America’s leading and most-trusted language information provider Merriam-Webster has launched a fun and engaging vocabulary-building app for kids called Puku.
The app features Puku, a virtual pet that grows as players master new words, and evolves each time players cross a milestone, in an engaging display. It rewards progress of the players keeping them engaged and motivated to learn more.
Designed for children ages 8-12, Merriam-Webster offers Puku to be played in three ways. Users can play ongoing leveled vocabulary lists, words related to a category of interest like food or mythology, or can create and share their own word lists to match areas of interest or curriculum.
What is even more interesting about Puku app is that every player has a personalized experience guided by adaptive learning technology. The app responds directly to the user’s performance ensuring that learning is efficient and motivating: players spend their time on new and challenging vocabulary and get immediate corrective feedback when necessary to help them get back on track. Teachers can also take advantage of the app to quickly create and share word lists with their students, all automatically populated with Merriam-Webster definitions.
Excited with the launch of the app, Lisa Schneider, Chief Digital Officer and Publisher for Merriam-Webster, said,
“We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Puku. We wanted to create a tool for kids who have outgrown entry-level vocabulary apps, and also for parents who are frustrated with the limited resources available to help their older children study words they are learning in school. Puku is delightful to play, and empowers users to easily create and share custom word lists, with age-appropriate definitions, to align with classwork.”
Explaining further about the app, Damien Yambo, Director of Educational Products for Merriam-Webster, said,
“The Puku app provides an engaging and rewarding learning experience that is tailored to kids’ needs and interests. Puku can help children practice the vocabulary they’re learning in class, but kids can also play Puku to better understand the books they’re reading for fun.”
Merriam-Webster is committed to helping people of all ages understand language better, so they can better understand and communicate with the world around them. The Puku app was built based on that commitment. Developed in partnership with PRELOADED, a BAFTA-winning games studio, Puku is the best vocabulary-building app for kids ages 8 and above. With Puku, users can learn thousands of words and feel good about their screen time!
Currently, Puku is available on the App Store for iOS users. To access, users can check it out here. It is reported that the Android version of the app will also be available shortly.
Needless to mention, Merriam-Webster has been America’s leading and most-trusted provider of language information for over 180 years. Besides the print publications, each month, Merriam-Webster’s websites, apps, and popular social media channels offer guidance to tens of millions of visitors. All Merriam-Webster products and services are backed by the largest team of professional dictionary editors and writers in America, and one of the largest in the world.
