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Finding Stubby
By Debbie Gorrell,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Confusing ocean exploration tool only touches the surface.
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Finding Stubby
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What’s It About?
FINDING STUBBY offers kids an opportunity to freely explore and discover some of the creatures that live in the ocean. There are touch controls to turn and propel an ROV, and kids can use the ROV to grab certain items (like a squid and a plastic bottle). However, it's unclear what to do with the items once they’re captured. Multiple choice questions sometimes pop up on the screen when kids click on a creature’s name. Kids earn stars for correct answers. If they decide to exit the app, their progress isn't saved.
Is It Any Good?
Although the graphics are appealing and the ocean sounds drum up some initial excitement, this app is rather shallow in terms of learning and support. The controls for the ROV are confusing, and it’s hard to know which end is up. There’s a meter that displays changes in depth as the ROV moves, but even this is difficult to understand because there’s no reference point. The multiple choice items are a nice learning feature. More of these would be nice to see. The items don't have audio, so they’ll need to be read aloud for non-readers. Instructions, better controls, and a way to track progress could take this app to a much deeper level.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the creatures kids find while exploring with Finding Stubby. What did kids learn about ocean life? Who is Stubby?
Talk about some of the missions of oceanographers in real life. How do they use ROVs? What kind of things do they study? Do some research to find out.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects: Science : animals, ecosystems and the environment
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: February 15, 2020
- Category: Education
- Topics: Ocean Creatures
- Publisher: Megalearn AB
- Version: 1.3
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 9.0 or later
- Last updated: February 12, 2020
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