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The classics

Nadia Millington
Nadia Millington

The document proposes an app called the Classics Challenge App that aims to get kids interested in reading classic novels. The app would allow parents and kids to choose a classic book, set a reading challenge or goal, and earn points and rewards as the kid reads the book and answers questions on the app. The goals are to promote reading classics, make it a fun challenge for kids, and teach goal setting and delayed gratification. There may be opportunities to expand the app by allowing kids to challenge each other or integrate book chapters directly into the app.

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The Classics Challenge App Objective : App to get kids to read classic novels in a fun and rewarding way.
Importance of the classics According to a Jenkins Group survey, 42% of college graduates will never read another book outside their school curriculum. Those that are reading are reading bestsellers printed in the past 10 years. It follows that virtually very few kids are reading the classics which is sad as it bears with it many advantages, inter alia- a wider vocabulary, timeless ideas, stronger historical perspective, escape into a different world, breeds creativity and appreciation of different cultures etc. The objective of this app is to go against this trend.
Description Parent and kid choose a classic novel based on the kids age, reading ability and preferences off of the Classics challenge app- eg Little women for a pre teen girl or Huck Finn for a boy. The parent then orders the book. In developing countries the books can be ordered from foundations that provide free / subsidised books for those that are financially strapped ( the app will provide some suggestions) or parents can even borrow from a local library if one exists. Parent and kid then set up a challenge on the Classics challenge app on the kids mobile eg complete the novel in 2 months. They also define and agree on the rewards upfront. As the kid reads the book and answers questions * about the book on the Classics challenge app , they accumulate points and can also track their progress towards their goal. Accumulating points should be fun for the kid and a character like a cheeky leprechaun for example increasing its pot of gold can be used. Once a kid reaches a reward point , the ap should release noise, celebration and fan fare. A book can have 3-5 reward points. Kids will have the option to cash in their points immediately eg for a small reward eg chocolate bar from their parents or continue to the end for a bigger prize, based on what was agreed upfront. Or they can even retain points from several challenges for one big MEGA prize eg a day trip. * The questions are generated from crowdsourcing- that is, requesting that individuals who have read the books suggest appropriate questions and answers via the Classics website. Of course not all questions suggested will make it into the app as this is not meant to be a test but just a check to ensure that kids are progressing in their reading.
Simplified diagram Choose and orders book Set challenge on the kids phone app in consultation with kid Kid reads book Answers questions on the app Gets rewarded Start again
Benefits It promotes reading the classics to a generation of kids who may not see it as relevant when compared with more contemporary novels The reward does not assume that the parents are well off. The reward can be taking the kid to the beach or the park or building a puzzle together. Even in the developed world, the rewards need not only be financial, the parents can also agree with the kid to contribute money to a cause close to the kids heart eg save the whales foundation. Thus building a spirit of philanthropy from a young age. It teaches kids about being goal oriented and delayed gratification, ie the need to give up short term gain for long term benefit. It can be a highly interactive process if parents engage kids about what they are reading. There is potential to extend this app. Kids can challenge each other as an example.
Benefits For Nokia, there is also the possibility to integrate the chapters of the book into the app as the proliferation of smart phones amongst kids ( pre teen and young teens) increase. This would represent a major extension in the business model but it could be a next logical step. It would require partnering with a publishing house Developing software to disaggregate the book into chapters that can be retrieved on the ap. Organising for the content to be hosted on the cloud Testing to see what is the minimum bandwidth required to ensure this process is seamless Just as examples. Maybe worth exploring in the medium term and then extending the model beyond classic novels. ..Any suggestions will be much appreciated..

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The classics

  • 1. The Classics Challenge App Objective : App to get kids to read classic novels in a fun and rewarding way.
  • 2. Importance of the classics According to a Jenkins Group survey, 42% of college graduates will never read another book outside their school curriculum. Those that are reading are reading bestsellers printed in the past 10 years. It follows that virtually very few kids are reading the classics which is sad as it bears with it many advantages, inter alia- a wider vocabulary, timeless ideas, stronger historical perspective, escape into a different world, breeds creativity and appreciation of different cultures etc. The objective of this app is to go against this trend.
  • 3. Description Parent and kid choose a classic novel based on the kids age, reading ability and preferences off of the Classics challenge app- eg Little women for a pre teen girl or Huck Finn for a boy. The parent then orders the book. In developing countries the books can be ordered from foundations that provide free / subsidised books for those that are financially strapped ( the app will provide some suggestions) or parents can even borrow from a local library if one exists. Parent and kid then set up a challenge on the Classics challenge app on the kids mobile eg complete the novel in 2 months. They also define and agree on the rewards upfront. As the kid reads the book and answers questions * about the book on the Classics challenge app , they accumulate points and can also track their progress towards their goal. Accumulating points should be fun for the kid and a character like a cheeky leprechaun for example increasing its pot of gold can be used. Once a kid reaches a reward point , the ap should release noise, celebration and fan fare. A book can have 3-5 reward points. Kids will have the option to cash in their points immediately eg for a small reward eg chocolate bar from their parents or continue to the end for a bigger prize, based on what was agreed upfront. Or they can even retain points from several challenges for one big MEGA prize eg a day trip. * The questions are generated from crowdsourcing- that is, requesting that individuals who have read the books suggest appropriate questions and answers via the Classics website. Of course not all questions suggested will make it into the app as this is not meant to be a test but just a check to ensure that kids are progressing in their reading.
  • 4. Simplified diagram Choose and orders book Set challenge on the kids phone app in consultation with kid Kid reads book Answers questions on the app Gets rewarded Start again
  • 5. Benefits It promotes reading the classics to a generation of kids who may not see it as relevant when compared with more contemporary novels The reward does not assume that the parents are well off. The reward can be taking the kid to the beach or the park or building a puzzle together. Even in the developed world, the rewards need not only be financial, the parents can also agree with the kid to contribute money to a cause close to the kids heart eg save the whales foundation. Thus building a spirit of philanthropy from a young age. It teaches kids about being goal oriented and delayed gratification, ie the need to give up short term gain for long term benefit. It can be a highly interactive process if parents engage kids about what they are reading. There is potential to extend this app. Kids can challenge each other as an example.
  • 6. Benefits For Nokia, there is also the possibility to integrate the chapters of the book into the app as the proliferation of smart phones amongst kids ( pre teen and young teens) increase. This would represent a major extension in the business model but it could be a next logical step. It would require partnering with a publishing house Developing software to disaggregate the book into chapters that can be retrieved on the ap. Organising for the content to be hosted on the cloud Testing to see what is the minimum bandwidth required to ensure this process is seamless Just as examples. Maybe worth exploring in the medium term and then extending the model beyond classic novels. ..Any suggestions will be much appreciated..