Parents need to know that "JAM _ Courses and Projects" is an app and website that offers a subscription-based collection of STEAM how-to videos and challenges combined with a moderated social media platform. Challenges are singular projects that inspire kids to try their hand at new things. If users allow access to their device's camera, camera roll, and microphone, kids can take photos or video of themselves doing the challenges and then post to the community. There are clear guidelines for appropriate content and the developer's claim that all posts are moderated. "JAM _ Courses and Projects" is a subsidiary of the electronic coding building blocks, "little Bits," and it features a set of videos showing how to use them in projects. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
To use "JAM _ Courses and Projects" parents must provide a name and email address, and create profiles with their kids' names, avatars, and nicknames. Once in, content is divided into Courses, Challenges, TV, and Activity. Browse through the courses to see a collection of videos and hands-on challenges that guide kids through activities like learning how to draw or cook, building with "little Bits" or LEGOs, or doing science experiments. Challenges present brief text or video instructions for completing a single project. Kids can browse through and comment on photos or videos of other kids who have completed the project and take photos or videos of their own completed project. The TV category automatically cycles through photos and videos posted by others in the community. In addition, choose to follow community members or create your own following. Parents receive notifications when their kids post content.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
This collection of videos and instructional how-tos is full of creative ideas to inspire kids to build things, experiment, explore, express themselves, or develop a skill. Kids who are even mildly interested in building, engineering, science, art, tinkering, and more will likely be mesmerized by the instructional videos, challenges, and ideas. There's a wide variety of challenges that, in theory, should be accessible for younger kids. However, many kids will need significant assistance from grown-ups to either help them do the challenge, provide the materials _ or both. Parents should be ready to be intimately involved. There are some projects that need specialized parts like particular art tools, or other specific. And even if other materials are pretty common, it's not a given that you'll have string, straws, or Borax powder in your house, so some projects will require some planning.
Then there's the social media component. Kids can choose to not participate in sharing, but if they do, as a moderated space, it's designed to be safe as a kid appropriate and positive environment. That said, as with any social component to a kid-focused platform, it's a good idea for parents to stay involved. Thankfully, parents are notified when their kids post something, but they'll still want to check out what their kids are seeing. Ultimately, "JAM _ Courses and Projects" is a great intersection of technology and hands-on fun and learning.
RATING AND CONTENT
Recommended for ages 6 and older
Quality: 5 out of 5
Educational value: 4 out of 5
Ease of play: 4 out of 5
Violence and scariness: 0 out of 5
Sexy stuff: 0 out of 5
Language: 0 out of 5
Drinking, drugs, and smoking: 0 out of 5
Consumerism: 2 out of 5
APP DETAILS
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price: Free to try (14-day free trial, $19.99/month)
Release date: June 12, 2019
Category: Education
Size: 162.30 MB
Publisher: DIY
Minimum software requirements: iOS 9.0 or later
