So, I am part of the MTV Generation. I was raised on Sesame Street, then watched Video killed the Radio Star launch the music revolution. My childhood started with 4 channels, had my teenage years impacted by what cable brought to our house, CNN changed the way news was experienced, and used a phone to connect to the main frame (that printed on paper, no screen) to play Oregon Trail.

My kids play Oregon Trail on their iTouch, they time shift everything, and watch Sesame Street Podcasts when ever, where ever. Where I was the Sesame Street / MTV generation, they are the iTouch generation. The learning that goes on in their hand, is what Sesame Street promised for the TV. This is personalized, individualized, mobile education, it is what Sesame Street promised for the masses drilled down for when ever, where ever learning.

The apps combined with the podcasts make for great learning. Gaming for letters, colors, sequencing, sight words etc. Everything a preK teacher would boast about in the classroom, minus the social / physical interaction. Those can’t and shouldn’t be replaced with technology. (a whole other blog post)…

Encourage learning using the iTouch, I can’t wait to see what the kids write about in 30 years.

So, the other night, a neighbor (with brand new iPhone) came over to sit on the patio and learn a little about her new phone. We started downloading apps, and before too long her kids had the iPhone. The app that actually kept the 6 year olds attention the longest was Teach Me Kindergarten. I’ve used Teach Me Toddler with my 4 year olds, and in a preschool setting at work, so I was interested to see if the next level was as engaging to kids.

At work, we’ve measured some powerful growth using Teach Me Toddler with students. In the backyard it kept a young learner engaged while the other kids were running around, jumping on the trampoline and swinging. He’s an active kid, so I was surprised to see him so engaged.

It speaks volumes to the educational benefit of having the tool in their hands, sized small, go anywhere (even camping). I’m not advocating any replacement of the outside run around, play with friends, learn from physical interactions. Just adding the iTouch as a tool to practice skills, during the downtime kids naturally need. If you fill your device with educational “games” and PBS podcasts, that is what they watch/play. If you fill the device with mindless games…it becomes another game boy – mind sucking device.

So, purchase wisely, this is the Sesame Street of their childhood.

Thinking about how this might work for a classroom teacher,

• connecting what the kids are reading with a word cloud
• what people are writing about online,
• what the textbook section is about…
• what other vocab is included that might be a challenge for students…
• priming
• review
• word cloud their paper as the cover sheet

I read this article about Colin Powell

and created this: