LeapFrog Crammer

by LeapFrog

Product Features

• The only pocket-sized test-prep system with a fully functional digital music player
• Create digital flash cards to prep for any test
• Access 16,000+ quiz questions in math, science, social studies and more
• Download your favorite music and jam while you cram
• Take everything you need to study on the go

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.6 x 10.5 x 10.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00138PO8Q
• Item model number: 30706
• Manufacturer recommended age: 4 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,174 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Let the LeapFrog Crammer Study and Sound System help your students stay on top of new material while they listen to their favorite tunes. Designed to help kids aged eight to 14 prepare for quizzes, tests, and important presentations, the slim, digital Crammer makes it easy to bring tons of flash cards and practice questions wherever they go.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Streamline the process of studying for multiple subjects The Bad: May not hold up in rough conditions In a Nutshell: This student-specific MP3 player makes it easy to prep for tests At a Glance Ages: 8 to 14 Requires: 3 AAA batteries; Computer to edit test prep materials

Compact player lets you study for tests wherever you go. View larger.

Online Study Edge interface lets you download math, social studies, science quizzes, and more. View larger.

Prep for All Kinds of Tests
Connect the Crammer to your PC or your Mac using the included USB cable and download the Leapfrog Connect Application to get started. This lets you get started right away with preexisting flash cards and practice questions, or create your own questions and flash cards, organize them into sets, and load them onto the handheld unit to take everywhere you go.

This means that you learn while you're creating each unique study guide, and you can brush up on facts in the car, on the bus, or during your free time at school. Since the Crammer keeps all your flashcards in one digital archive, you won't have to worry about losing them or carrying around thick stacks of cards for several classes.

The Crammer's main screen is easy to navigate with icons representing eight categories: flash cards, quizzes, music, games, volume, stats, settings, and about the unit. The cool click screen lets students make selections by tapping the edges of the screen or pressing the bar on the top of the unit, which also contains a back button and a shortcut to the main screen. In flash card mode, pressing right or left flips the cards, and pressing enter shows the other side of a card so you can check your answers quickly.

In addition to functioning as a study aid, the Crammer works as an MP3 player. This means it's easy to mellow before an exam and celebrate with your favorite music when it's over.

Stay Connected with Online Resources
Don't have the time to create a truly customized set of flashcards every week? Re you interested in learning that extends beyond what you're doing in class right now? The online Study Edge interface lets you download math, social studies, and science quizzes designed to cover general topics for grades three to eight. You can pick topics like American history, geography, chemistry, and algebra.

For grades three and four, there's also pre-made sets of flashcards that target language arts skills, like spelling and basic math operations. This online resource seems to be expanding, so you can expect to find even more great tools here in the future.

Every time the Crammer is connected to your computer, data is transferred to the Learning Path online. Parents can use this resource to see details like which skill areas a child has downloaded quizzes for and how much time he or she is spending on each subject. Of course any study tool is only useful if students actually use it, and these Learning Path tools encourage parents to facilitate conversations about school work and help them study for their toughest subjects.

Our only real concern regarding this useful study tool is how well the unit will hold up to rough use. Its compact size and solid plastic body seem quite durable, but if you keep it in your gym bag with your cleats instead of in an empty pocket in your backpack, you might run into trouble. Luckily you can also purchase a soft case designed especially for protecting the Crammer, or a range of custom face plates that identify it as your own. The Crammer runs on three AA batteries (not included).

What's in the Box
Crammer, USB cable, earphones, and instruction booklet.

Product Description

Crammer is a new handheld study device that helps kids stay engaged while studying on the go. Kids can create unlimited digital flashcards to study what they need to know most and download thousands of math, social studies and science quizzes based on leading textbooks. And the Crammer handheld is also a fully functional digital music player so kids can jam while they cram. Requires 3 "AAA" batteries, not included. Available early October.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So far, so good -- Updated Review, October 28, 2008

By 

J. Tsai (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: LeapFrog Crammer (Toy)

I bought this for my 7 year old (2nd grade) to help him get faster at math - mainly multiplication and division. He found the included games and quizzes and seems to really enjoy it so far.

Pros: Mainly educational. Great for drills. Fun (albeit simple) games. Downloadable, FREE content. Ability to create custom flash cards.

Cons: As another reviewer pointed out, the lack of a backlight is a real drawback. The amount of flash cards available for download is a little thin (which I'm sure will improve) compared to the much larger number of quizzes. You can only create very basic flash cards - e.g. I couldn't find a way to create a division symbol and used a '/' instead. No option to create custom quizzes (a future software enhancement?).

Overall a great concept and a good first incarnation (with hopefully more to come).

12/20/2009 UPDATE: It's been over a year since my son has gotten the crammer. He still picks it up once in a while to play games and quizzes. There's a tetris type domino game and a strategy game in which you have to earn money that he likes. He also enjoys listening to music with headphones while he's playing and I think it's a plus that you can't turn the volume up too loud.

I am very disappointed that there hasn't been any noticeable changes in the content since a year ago. No new downloadable flash cards, quizzes or games that I can see. If I could, I would take a star off my original rating as it doesn't seem to be getting the attention it needs from Leapfrog. Was it worth the 60 I paid for it last year? In retrospect, I'd say no. Is it worth the 10-20 I now see locally and online? For what you do get, yes.

A final tip, if you ever have problems with the Leapfrog Connect program on your PC wanting to update itself once in a while and getting stuck, go to the Leapfrog website, download the latest Leapfrog Connect software for your device, and reinstall.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Flashcard Device, January 18, 2009

By 

C. Kelly - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: LeapFrog Crammer (Toy)

I bought this product originally for my nephew, but ended up selfishly keeping it for myself. As a college student I find the flash card software a wonderful alternative to the bundles of index paper I've spent hours making and even more time picking up. The software is very efficient in that I am able to quickly make French flashcards. Though the software does not have an accent option I am however able to paste in letters that contain them.
I do understand others' complaint about the small dark screen, but as an adult reader I have no need for jumbo print and have had no trouble using this on the subway. I do notice that these small letters are a bit difficult to distinguish at times between U and V etc.

The downloaded quizzes are fun, but I can't see how these would be the best way to study for unique elementary exams (of course the math ones may be more universal than science or social studies)
It is interesting that it comes with a Spanish translator and I would like for other languages to be later available for download. The games are a weak distraction from something very boring, and the device seems to be able to hold a child size amount of songs. I am planning to add language audio files, but will most likely have to delete them regularly due to size limitations.

I find the volume tolerably loud enough, but I am unfortunately unable to blast the music. The headphones do not seem the best and a set of better quality may make this feature more noteworthy.

So as a twenty something Leapster Crammer owner I would say that I am happy with this product and highly recommend it as an electronic flashcards, but nothing else. I was able to buy mine for a fraction of the retail value yet would have paid more for the convenience. I see this toy as an "on the go" study tool for children, but with the small screen and limited quiz aplicability I do not see how this could be more helpful than the text book and a helping parent.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely no control over the display, November 24, 2008

By 

Stephen L. Noe "Stephen L. Noe" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: LeapFrog Crammer (Toy)

the main complaints are:
1. Tiny fonts for the flash cards. Ridiculously small fonts with no way to enlarge them.
2. The volume for the OGG/MP3 player is way too low even on the loudest setting.
3. No back light. You must be in broad daylight or under a lamp to see the screen (especially with the tiny fonts).

The concept is great but the lack of customization for the screen display and the fact that the volume is so low sort of makes this a mediocre effort. Leapfrog should just stick with the leapster. Obviously their R&D department took a vacation.