iPhone application idea
10:06 PM
I am constantly amazed at my two and four-year olds' abilities to navigate through various apps on my iPhone. Not only can they find and choose games, but they can select the options that they desire without even being able to read the words on the links. The motivation that these little hand helds offers is enough to prompt even these young children to use deductive reasoning to navigate through these apps in an effort to get what they want.
During this same phase in the life of my children my oldest, Haley, is learning to read. Although we often use digital books (she LOVES these) we usually find ourselves snuggling up with paper books. The benefit that the digital books have over those in print is that they are interactive. The downfall is that it is simply easier to grab a little book than to lug a computer on her lap (even a laptop). This makes me wonder, why not develop apps for digital readers. I know, I know, there must be a million of these already. But, why not focus on those for preschool-aged children. These can be read together using a hand held (small enough so as not to inhibit the cuddling that children so often desire while reading together with a loved one). Actually, digital books, with the capabilities of being interactive, can also be read independently by the preschool-aged child much like the games that are played by my two-year-old independently now.
So, whay might make an effective digital book for preschoolers and early readers, that can be read both independently or with a loved one?
-personalization (the ability to insert the child's name into the story)
-differentiation (the ability for interaction to support the reading ability of the child) pronunctiation guides, audio, text that can be read or listened to, the child controls the speed in which the pages turn by sliding the screen to the next "page" when ready, definitions and pictures to provide more information about key vocabulary words, etc.
(Many of these ideas are present in the raz-kids.com interactive storybooks.)
-interaction (giving the child the ability to control the actions and effects of the characters in the story-embed character education traits into the stories)
-progression through reading levels (either phonics-based on DRA-based) with credit given to the child as encouragement to move onto the next book
How might this tool impact learning for early readers?
The creation of such an app will presumably encourage the love of learning and of reading for young learners through use of engaging text. The built in rewards will build the users self-confidence with reading and with learning, even at such an early age. The scaffolded progression of reading skills embedded within the program will help young children to develop pre-reading skills and early reading skills that are likely to lead to success in school.
Another idea (more to come): an app for science readers (informational readers) and an app for multiplication concept development and practice towards mastery
During this same phase in the life of my children my oldest, Haley, is learning to read. Although we often use digital books (she LOVES these) we usually find ourselves snuggling up with paper books. The benefit that the digital books have over those in print is that they are interactive. The downfall is that it is simply easier to grab a little book than to lug a computer on her lap (even a laptop). This makes me wonder, why not develop apps for digital readers. I know, I know, there must be a million of these already. But, why not focus on those for preschool-aged children. These can be read together using a hand held (small enough so as not to inhibit the cuddling that children so often desire while reading together with a loved one). Actually, digital books, with the capabilities of being interactive, can also be read independently by the preschool-aged child much like the games that are played by my two-year-old independently now.
So, whay might make an effective digital book for preschoolers and early readers, that can be read both independently or with a loved one?
-personalization (the ability to insert the child's name into the story)
-differentiation (the ability for interaction to support the reading ability of the child) pronunctiation guides, audio, text that can be read or listened to, the child controls the speed in which the pages turn by sliding the screen to the next "page" when ready, definitions and pictures to provide more information about key vocabulary words, etc.
(Many of these ideas are present in the raz-kids.com interactive storybooks.)
-interaction (giving the child the ability to control the actions and effects of the characters in the story-embed character education traits into the stories)
-progression through reading levels (either phonics-based on DRA-based) with credit given to the child as encouragement to move onto the next book
How might this tool impact learning for early readers?
The creation of such an app will presumably encourage the love of learning and of reading for young learners through use of engaging text. The built in rewards will build the users self-confidence with reading and with learning, even at such an early age. The scaffolded progression of reading skills embedded within the program will help young children to develop pre-reading skills and early reading skills that are likely to lead to success in school.
Another idea (more to come): an app for science readers (informational readers) and an app for multiplication concept development and practice towards mastery
