Peer Review

KidCitizen

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Reviewed:: Dec 20, 2022 by ICT Literacy

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Kid Citizen, a learning resource developed with the Library of Congress combines primary source lessons in civics and government with historical photographs, stories and culture to enrich the learning environment of K-5 students. Interactive exhibits and museum experiences are integral resources for social development and learning in the elementary grade environment. The KidCitizen learning platform brings the atmosphere of hands-on experiences to students through Ellie, an animated and interactive narrator who guides students through various exercises and stories collecting primary resources along the way. A selection of lesson plans with accompanying resources are available to teachers for additional value. The content rich archives of materials and subject educators will continue to enhance these resources in the future.

Type of Material:

Tutorial

Recommended Uses:

KidCitizen animations can be used in the classroom or groups to enhance lessons of a geographical, cultural or historical background.

Technical Requirements:

Works on Windows, Mac, Chromebook browsers as well as iOS and Android mobile devices

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The elementary grade student will:

develop an understanding of history and culture included in photographs, postcards and other objects.
form connections from past events to current events through experiences (ex. schooling, family, culture).
Gain visual literacy skills.
Develop historical inquiry skills.
Increase civic engagement.

Target Student Population:

The KidCitizen tutorials individually have an identifier specifying appropriate grade levels. The ranges include materials K-2 and 3-5 as well as a K-5 inclusive level dependent upon subject matter.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Knowledge of using a mouse or cursor in K-2 grade level is useful.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The episodes consist of short story arcs about an historical event, using primary source materials (especially photographs) to interpret history. The episodes contain a suitable amount of information, and summarize the content weil. The material is historic but some of the research is current. Content is accurate, and the materials are created by an interdisciplinary team of historians, educators, child development specialists, and game designers. The episodes can be used in several contexts. The links wore and material is appropriately attributed.
Concerns:: no concerns

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The lessons within the grade level framework strongly support and combine the primary source objectives and goals, which reflect ICT literacy standards, especially in terms of visual literacy and critical thinking. Each episode reinforces concepts progressively and links concepts, both in terms of the concepts and the visual content analysis. With its interactivity and explanations, learning is efficient. The episodes are easy to incoporate into assignments as the materials are grouped in accordance with grade levels K – 5, K- 2, 3-5. To that point, the teacher guides include objectives, puprose and additional resources for review. In addition, the KidCitizen editor lets teachers create and share original episodes. The concepts promote civic engagement and increase ICT literacy life skills.

Concerns:

Suggested guidelines of K-5 audience too broad for younger student use.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The episodes are very intereacting, visual and engaging; the avatar is a cute BICOP girl. Episodes have clear directions, and are easy to use independently, particularly since the materials have a consistant layout; little technical skill is needed. A help feature is available from the main page. An online community enables users to network, and the site has a news feature. Four secial media platforms also invite interaction. KidCitizen also provdies teacher guides and professional development.

Concerns:

A short explanation of how to use resource prior to each animated lesson could be beneficial.

The resource requires multiple selections of the same materials to activate the responses required.

It would be difficult for blind individuals to use.

Other Issues and Comments:: KidCitizen is part of the Congress, Civic Participation, and Primary Sources Project. It is supported by a grant from the Library of Congress, and is also part of the Teaching with Primary Sources program, the Library of Congress’s premier educational outreach program for teachers.
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