App Review: 'Stephen Hawking’s Snapshots of the Universe'​

App Name: Stephen Hawking’s Snapshots of the Universe (iPad/iPhone)

Cost: $1.99

What does it promise? The Stephen Hawking’s Snapshots of the Universe application is all about sharing knowledge from Hawking’s findings with young minds to help them learn more about the universe. There is a bit of pricing issue to point out. While the online iTunes App store has the app priced at $1.99. On the iPhone, the app is priced at $4.99. That being said the app does keep its $1.99 price on the iPad, which is the platform the application pushes.

Does it deliver? Yes. The problem with this application isn’t the content because it’s some of the most enriching pieces of information for young students especially those who are interesting in space science. The problem does not come with the design of the app, as it is clean crisp and very simple to navigate. The only problem that parents and teachers might not be able to get past is the fact that this application has a lot of in-app purchases. Furthermore, it doesn’t take too long before asking you to make in-app purchases to continue with experiments.

Can I use it in the classroom? Yes. If a teacher wants a few ideas for in-class experiments as well as a way to guide students and themselves along, this app can provide that. The experiments are fun and engaging and could be a great addition to the classroom. That being said, in-app purchases are what hurt the application the most. It’s not the only application with in-app purchases; however, it would be an amazing tool without them.

App review by Navindra Persaud, Education World Contributor