Olive Dreams of Elephants: Game-Based Learning for School Readiness and Pre-literacy in Young Children
School readiness remains a major challenge in the United States educational system. Research consistently shows significant disparities in pre-literacy skills and language acquisition based on socioeconomic class emerging within the first 18 months of chi
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Abstract. School readiness remains a major challenge in the United States educational system. Research consistently shows significant disparities in pre-literacy skills and language acquisition based on socioeconomic class emerging within the first 18 months of childhood. Simultaneously, access to media devices such as smart phones and tablets is increasing, even among very young children. New guidelines suggest that those as young as two years of age can safely use these types of devices for up to two hours a day. Effective educational interventions for preschoolers have been developed using a variety of media, including computer games, suggesting that earlier interventions may be both possible and effective. We begin by providing a critical context that considers the importance of early-childhood language acquisition for two to three year old children. Then, we present a Science-Fiction Prototype that explores the possibilities of a sophisticated system to enhance school readiness and educational and economic opportunity. Keywords: Game-based learning School readiness Child development Children’s media Language development Learning games Education
1 Introduction Children who grow up in low socioeconomic status households have reduced opportunities for educational, occupational, and economic attainment [1, 2]. Decades of research show that educational inequalities affecting children of low socioeconomic status (SES) households begin long before children enroll in school or even preschool [3, 4]. The language gap in children from low SES homes is evident in a number of measures, including language processing, language comprehension, and language production (review in [5]). These differences persist from toddlerhood through adolescence, and the magnitude of differences only increases with age. These disparities have profound effects not only on individual lives, but also on communities large and small, and on our national educational and economic systems. Effective interventions for educational disparities are essential not only for increasing educational attainment, but also for expanding economic productivity and driving innovation [1, 3]. Reading to children remains one of the most effective ways to increase vocabulary and promote pre-literacy skills in children [6–8], and interactive methods are © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 C. Allison et al. (Eds.): iLRN 2016, CCIS 621, pp. 160–170, 2016. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-41769-1_13
Olive Dreams of Elephants: Game-Based Learning
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particularly powerful [7, 9–11]. These types of experiences have been adapted to other types of computer and media technologies to offer additional opportunities for learning [12–14]. Advancements in media technologies and immersive learning environments offer new ways to create accessible, sophisticated educational interventions for young children by building on existing knowledge of early childhood learning and development and successful media practices. Carefully wielded, new media experiences could he
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