Eclectic Technology

"A recent study by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop found that 72 percent of the top-selling education apps in the iTunes store target preschool or elementary-age children, a significant increase from 47 percent in 2009. Study results also show that early learning apps for preschoolers and toddlers are the most popular app category and have experienced the greatest market growth."

Today we see many pictures of young children watching or interacting with a screen. One question to ask "is whether interactive screen time can be considered a valid teaching tool for children as young as two and one-half."

"The current issue of Washington Monthly features a special report on the standards-and-testing model of school reform, which, despite protests from both the left and the right, continues to drive student learning and is poised to play an even bigger role in coming years. Through a series of stories, including one on computer-based “stealth assessments,” the overriding question remains: Will it change classrooms for the better?"

We are beginning to read more about the new high-stake tests that will be administered on computers, and that in itself raises questions. Do school have sufficient computers to handle the needs? Do they have adequate bandwidth? And how will the tests be scored? 

These issues and many more are addressed in this article from the Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning.

Why do teachers use digital games in the classroom?

* To increase motivation and engagement (70%)

* To more effectively reach all learners in their classroom (62%

This post explores information published by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center and includes video case studies. If you are thinking of using games in your classroom, or already do, this article provides a variety of resources.