Volume 18, No. 8, Issue 125
Tutor, Tool and Tutee, Revisited
Here’s some good news. Helping a child learn to program a computer has never been easier. Why is this important? It helps to recall a bit of history.
In 1980, Robert Taylor, a professor at Columbia Teacher’s college, put together a collection of essays on educational technology (see http://bit.ly/d8bR8w). In the book introduction, he defined three roles for computing in education: as a tutor (something that teaches you), tool (something you use to enhance your abilities) and tutee (something you teach or program). Now remember — back then, computers had 1 MHz processors and floppy drives.
Thirty years later, children are walking around with more computing power than NASA had to land on the moon. One of Taylor’s classifications, the computer as tutee — is once again very useful. That’s why, for this month’s LittleClickers column (p. 4) we took a closer look at helping children become teachers of the computer, aka programmers, a job made easier thanks to Scratch, App Inventor for Android (page 12) and Singing Fingers (page 10) and TonePad (page 10). See page 4 for more tips on helping children become programmers.
**PRESS RELEASE COPY**
KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURE LAUNCHES FACEBOOK GAME THAT CONNECTS MOM’S GAMING EXPERIENCE TO CHILD’S LEARNING
LOS ANGELES – July 22, 2010 – Knowledge Adventure, creators of JumpStart and the innovator in adventure-based learning games for children, launches SPA ADVENTURE, the first Facebook game that includes the “JumpStart Connect” platform, a new technology that allows moms to have fun and earn rewards which their kids can redeem at JumpStart.com, an educational world for children. “With social gaming at an all-time high for adults, we wanted a seamless way to engage the player on Facebook that will be fun and benefit their children,” said David Lord, President and CEO, Knowledge Adventure. “Knowledge Adventure plans to extend the connection between the parent and child interactive gaming experience in the upcoming months, allowing parents to take an even more active role in their children’s game play and education.” SPA ADVENTURE, www.Adventure.com, invites players to design and run a relaxing, resort-style virtual spa. As one of the first Facebook games offered in true 3D, SPA ADVENTURE features addictive gameplay and amazing graphics. As mom enjoys social gaming with her friends on Facebook, she’ll be able to do much more than just rack up virtual currency and send stream posts; she’ll be able to enhance her child’s learning. How it works: After signing in using their Facebook and JumpStart accounts, parents who play SPA ADVENTURE will be able to earn coins and other virtual prizes to send to their kids at JumpStart.com. When their kids log in to play their favorite learning games, they’ll find bonuses sent from their parents! For additional information about SPA ADVENTURE, please visit www.adventure.com. About Knowledge Adventure Since 1991, Knowledge Adventure® has set the standard in kids’ gaming by creating the finest educational products for use in the home and the classroom. Today, Knowledge Adventure’s JumpStart® and MathBlaster® products invite kids to learn through endless gaming adventures in 3D virtual worlds. By blending learning and entertainment, Knowledge Adventure’s adventure-based learning inspires kids’ minds through immersed play. A subsidiary of Knowledge Holdings, Inc., the company is privately-held and based in Torrance, California. For more information, go to www.knowledgeadventure.com and www.jumpstart.com. Wii is a trademark of Nintendo. Wii Balance Board accessory sold separately with Wii Fit Plus™.
Children’s Technology Review, May 2010
CTR No 122
Volume 18, No. 5, Issue 122
This is a free editorial by Warren Buckleitner. For full access, please subscribe.
Since Hermann Rorschach created his famous personality screening test back in 1921, many have used it to try to figure a person’s state of mind. Giving you the
Rorschach test is simple: I show you something unique (such as an inkblot), and then ask you to describe what you think you see. I then crank your answers through a set of instruments, and “DING,” I know if you’re mentally sound (or not). Now swap the inkblot for something else unique and open ended. An iPad. What do you see? More importantly, how does it make you feel?
Because this is an interactive column, I’ll allow you to sit quietly for a while as you study the photo on this month’s cover, and jot down your thoughts. Read the rest of this entry »
Coming next week (April 12) from Netflix, the addition of the Nintendo Wii as a video streaming option, joining other platforms including Sony’s PS3, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Apple’s iPad.
Providing you have an active NetFlix subscription ($9/month), along with a web-connected Wii, you start by inserting a special DVD provided free from Netflix, just as you would a regular game.
When it’s movie time, you bribe your Wii away from your child, and start the Netflix movie viewer, logging into your account. Next, you pick your movies and start buffering. If the Internet winds are blowing your way, your Wii Remote soon is transformed into a real remote.
Here’s a sneak peak at our April issue (April 2010 Volume 18, No. 4, Issue 121). Not a subscriber? Sign up now, for just $24/year for an instant download, and help support this commercial free work.
Inside the current issue: Why does Pokémon work? We look closely at Pokémagic, and help you understand the elements of design that can be applied to any other new media product. Also, we bring you news from the FredForward conference on children and technology, and we list web resources to help children understand how GPS works.
DIRECTORY OF REVIEWS
Alice 3 Animal-themed Computer Mice Art of Murder: Cards of Destiny Bermuda Triangle Brushes, iPad Edition Califone Listening First Headphone, 2810 Chronicles of Mystery: Curse of the Ancient Temple Chronicles of Mystery: The Tree of Life Classic Chatter Telephone Daring Game for Girls Read the rest of this entry »FISHER-PRICE LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER IPHONE APPS
Classic Chatter TelephoneTM, See ‘n Say®, Little People® Farm Toys Transform into Magical, Fun iPhone Games
EAST AURORA, N.Y. – March 18, 2010 – Fisher-Price, Inc. (a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. NASDAQ:MAT) today put a fun, digital spin on some of its beloved, iconic toys by launching its first-ever iPhone applications, enabling children to experience classic toys in an exciting new way. The Chatter Telephone™ toy (first introduced in 1962), See ‘n Say® product (first introduced in 1965) and Little People® Farm (the Little People® brand was first introduced in 1959) applications, for ages 2-5, are available for download on the iTunes App Store now for $.99 – $1.99 each.
Not shown in the video, besides the selection of tasty food in the cafeteria, was a walking tour through some of the cubicles, where I met some Steve Grove’s news team (with a mascot beagle). At one point I asked that question about “famous people who have visited YouTube” and I was told the story of a not-to-be-named Presidential Candidate who famously asked “where do you guys make all the videos?”
Here’s a sneak peak at our March issue. Not a subscriber? Sign up now, for just $24/year, and get instant access!
March 2010 Volume 18, No. 3, Issue 120
The Huddle Speaks: The Top Tech Toy Trends for Twenty Ten
Some things follow seasonal patterns. Birds migrate. Daffodil bulbs bloom, and one geek finds another drawn by new technology. We’ve come to learn that when it comes to figuring out the thousands of products released each spring, “no one of us is as smart as all of us.” That helps explain a meeting that started ten years ago just after the first Dust or Magic Institute. This year, the “Tenth Annual Dust or Magic Low Budget Toy Fair Huddle” met at the Javits Center in New York City on the last day of Toy Fair. For the first time, the group had a quiet spot and a table (thanks to the TIA’s Reyne Rice). This was also the first year that the meeting was recorded and successfully posted on YouTube (thanks to Scott Traylor). Next year, we may try for a pitcher of water.
Read the rest of this entry »
Nintendo's DS lite, DSi and the new DSi XL
Here are some official photos that Nintendo released yesterday about the Nintendo DSi XL (covered yesterday in GadgetWise). The DSi XL (which I’m assuming stands for “eXtra Large” will be in stores March 28, at a suggested retail price of $190. That’s just $10 cheaper than the Wii. According to the release, the screens are significantly larger than those of the Nintendo DS Lite model and feature a wider viewing angle. The new system will come in two colors, Burgundy and Bronze, and comes pre-loaded with two Brain Age titles ( Arts & Letters, Math and Photo Clock) plus a browser and Browser and Flipnote Studio. The stylus is larger (“pen-like”).
Question: Do you think that Nintendo is trying to get into eBooks? Is there any coincidence between the release of the iPad and the XL? What does XL really stand for? And where do you store that big ‘ole stylus?
The larger, more comfortable stylus