Today I will be reviewing a website for you.
Web Address:
www.fraboom.com
Targeted Age Group:
6-12 year-olds (This is the websites recommended ages- I love the material, so I wouldn't limit the age)
Purpose:
A direct quote from the creator: "We’ve spent the last ten years creating a web destination that will compete with any existing entertainment web site. We feature games, interactive books, and classes with real live teachers. It's designed for kids 6 to 12. The catch is that there is an educational twist in every piece of content we provide. FRABOOM is the world’s first online children’s museum featuring classes with real LIVE teachers. Our goal is to nurture creativity while building self-esteem and confidence. If we do our job well we will also provide teachable moments that connect parents with their children."
Why You Should Check It Out:
From the moment you land on the homepage, you begin to see that this site is not some poorly thought out, ad laden monstrosity that some many companies are trying to sell to the education realm. Not only does this site focus on academic content in every activity and game, but it does so in an engaging and carefully thought out process. Now, even if you felt that what you have seen is comparable to other sites (but I think you would be hard pressed to find one), I can almost assure you they do NOT offer LIVE CLASSES with a real LIVE teacher!
Cost:
In the words of the creators, "80% of the content is FREE!". Honestly, in the hour-plus that I spent playing, looking, and scrutinizing, I didn't encounter any area that I was not allowed to enter. If you choose too, you can become a FRABOOM GOLD member for $5.99 a month. Click HERE to see what extra goodies that gives you.
With live teachers and all the content you could dream of, that is truly a steal of deal!
Cons:
Hmmmm....I can't really think of any at this time. As an upper grade teacher, I think that a lot of the content is just under what my 6th graders would consider 'childish', but even at that, once they get in to the games, they seem to not mind. I mean as an adult, I was completely engaged in the content.
Pros:
1) As a web-based application, students can access this site anywhere they have internet. So many programs that we, as teachers, use at school seem to be site based. This means that unless our students are in our classrooms, they can't access the programs they want/need to experience increased learning. Fraboom.com was wise to make this a web-based program. My own kids have already spent several hours (and we just found the site this week) at home playing- and arguing about who gets to play next- and exploring.
2) FREE! (as a teacher, I can NOT emphasize this point enough)
3) High quality content- And not just a few games with false hopes of more, but engaging, in-depth activities ready to go.
4) Future updates that promise to keep kids even MORE excited (like customizing the brain avatar, earning "brain cells" that can be saved and used to "buy" items in the Fraboom virtual store, and more.)
Overall recommendation: I would give this site a 9.5 out of 10
I highly recommend that all educators (and even NON-educators) check it out NOW!
Later...
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