Carrie Leeper

Evaluation Rubric for Educational Apps*

Name of App: Star Walk Kids 2

Platform: Android and Apple phones

Price: Free, contains ads

Instructions: Identify the value of each characteristic by each domain and report that value on the table
above. Add the total scores for each domain.

Domain A: Instruction Domain B: Design Domain C: Engagement

A1: Rigor: 2 B1: Ability to save progress: 3 C1: Learner control: NA
A2: 21st Century skills: 1 B2: Screen design: 4 C2: Interactivity: 3
A3: Value of errors: 1 B3: Ease of use: 3 C3: Personal preferences: 1
A4: Feedback to teacher: 3 B4: Navigation: 4 C4: Interest: 4
A5: Level of learning material: 5 B5: Cultural sensitivity: NA C5: Aesthetics: 4
Total for A: 12 Total for B: 14 Total for C: 12

Any additional notes/observations:

Star Walk Kids 2 is a highly informative overview of astronomy for preschool, kindergarten, and
elementary kids. It took me a few tries to figure out which icons to tap in order to go places and what I
could do at each location. Videos and audio are well composed; graphics and sound effects are engaging
and kid friendly. Since the only culture discussed is ancient Greece while explaining myths behind
constellations and the sole guiding character is a cow, I considered culture sensitivity to be a non-
applicable category for this app’s design.

*Based on Lee, C. Y., & Cherner, T. S. (2015). A comprehensive evaluation rubric for assessing
instructional apps. Journal of Information Technology Education, 14, 21-53.
http://www.jite.org/documents/Vol14/JITEV14ResearchP021-053Yuan0700.pdf
A1. Rigor: Which level of Webb’s Depth of Knowledge must students engage to meet the app’s
learning objective?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Extended Strategic Skill/Concept Recall The app does Not
Thinking Thinking Thinking Reproduction not align to applicable
Webb’s Depth
At Level 4, which At Level 3, an At Level 2, an At Level 1, an of Knowledge
is the most app requires app requires app requires because it is
rigorous, learners to think learners to learners to geared more
an app requires strategically use recall only toward
learners to when assessing, knowledge information to entertaining
extend their formulating, and skills complete students than
thinking by and making when a problem or educating
creating, logical classifying, answer a them.
critiquing, and statements comparing, question.
synthesizing about ideas and and
information phenomena. summarizing
to complete a different
learning task. concepts and
terms to
complete a
learning
task.
A2. 21st Century skills: How often does the app require users to engage in “21 st Century skills, which
includes the ability to collaborate, make data-driving decisions, and solve complex problems?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Frequently Sometimes Rarely Not at all The app only Not
promotes rote applicable
memorization
skills.
A3. Value of errors: If users answer a question incorrectly, does the app use the incorrect answer to
advance learning?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
The app offers The app offers The app The app offers The app does Not
users an users either an offers users users an not give users applicable
explanation for explanation for an opportunity to an
their incorrect their incorrect explanation answer the opportunity
answer, allows answer or directs for why their question again, to answer the
users to review them to the answer was but the app question
the material material related incorrect, but does not again or
related to the to the question the app does provide provide
question, and before giving not give them information to information
then gives them users an an explain why about why
an opportunity opportunity to opportunity their answer their answer
to answer the answer the to answer the was incorrect was incorrect.
question again. question again. question the first time.
again.
A4. Feedback to teacher or parent: How does the app allow teachers or parents to monitor their
students’ progress?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
The app tracks The app tracks The app The app only The app does Not
students’ students’ tracks tracks students’ not track applicable
academic achievements or students’ achievements students’
growth, progress made achievement or progress academic
achievements, when using the s or progress when they are growth,
and progress app, but it does made when using the app. achievements,
made while using not track using the Once the app is or progress
the app. students’ app, but it exited, progress made.
Teachers/parent growth. does not is not saved,
s can access the Teachers/parents track and
reports either can access the students’ teachers/paren
through email or reports using growth. Also, t do not have
by visiting the email or by student any way to
app’s website. visiting the app’s progress can access it.
website. only be seen
in the app
and not by
using email
or a website.
A5. Level of material: To what extent is the app’s content for specific grade-levels appropriate for the
target audience?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Always Usually Rarely Not at all Inappropriate Not
for applicable
educational
purposes.
B1. Ability to save progress: Does the app allow users to return to the content they were last
engaging after exiting the app?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
After exiting, After exiting, After exiting, After exiting, After exiting, Not
users can reopen users can reopen users can users can user must applicable
the app and the app and reopen the reopen it and begin on the
automatically resume engaging app and manually select first level
return to the it automatically manually the content when
content they in close select the they were last returning to
were last proximity to content they engaging when the app.
engaging when where they were were last they logged off,
they logged off. when they engaging but the content
logged off. when they may be
logged off. different.
1.
B2. Screen design: Is the app’s text, graphics, videos, sound, and speech well-organized?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Always organized Usually Organized, Not well Cluttered and Not
and enhances organized and but does not organized and confusing, applicable
the app complements enhance or may detract which
the app detract from from the app detracts from
the app the app
B3. Ease of use: Is the app intuitive and are users able to engage it with minimal guidance?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Users are able to Users are able to Users are Users are able Users are able Not
engage the app engage the app able to to engage the to engage the applicable
immediately with immediately with engage the app, but only app, but
no guidance. minimal app, but only after training
guidance. after some substantial materials are
guidance. guidance. continually
needed to do
so.
B4. Navigation: How easily can users move through the app’s content and options?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Users can move Users need to Users need to Users are Users Not
through the put forth some make somewhat encounter applicable
app’s content effort to move multiple impeded from substantial
and options through the clicks and/or moving fluidly challenges
fluidly. app’s content swipes to through the when trying
and options. move app’s content to move
through the and options through the
app’s content because of its app’s content
and options. organization. and options
because of its
disjointed
organization.
B5. Cultural sensitivity: Does the app use culturally responsive teaching methods to represent
diverse populations?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
The app allows The app allows The app The app makes The app Not
users to connect users to explore makes reference to presents applicable
to and share diverse cultures general diverse stereotypical
ideas with from across the references to cultures, but images and
people from globe using one or more the information information
diverse authentic cultures. contains some about
communities pictures, images, cultural biases. cultures.
across the globe. and/or texts.
2.
C1. Learner control: To what extent does the app allow users to select the level (e.g. grade level, age
level, or difficulty level) where they will begin engaging content?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Allows users Allows users Allows users Allows users Allows users Not
complete control significant some control little control no control applicable
control
C2. Interactivity: How often does the app only present content to users, or does the app allow users
to make decisions, answer questions, or actively engage it in some other manner?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Frequently Often Occasionally Rarely Never Not
applicable
C3. Flexibility: Can users personalize the app by setting individual preferences (e.g. background
music, images, avatars) easily?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Users can Users can Users can Users can Users cannot Not
personalize 4 or personalize 3 or personalize 2 personalize 1 personalize applicable
more features more features or more feature the app
features
C4. Interest: To what extent will the app’s content likely appeal to its targeted audience?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Extremely Very Moderately Slightly Not at all Not
applicable
C5. Aesthetics: To what extent will the app’s graphics and interface motivate users to engage it?
5 4 3 2 1 NA
Extremely Very Moderately Slightly Not at all Not
applicable