Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Launches Interactive App that Turns Study into a Game

BOSTON – Global learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) today announced the release of StudyPop, a mobile interactive study game that students can play with their friends and classmates. The app is now available for free in the Apple App Store.

The app’s academic content, geared toward students in grades 3-12, is fueled by HMH curriculum for Science, Social Studies, Literature, Reading and Mathematics. Played by two or more players, StudyPop challenges one player to hold up an iOS device displaying a study word or concept while the other players give hints to solve for that word or concept. The players take turns to win points and compete for the highest score. Teachers can use the app to challenge students in class or parents can play with their kids at home.

A 2014 SRI Education report confirms the benefits of game-based learning and finds interactive digital tools are an efficient way for children to experience effective, contextualized learning. According to the study, play is useful because it stimulates physical, emotional and intellectual experiences in a safe, iterative and social environment. The 2015 HMH Educator Confidence Report revealed that 97 percent of surveyed educators use some form of digital content in the classroom, with 50 percent using apps, websites and/or digital games with their students.

“Research shows that there are strong links between creative play and learning development,” said Mary Cullinane, Chief Content Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. “StudyPop utilizes these links to build an effective way for students to connect with their educational materials through digital media. Parents and teachers can also engage with their students’ learning in a fun, game-based way, whether they are in the classroom or on a family road trip.”

The StudyPop app contains seven to 20 subject areas within each grade level (3-12) and each subject includes 20 or more study words or concepts. Players tilt the iOS device forward when the other players guess the answer correctly, or backward when they want to skip a word or concept. Each game lasts 60 seconds and a list of words, along with their definitions, is provided at the conclusion of the game.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (NASDAQ:HMHC) is a global learning company dedicated to changing people’s lives by fostering passionate, curious learners. As a leading provider of pre-K–12 education content, services, and cutting-edge technology solutions across a variety of media, HMH enables learning in a changing landscape. HMH is uniquely positioned to create engaging and effective educational content and experiences from early childhood to beyond the classroom.  HMH serves more than 50 million students in over 150 countries worldwide, while its award-winning children's books, novels, non-fiction, and reference titles are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com.

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