It’s not news that every kid has some sort of techno toy that they use every day. From Zunes or iPods to cell phones, laptops and video game consoles, their lives are closely integrated with the newest technology. Parents often lament the time their kids spend with these toys, but realistically, schools and parents alike can turn the tables on the function of these techno toys to our kids’ educational advantage.
Because our kids are so attuned to the uses of technology in their daily lives, the time has come to allow these tools to be used in schools, and at home to improve comprehension and academic skills. Some of these uses:
Kindle
In lieu of stocking shelves with a limited number of books in each classroom for kids to read in between work, schools are beginning to integrate Kindle readers for their students. The option to choose from a wide array of titles is bound to encourage kids to read more, assisting in their reading comprehension, spelling and grammar skills.
Video Games
Despite the mantra of “That’s enough video games for today” often iterated by parents, if the games are used for learning coupled with entertainment, the problem of too many video games could be easily rectified. A recent study compiled by video game designer Katie Salen with a new York Public School called Quest to Learn is exploring the options of gaming to learn. Some other learning tools:
• Learn with Math online games offer Pre-K thru 6th grade students entertaining math skill games.
• LeapFrog offers a variety of learning games for kids of all ages from infancy for reading, spelling, math, comprehension, colors and other skills. The LeapFrog tools come in books, laptops, and handheld video games.
Library Tools
As parents, we remember flipping through index cards seeking out the location of research books for projects and papers. While the Dewey Decimal System is still alive and well, the research in today’s school libraries takes place in online databases or the internet. While this concerns some educators due to fears of plagiarism, this is the way modern day research is performed.
Technology is a natural advance for our kids, in school and at home. The key to using technology for their benefit is to provide the right content.
Posted By: Paul Adams
Thursday, September 30th 2010 at 9:12PM
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