What is interesting in ToonTastic is the deep integration between the theory and the product, and that’s the secret behind its success. In this section I will briefly address the theoretical sides of the product.
Research basis
Give a kid a couple of toys or a box of crayons and he or she is likely to play for hours, deeply engrossed in an imaginary world. Yet, ask that same child to write a story in a blank notebook or a word processor and you would be lucky to capture a fraction of the depth and splendor of that imagination. Drawing from Constructionist and Social Development learning theories, as well as Robert McKee’s work on Story Structure, Toontastic empowers kids to bridge this gap between imaginative play and creative writing by creating their own cartoon videos and animations to share with friends and family around the world. (Rusell, 2010)
Another strong educational factor in this app is its ability to teach emotions/feelings. It not only lets the characters act out and sound a certain way through recording, but it also ties in background music that directly relates to the mood of the scene. This provides children and teens with a well-rounded view of emotions and feelings and helps them to comprehend Pragmatics.
ToonTastic and Mobile learning
Mobile devices like the iPad enable kids to play and learn anytime, anywhere. So what ToonTastic can gain from mobile devices?
ToonTastic team answers:
“As developers for Mobile Learning, we wholeheartedly agree and are doing everything we can to encourage and support co-play, collaboration, and parent-child dialogue, which is ultimately the greatest learning tool parents can provide”
(Russell, 2011)