News-O-Matic Earns Academics’ Choice Smart Media Award
We are excited to announce that News-O-Matic has been honored with a 2020 Academics’ Choice Award for Smart Media. The independent Academics’ Choice Award program is recognized worldwide by consumers and educational institutions as a mark of genuinely effective learning tools that stimulate the mind and provide potential for students to fully develop higher-order thinking skills.
Volunteer reviewers, along with the Academics’ Choice Advisory Board, determine the winners. The Advisory Board consists of leading thinkers and graduates from Princeton, Harvard, George Washington University, and other reputable educational institutions. Entries are judged by category (mobile app, toy, book, website, magazine, etc.), subject area, and grade level. They are also evaluated based on standardized criteria rooted in constructivist learning theory.
Some of the reviews for the Academics’ Choice Award included:
“I love the simple fact that News-O-Matic encourages young kids to engage in current events. Reading age-appropriate news will increase civic engagement levels when children become adults. The discussions that happen and the self-reflection that takes place will help the next generation become better thinkers and global citizens. I also appreciate the fact the articles can be read out loud for my younger kids!”
“News-O-Matic provides five easy to read and comprehend news stories each day, with different types of interactive materials to aid in comprehension and engagement, with no ads! In the current age of ‘fake news,’ I love the fact that each news story has citation information to learn more on stories of interest. The read-to-me option helps children with reading and pronouncing more difficult words. I love the language options and how easy it is to switch between languages.”
“The articles are on topics of high interest for students, with visuals, links to definitions and pronunciations, and the option to change the language. The articles are updated daily! Students practiced their literacy and critical thinking skills as they read the articles. The app also helps stimulate emotional development and social awareness.”
“This app also has a Teacher’s Guide that offers comprehension questions, writing prompts, and discussion points. And to top it off (for all of you teachers out there) it is all aligned to Common Core standards. This has got to be one of the best, if not the best app for anyone who wants their child to learn more about what’s going on in the world today. Needless to say, it is a social studies teacher’s dream!”
To read the full announcement and reviews, visit the Academics’ Choice Award website.