For the past four years I have been working on my MSIT degree. Yes I did write four years! In my defense that is because I have only been taking two classes a year.
During my studies the focus of the course has been designing learning materials for adults and business. I know that business have money and needs so attention must be paid to them but I wonder if the Instructional Technology department at the university is missing out on something?
Recently the department has added an instructional gaming course and that is great for this is what I think has been missing.
My son is going to be two at the end of March (and if you would like to get him a gift he likes the Wiggles, Wonder Pets and money, have to work on that college fund). What I have come to learn is that there is an enormous market for eLearning tools for the young and very young.
Let me list some of the things for a two year old, all of which my son loves. You have video game systems like little leaps. The controller is designed with only three buttons but he can control the action on the DVD.
Then there is TV stations like Noggin and Disney (only early in the morning for Disney) that do not show commercials and all the shows have educational benefit. These stations also have websites with numerous educational games to play. Many are about colors, counting and the alphabet, but remember it is for preschool children.
Final I mention the latest thing that my son likes which he calls the baby DVD. The Your baby can read DVD set based on the research of Robert C.Titzer, Ph.D is amazing. The children love it and do learn to read much sooner with it. This is based on what I have read and seen. My son cannot read yet but I did just get the DVDs for his birthday.
Please do not think that all my wife and I do is let our son watch the TV we do not. JUST TRY AND TAKE HIS CRAYONS FROM HIM BEFORE HE IS DONE! What I want to point out is all of the eLearning available for such a young age and question if the IIT department should not be partnering with the early childhood department some and pay some attention to this age group.
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2 comments:
That is a great post. I never thought about the early learning television programs as elearning. I guess it is learning using a source of technology. That is great! It is also a great argument for cable in the classroom. Maybe I will start writing that my students are taking part in elearning when we are watching PBS! My principal will love that!
Good luck for with that. Noggin slogan is it is like preschool on tv.
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