Piko's Blocks vs CrushStations

Practice Visual-Spatial Reasoning with encouraging exercises! In Piko’s Blocks the learner builds 3D structures based on presented exercises. Player observes and manipulates self-made 3D objects to develop three-dimensional thinking. Piko’s Blocks has been developed in cooperation with occupational therapists and teachers. PLAY & LEARN: - Spatial and Visual Reasoning - 3D geometric thinking - Problem solving KEY FEATURES: - suitable for ages 4+ and doesn’t require the ability to read - does NOT include any In-App Purchases or Ad’s - over 300 unique exercises to play* - unlimited player profiles for each device: individual progress is saved* - adapts to the player’s skill level motivating and challenging appropriately* - has also an option to practice specific exercise type and difficulty level* - makes it possible to monitor the player’s progress* (* only in Premium version) EXERCISE TYPES: - building matching 3D structures - removing extra pieces from structures - building mirror images of structures - extra challenge is provided for advanced learners by point symmetry and rotation exercises* (* only in Premium version) Spatial reasoning ability is an important cognitive skill and it creates a strong basis for learning mathematical skills and STEM subjects. It is also a fundamental advantage in problem solving and creative work, since it helps to create mental visualizations of ideas and concepts. Research confirms that spatial reasoning can developed with regular practice - and this is precisely what Piko’s Blocks offers. Are you now ready for an educational adventure? Help our friend Piko on his way from planet to planet by solving 3D exercises! Let’s go, Piko is waiting! --- Creetah Ltd is a mobile game studio based in Finland. Our mission is to develop smart and efficient games for practicing cognitive skills. Close cooperation with therapists, educators and cognitive development experts is our style for crafting the best solutions. If you want to say hello to us or there’s something we should know about, you can reach us easily by email: creetah.info@gmail.com. Enjoy learning!

CrushStations is a game designed to train working memory, a subskill of executive functions. Working memory involves holding information in mind and mentally working with it (Diamond, 2013). Players need to remember the color and type of creatures to free them and keep them out of reach of the hungry octopus. How does this support learning? Executive functions refer to a set of top-down, goal-oriented cognitive processes that enable people to control, monitor and plan behaviors and emotions. Miyake and Friedman’s model supports a unity-and-diversity view of EF in that it incorporates the three distinct but related components of EF: inhibitory control, task-switching and updating (Miyake et al., 2000). What is the research evidence? Our research suggests that CrushStations is an effective way to train working memory. The study supporting this claim will be published soon. Research has found that EF is related to performance in literacy and math along with long-term gains in school performance and academic readiness (Blair & Razza, 2007; Brock, Rimm-Kaufman, Nathanson, & Grimm, 2009; St Clair-Thompson & Gathercole, 2006; Welsh, Nix, Blair, Bierman, & Nelson, 2010) and that disparities in EF among preschool children from low-income versus high-income homes may contribute to the achievement gap (Blair & Razza, 2007; Noble, McCandliss, & Farah, 2007). This game is part of the Smart Suite, created by New York University’s CREATE lab in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara, and The Graduate Center, CUNY. The research reported here was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305A150417 to the University of California, Santa Barbara. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.