Icosahedron
Archimedes put forth a set of 13 polyhedra shapes collectively known as the Archimedean Solids in his long-lost work Pappus. The list of those shapes has been given below.

  • Truncated tetrahedron
  • Cuboctahedron
  • Truncated Cube
  • Truncated Octahedron
  • Rhombicuboctahedron
  • Truncated Cuboctahedron
  • Snub Cube
  • Icosidodecahedron
  • Truncated Dodecahedron
  • Truncated Icosahedron
  • Rhombicosidodecahedron
  • Truncated Icosidodecahedron
  • Snub Dodecahedron

Although the history of shapes bases its soul primarily upon the discovery of the Platonic and the Catalan Solids, it would be incorrect to say that there were no other thinkers or scientists who did have anything to do with the discovery of shapes.

After all, who can forget the Father of Geometry, Euclid himself – Euclid or Euclid of Alexandria was a Greek mathematician who discovered all the basic shapes that we know today. Some of the shapes discovered by him have been given below.

  • Square
  • Circle
  • Rectangle
  • Triangle
This blog would feign to uphold the brilliance of Plato and Archimedes without a brief description of their life and works. The following paragraphs are a humble attempt from the writer to do the same.

Plato lived during 427 to 347 BC and was the son of Ariston, a descendant of Codrus – an ancient king of Athens, and Perictione, a descendant of the famous Athenian lawgiver Solon. The time of Plato is also known as the golden age of intellect of Greece with most of the famous thinkers, scientists, and philosophers being present then. Plato was greatly influenced by Pythagoras and Socrates. As Marcus Tulius Cicero, a Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, and orator, said, “Platonem ferunt didicisse Pythagorea omnia” or “They say Plato learned all things Pythagorean.”

Archimedes (287 BC – 212 BC) was born in Syracuse, Italy, as per the statement of a Byzantine Greek Historian John Tzetzes. As cited by Plutarch in his Parallel Live, Archimedes was related to King Hiero II, the ruler of Syracuse. Archimedes is well known for inventing or discovering quite a lot of things. Some of the notable ones among them include the following:

  • The Archimedes Principle
  • Archimedes Screw
  • The Claw of Archimedes
  • Heat Ray
The Archimedes Principle is a law of Fluid Mechanics and was invented by Archimedes. According to this law:

“The upward buoyant force exerted on a fully or partially submerged body is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces”.

The exact words of Archimedes to put forth this law can be found in his treatise on Hydrostatics called On Floating Bodies:
“Any object, wholly or partially immersed in a fluid, is buoyant up to a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.”
The Archimedes Screw

This device was simply a tool for transferring liquid from a low-lying liquid-body. For example, the transfer of water from a low-lying water-body into irrigation ditches, as the Greeks used to do for farming. The idea about such a screw is said to have come to Archimedes during his visit to Egypt. Some historians have also claimed that this device was in use by Assyrians somewhere around 350 years ago.

The Archimedes Claw

The Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus was perhaps the best person to turn to for an accurate account of the Archimedes Claw. After all, he faced the wrath of this weapon when he attacked the city of Syracuse with a fleet of 60 Quinqueremes. However, the ingeniousness of this weapon was put to a test in the modern world by a group of scientists who actually created a working model of the Archimedes Claw.

The Heat Ray

This invention of Archimedes comprised a set of mirrors placed strategically to collect the rays of the Sun and heat them! The heated rays were concentrated onto enemy ships with the intention of burning and destroying them.

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Wednesday 15 October 2014

Worry Not, Calvin! Addition will be fun too!

Has math ever been your favorite subject? Go back to your well-loved Sunday morning comic strip: Calvin and Hobbes. I am sure most of us will wholeheartedly agree with Calvin:



Image@ BillWaterson


Now ponder over the phrase ‘Math Atheist’. Every time I go through this strip, I realize I have always shared Calvin’s sentiments toward math. When I was a kid, I had a tough time figuring out the miracle called ‘Math’. Why do numbers add up the way they do? What is their inherent logic? I did figure it out later though. Looking back, I wonder what if I had developed an early liking towards math! It would have definitely affected my academic and career choices.

 The choices and preferences a kid develops in school therefore play a fundamental role in molding his/her future choices. Developing an early interest in math is key to the overall growth and progress of a child. Understanding this imperative, a large number of companies have come up with unique digital interactive games for kids. Digital games for kids are one of the most enviable marvels of technology that has been bestowed upon us today. If you are still not convinced about their efficiency, you might want to go through the following:


Are digital games a good way of learning?

Math based mobile games are slowly gaining prominence in the education market. More and more teachers and instructors are now incorporating game-based digital learning methods into their curriculum to inculcate in students an early liking towards math. Some of the benefits of such e-learning methods are given below:








·        Mobile applications for kids motivate them to push their boundaries beyond their wonted capabilities.
·         One of the most important benefits of m-learning is its portability. Mobile phones can be carried everywhere making learning a continuous process.
·         The portability of a mobile phone makes learning more accessible. You can access educational content anytime, anywhere.

·         No longer confined to geographical and physical boundaries, m-learning is more convenient and agreeable than traditional learning methods.
·         Providing a wide spectrum of interesting games and animated characters, educational mobile applications, needless to say, are much more engaging and alluring than textbooks.
·         Liberating learning from the formality of a classroom, m-learning provides educational guides which are informal and fun.

Where can you find practical digital aids to enhance your kid’s learning abilities?
The Android and iOS market is vested with a number of mobile applications that claim to enhance a child’s learning ability. Choosing the correct application can be a tough and time-consuming decision. However, putting an end to all your dilemmas, we have just the perfect solution for you! Chifro Studios, an emergent leader in the field of mobile-application development, is the one-stop shop for all your app-solutions. 




Let’s make addition fun!
Having known the importance of educational mobile applications for kids, let us now go back to our initial question: how can we make math engaging to kids? Your answer is: Chifro Studios’ Math Addition Game for Kids. Living up to its byline ‘Addition is fun’, this app presents a unique take on the basic mathematical concept of addition. Math is no longer boring! Assisted by funny animated characters and engaging quizzes, this app introduces the young learners to addition in a never-before-seen way.



The world of technology has transformed our realities in unthinkable ways. No longer confined to blackboards and boring classrooms, we now have a world where an amusing bunny rabbit and a mischievous monkey lure imaginative kids like Calvin into the dreaded world of math. The result of this association is a smiling kid who is no longer afraid of numbers.

A standing testimony to this fact, Math Addition Game for Kids has been a game changer in the field of m-learning. Providing an unforgettable experience, it has already created ripples in the Android market. Taking into account its immense success, Chifro Studios has decided to launch this amazing app on iOS. No longer confined to Android alone, iPhone users can now avail this app to give their Calvins the experience they deserve!

Sunday 5 October 2014

Eight Reasons Why QuizOHolic Is Awesome!


                         You can play it anytime, anywhere!

                    Bored at home? Travelling? Want a break from office work? QuizOHolic will come to your rescue! You can play this amazing game whenever and wherever you want to!


                     Be spoilt for choice!

                     QuizOHolic provides the users with a wide range of categories to choose from.  Grammar   Nazis, History Buffs, Technophiles, and Geeks- whoever you are- we have something for     everyone!            


            Your treasure trove of knowledge!

This unending saga of knowledge will leave you asking for more. Fill up your brain with interesting trivia about a wide range of subjects!



       Enchanting formats! Exciting Questions!

QuizOHolic incorporates a myriad of question-answer formats that will keep the users hooked! We have a variety of image based questions that will give your brain the much needed workout! 




           Are you game?

Are you a quiz-addict? Do you love challenges? Do you have an undying thirst for knowledge? QuizOHolic is just for you! Take up the challenge now!


        Know your challengers!
                         How much of a QuizOHolic are you? Check the Leader Board to know your rank among the other global players!

        All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy

                         QuizOHolic is your daily dose of infotainment. It is fun, entertaining, challenging and informative. With a versatile global content, QuizOHolic is your key to the largest knowledge getaway!

     Everyone will love this app!
                         Quirky friends, amazing mothers, cool dads, bored teenagers, eccentric grandparents, friendly neighbors- QuizOHolic will make everyone fall in love with it! This app has been uniquely designed to cater to all age groups. Play QuizOHolic with your friends and family and add the touch of perfection to your Sunday afternoons!
















Friday 5 September 2014

Priceless Harbingers of Priceless Learning: Teachers



The education given by Aristotle to Alexander played a pivotal role in shaping him (the young prince of Macedonia) into the formidable emperor known as ‘Alexander the Great’.
It was the teachings of Chanakya that guided Chandragupta in his life as Chandragupta Maurya – The greatest of the Mauryan rulers.
It was the teachings and guidance of your teachers that has made you into a successful person today.
To put it in a lucid manner, the role of teachers is an important one for mankind, irrespective of great emperors or normal persons.
The roles of teachers therefore can’t be undermined in any manner. So, it befits all students to accept the role of their students into making their lives.
Countless success-stories can be mentioned, but let’s take two of them as examples: The renowned writer Jhumpa Lahiri and our former-president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Muthu Iyer – This person was the teacher of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam during his elementary school years. In his website: www.abdulkalam.com, he fondly remembers his elementary school days when his teacher, Mr. Iyer gave him a three-page long exercise for improvement of handwriting even though he taught a different subject.
Born as Nilanjana Sudeshna, Jhumpa Lahiri’s kindergarden teachers addressed her as Jhumpa. The writer fondly remembers that her nickname became the source for ‘Gogol’ the central character in her novel The Namesake. She, herself, has played the role of a teacher by taking classes on creative writing at the Boston University and the Rhode Island School of Design.
These two accounts – the former one being a nostalgic recollection and the latter one being a short snapshot – are nothing but two gateways leading to the world of thoughts – Thoughts about the role of teachers in our lives.
Irrespective of learning theories, styles etc. information-dissemination would have been quite pointless had there not been teachers.
A Neanderthal would have not evolved had he not taught the knowledge of weapons to his fellow Neanderthal. An Egyptian architect would have wasted his knowledge had he not collated multiple assets of his knowledge using Hieroglyphics. A scientist would have wasted his lifetime of efforts of analysis had he not passed on the information to his students.

At a closing note, all the above simply forth the following fact in different manners and forms: Teachers are priceless!

Wednesday 3 September 2014

Are There Apps That Have Used Learning Analytics for Their Basic Homework


According to Sara Rathburn, a quiz is a versatile teaching medium because it:
·         Provides information
·         Gathers information about the degree to which children are meeting their learning goals
M/s Rathburn has been associated with the Colorado State University as the Professor of Geosciences during the time-period: 2007 – 2013.

Can this be equated with the core concept of Learning Analytics?
Well, the opinion of m/s Rathburn comes quite close to upholding the essence of Learning Analytics but it can’t be accurately affirmed whether or not her opinion is just a way of mentioning Learning Analytics.
This blog’s context is not about Learning Analytics solely in the first place but rather it is about the question: Are there any applications that have been created after an intensive analysis on the lines of Learning Analytics?

2014 – The mobile-application market does have numerous apps in existence which provide an online platform for the implementation of Learning Analytics. However, the answer to the question put forth in the previous paragraph can be put forth in one single sentence: There are indeed applications that have been created while keeping in mind the core essence of Learning Analytics.

With multiple applications having already implemented an online platform for Learning Analytics, researchers are started to look at the next step: Is it possible to undertake Learning Analytics at a real-time basis for every application before it gets created?

The answer is now present on Google Play Store and it goes by the name: Quizoholic. The fact that this application has been created after an intense Learning Analytics session is testament to the analysis of multiple surveys and teaching approaches having been conducted on a global scale. One particular constructivist approach titled CORI (Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction) has been particularly instilled in the core functionality of Quizoholic. Therefore, the quizzes have been designed in a manner which motivates users through different cognitive strategies.

CORI, technically an instructional program, was conceptualized initially as a project of the National Reading Research Center (NRCC) with the implementation site being two universities: Maryland and Georgia from 1992-1997. Today it stands as a successful instructional program with multiple research projects to its name – needless to say all being successful. Two examples have been given below.

·         The 7-year Reading Engagement Project (Collaboration between the University of Maryland and Frederick County Public Schools)

·         The 5-year Real Engagement Adolescent Learning (REAL) (Collaboration between the University of Maryland and St. Mary’s County Public Schools)
Quizoholic is also different from the rest of its existent brethren because it employs the concept of Andragogy under which:
·         One can learn at the pace at which one wants to
·         One is not coerced into learning; he/she takes up learning when ready when he/she wants to
·         Irrespective of having numerous quizzes modeled on multiple categories, the application is learner-oriented
It may not be incorrect to say that Quizoholic is also vested with the four important attributes of the Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle. This is because this application allows users to:
·         Engage in an extremely interesting activity of attempting a quiz
·         Takeaway price reflections and sub-conscious learning from those engagements
·         Learn subconsciously from those engagements
·         Experiment with the newly gained knowledge

On a closing note, an impartial analysis of this application leads to one single conclusion which is that the developers have undertaken an intensive session of Learning Analytics before actually going ahead with the actual development cycle. Various tenets of multiple learning theories have been included in the creation of this application and it simply answers the question: Are there any applications that have been created after an intensive analysis on the lines of Learning Analytics?




Tuesday 2 September 2014

A Cognitive Gateway to Learning



Did you know that the Japanese woman Misao Okawa is the oldest woman alive?
Can you name the American novelist who accurately predicted his cause of death?
Ever heard of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world?
The answers to all these questions and more will now be at your fingertips with Chifro Studios’ newest application Quizoholic.

‘Knowledge’, said Shakespeare ‘is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven’. Knowledge is power, the source of every logical decision or action taken by us. In this world of technology, knowledge is just a click away. Everything that we need or want to know is available in the palm of our hands. Technology has thus changed our lives in unthinkable ways.

A part of this digital era, Chifro Studios nurtures the vision of transforming the field of education with the help of technological innovation. Its newest offering Quizoholic, is a positive step in this direction. True to its name, Quizoholic offers an exhaustive palette of knowledge that lures the users to challenge themselves and hone their intellect.

Cognitive processes are a very important part of learning. The act of knowing, understanding and remembering is paramount when it comes to a student’s development. In fact, not only a student, but the ability and potential of each one of us are dependent on our cognitive powers. The reason why quizzes have sustained their popularity over the years is precisely due to the cognitive challenges involved in them. We are never tired of quizzes; simply because, we are never tired of putting our mental capabilities to test. 
This is exactly what Quizoholic validates by offering a platform that presents knowledge in a fun and informative way. A collection of numerous MCQs on various subjects, users are never tired of exploring this game. They can set new challenges everyday, revisit and drill the information-storehouses in their brain without compromising on fun.

Quizoholic is perfect for all age groups. While it can be a learning tool for everyone, it is especially beneficial for the students. As a student, we never liked mugging up. A large part of our student life is spent on memorizing huge chunks of information. This process is tedious and tiresome. Quizoholic offers a relief from this by presenting knowledge in non-traditional ways. The format of a game allows the users to lose themselves without being conscious of the mental workout involved.

Quizzes compel us to retrieve the information already stored in our brains and also motivate us to learn what we do not know. Motivation, Assessment and Memory are the three important principles involved in a quiz game, all of which are essential for learning. Keeping in mind the effectiveness of quizzes and multiple choice questions as learning tools, Quizoholic incorporates the same in a versatile manner. In other words, Quizoholic not only allows you to assess what you already know but also instigates you to go beyond what has already being mastered.



Sunday 31 August 2014

Quizoholic: You Just Can’t Have Enough of It!


Human beings love challenges. We like testing our knowledge and assessing our strengths. This is perhaps the reason why quizzes have always been a popular medium of entertainment.  Think of the well-known TV shows like ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’ or closer home ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati?’ These shows have revolutionized the face of television.  Every time we sit in front of the television to watch a show like this, most of us end up playing the game mentally, along with the contestant onscreen.  Now, let me take another example. I am sure all of us remember the Oscar winning movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ where a penniless orphan from a Mumbai slum, ends up winning twenty million rupees on a quiz show.  People all over the country are seen hooked in front of their televisions, waiting with batted breath for the final moment of triumph. Such is the lure of quizzes! Exciting, engaging and often nerve racking, we cannot get enough of them!

Keeping in mind the ever-lasting charm of quizzes, Chifro’s newest mobile application is a quiz-based game, known as Quizoholic. This application offers everything that one can expect from a quiz game.  It is a treasure trove of knowledge and useful information.  But what sets this application aside, from its other online counterparts, is its versatility. Anyone who plays Quizoholic will be spoilt for choice. This application allows the user to choose from a wide variety of subjects which range from traditional ones (science, math, history, geography) to off-beat alternatives like electronics, logos, business and commerce.

How to Play?
 Quizoholic is an extremely user-friendly application. Players can follow the simple steps given below to enjoy this unique application:
·         Registration: The app is integrated with social media which allows easy registration for the users.
·         Choosing A Subject: Once you are registered, you will come across an interesting palette of options to choose from.  You just have to choose your favorite subject and start off!
·         The Game:  The game takes place between the user and Chifro. The quiz is based on MCQs. With every question, the application will keep a tab of the correct and incorrect answers.
·         Score: At the end of the game, the user will get a detailed report of the score. You can also track your progress by referring to the ’Leader Board’ option that allows you to compare your performance with other users, worldwide.

Why Quizoholic?
Unlike other mobile applications developed by Chifro Studios, Quizoholic is not just for kids alone. It caters to an extensive age-group. Parents, grandparents and siblings: everyone can play this game! If you are looking forward to a perfect Sunday and want to spend quality time with your family, then Quizoholic is the perfect app for you. Imagine an atmosphere charged by excitement, fun and anxious anticipation, while you dabble with knowledge at your fingertips: this is what Quizoholic has to offer.
Keeping aside the obvious fun element, Quizoholic is extremely informative. Irrespective of whether you have won or lost, with every game you are enriched with helpful information. Quizoholic is therefore, an exhaustive canvass of knowledge that you will never be tired of exploring.  Every time you play this game, you will come across a different set of questions which will take the game to another level. Playing Quizoholic is like a complete workout for your brain. 

So what are you waiting for?

Take the plunge and challenge yourself with Quizoholic! This amazing application will soon be available on Google Play Store. Keeping in mind the popularity of quizzes, Chifro Studios also plans to enhance the game in future. Very soon, the option of ‘Multiplayers’ will be added to Quizoholic. This feature will allow the users to challenge other players from all over the world. The Quizoholic experience is therefore an on-going process. We have a lot to look forward to!




Thursday 28 August 2014

Say No To Math Woes: Numbers Can Be Fun Too!

Remember the time you were little and had to spend hours counting numbers on your hands and toes? Remember when numbers were nightmares and a simple addition or subtraction would take you hours to solve? The skill of logical reasoning and arithmetic is the most basic and dreaded skill that a student develops in the formative years of education. I am sure most of us have gone through an ‘I-hate-math’ phase in school.  Our familiarity with numbers develops at an early age and soon grows on to be a subject that most of us end up hating. However, a timely intervention can make numbers interesting and fun! If you are wondering ‘how’, then Chifro Studios has the perfect solution for you.
 
The newest app developed by Chifro Studios targets the young learners who are being introduced to the confusing world of numbers for the first time. Challenging the traditional learning methods, Chifro offers a platform that is unique in its approach towards the basic mathematical challenges.  Chifro’s MathWorksheet is therefore exciting and engaging.

What Can You Expect?
A perfect combination of fun and study, Chifro’s Worksheet, as the name suggests, is a collection of different worksheets focusing on the development of basic counting, addition and subtraction skill of students. This app is designed exclusively to tap into the imaginative resources of a child’s mind.  The worksheets available in this application are extensive and varied.  Parents can expect worksheets on the following topics:
  • ·     Counting Numbers
  • ·          What Comes After
  • ·          What Comes before
  • ·         What’s In Between
  • ·         Addition
  • ·         Subtraction

What Makes This App Special?
What sets this mobile application apart is its prefect combination of simplicity and practicality. A student will lose himself in the game without realizing that he is actually learning! Some of the exciting features of this app are given below:
·         Use of simple, colorful images like teddy bears, smiling cars and train engines to teach basic mathematical operations like addition and subtraction
·         Appeals to the visual, critical and auditory senses of the learner
·         Easy to comprehend and understand
·         The app has been designed in a way that immediately appeals to a child and automatically lures him or her into the game
·         Ideal for children belonging to the age group of 2-5 years
·         Parents can keep a tab on their child’s performance through the progress analysis report.
·         Seeks to develop a love for mathematics at an early age

If you are a parent and have spent sleepless nights trying to make your kids complete the math homework, then this app will solve all your woes. The application presents the worksheets in a way that excites and heightens a learner’s interest in the subject. It has been observed that children automatically respond to pictures and bright colors. This mobile application is therefore a rite of passage for the little ones who are being initiated into the world of mathematics for the first time; while preparing them to take up bigger challenges later. 

The pedagogy of learning depends on a sound foundation. Therefore, the formative years are very important in deciding a student’s learning abilities. It has been noted, that a child develops his or her strengths and weaknesses at a young age.  Consequently, it is important to nurture cognitive and logical skills in a student at an impressionable age. Chifro’s educational applications are indispensable steps towards that direction.  After all, children are like clay and you can mould them through delightful ways. 

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