Yesterday I wrote about collaborative learning apps for Windows 8, and focused on apps for younger students (because, basically, it’s around my intellectual level).
So I thought I’d share an example of a much more sophisticated collaborative learning app based on touch and multiple students using a single device.
nsquared chemistry
In a collaborative lab, players can create any element on the periodic table and use those elements to create a compound in the middle of the screen. Each exercise has players creating a new compound. Collaborative learning with 2-4 players is encouraged, but you can still play alone, and additional players can join at any time. It’s ideal for small group learning, and great for anyone who enjoys chemistry inside or outside the classroom – or to engage students who would be less motivated by similar exercise-book exercises.
When you use this with a multi-touch Windows 8 device with a horizontal screen, it allows for many people to use the activity at the same time – and to collaborate to solve the chemistry challenges set. This app was originally developed for a large size display, so the bigger your screen, the better it will be – it’ll be a challenge on a screen less than 15” I think – and if you can put it on a 20” screen or larger, you’ll have a much better time (it works well on my Sony Vaio Tap 20 at home, although I can’t seem to get my children excited about the idea of spending time around the coffee table building water molecules with me)
Like all of the nsquared apps I’ve seen so far, the app is free, with different activity packs available as an in-app purchase.
Learn more about nsquared chemistry in the Windows Store