Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

Digital tools prove critical for early learners during COVID

For early learners, nothing beats in-class learning. Having a teacher in close proximity to assess the needs of their students is critical for growth.

2020 threw a wrench in that format, forcing students and teachers to communicate digitally. While the year was disruptive on many levels, educators found ways to persevere. After all, sitting by idly and missing time to shape future generations simply was not an option.

For all the pandemic is and was, it has forced positive growth, flexibility, adaptability, and innovation. Still, it has been tough on teachers and their students.…Read More

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Learn Letters with 3D Augmented Zoo Videos

As educators are seeking engaging ways to help parents and kids with learning from home, this magically entertaining show for learning letters and letter sounds starts on YouTube.

Designed with early learners in mind, Alive Studios created The Zoo Crew Alphabet Show using the same mind-boggling technology they offer to classrooms. Cynthia B. Kaye hosts the show along with my zany friend, Gerdy Giraffe (a puppet character played by Faith DeWerd, one of their Training Coaches).

Each episode introduces a zoo animal, a letter, and letter sounds using 3D Augmented Reality technology. Some of the shows include a “Come Alive Surprise,” which allows children to use a mobile device to scan an image shown in the show and bring the day’s animal into their home. The free Journals alive™ mobile app is compliments of Alive Studios and works on most tablets and smartphones. This interactive experience breaks new ground in distance learning and presents endless possibilities for young children. The shows also include the reading of an original short rhyming story that teaches a social-emotional growth skill. These stories can be downloaded and printed for kids to read and color at home.…Read More

Research: Digital media could aid early math skills

Study of early learners reveals media content from the show PEG + CAT could help improve children’s critical math skills

math-skillsChildren who used media content from PBS KIDS’ series PEG + CAT showed improvement in critical math areas involving ordinal numbers, spatial relationships, and 3-D shapes, according to researchers at EDC and SRI International.

Parents and caregivers also showed greater comfort and confidence in supporting their children with math concepts and problem-solving strategies.

The randomized Ready To Learn study was based on a sample of 197 children ages 4 to 5 years old, primarily from low-income families, in New York City and the San Francisco Bay area.…Read More

Ed-tech tools boost early learners’ math skills

PBS KIDS digital supplements help early learners develop math building blocks

early-learnersNew research indicates that a technology-supported curriculum can help early learners better absorb STEM subjects, setting up at-risk early learners for more academic success down the road.

A new report reveals a significant gain in math skills among four- and five-year-olds who used the PBS KIDS Transmedia Math Supplement over a 10-week period improved their math learning significantly compared to a control group.

The math supplement includes videos, digital games, interactive whiteboards, laptops, teacher support, and hands-on math materials.…Read More

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