Sesame Street, Toddlers, and Technology

Today I am going to discuss an online article. The title for the article is called Vocal Tech for Toddlers Encourages 'Anytime, Anywhere, Learning'. The author's name is Lynn Neary. This article was published December 31, 2014. Here is the link for the online article: http://www.npr.org/2014/12/31/374033373/vocab-intensive-tech-for-toddlers-encourages-anytime-anywhere-learning

Neary begins her article by discussing Sesame Street. The show began to air in 1969, and that many people were skeptical. They did not think a television show could introduce math and reading skills to young children effectively. However, Sesame Street has proven that a television show can be educationally and be entertaining. The show has reached many generations of young children. Technology has advanced since 1969, and Sesame Street is also evolving. Sesame Workshop is now being introduced to young children through tablets and smartphones. Michael Levine is the executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop. He says, "Kids tend to consume across platforms and across settings," Levine says. "They're on the couch, they're in the living room, they're outside even, or they're on the go. So these mobile media and these interactive platforms allow for anytime, anywhere learning." Parents and children were asked to come to the Sesame’s Workshop Headquarters in New York. The children began to play on tablets. In another room, researchers were watching how each child interacted with the mechanics of the game. “We are seeing how he is choosing to help Elmo jump up the beanstalk: Is he swiping? Is he tapping? Is he piloting Elmo with his finger? And the more kids that we put in front of this game, the better we'll understand the intuitive way in which kids interact with it." Sesame Workshop's vice president is Rosemarie Truglio. She wants Sesame Workshop to have a lot of content. Truglio asked educators what developed literacy skills. The educators’ answers were vocabulary. The workshop created a game called Big Bird's Words. The game was designed to use on a smartphone. The game is aimed at showing children the relationship between words. Also the game includes parent interaction. The game wants parents involved and not used as a babysitter. "Ian Rowe, CEO of the New York City charter school Public Prep, says getting parents involved in their kids' education is crucial." Sesame Workshop is launching a partnership with Public Prep Pre-K program. Sesame Workshop is making materials that can be used in schools such as videos. The videos can act as a hook to the teacher's lesson. The videos can go alongside the rest of the lesson. The lesson could include discussion, writing, and crafts. Public Prep's Pre-K program managing director is Haifa Bautista. She wants to incorporate technology in the classrooms for educational purposes. "Once these kids are in elementary school, says Bautista, they will have their own laptops and iPads, so it's never too soon to teach them that technology can be more than just entertainment."

When I was a child, I grew up watching Sesame Street. I loved the characters Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster. Each character had different traits and looked different. When I was little, I had no idea I was learning while watching television. However, I was learning a lot from Sesame Street. I learned letters and colors. Every afternoon I watched Sesame Street, and I looked forward to watching it on the television. When I was little, tablets and smartphones had not been invented yet. When I have children, I would love to get the Sesame Workshop app on my tablets and phone. I want my kids to love Sesame Street like I did. I also would get Sesame Workshop on my school tablet too. I would feel comfortable using Sesame Workshop as a part of my lesson plans. It would help me integrate technology in my classroom. I know my future students are going to know how to use tablets, smartphones, and computers when they come to school. Technology is becoming apart of every school, and I want my students to learn while using technology. Sesame Workshop is an educational app, and I will have it in my classroom.