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Kids
learn in many different ways
They may need
the confidence and practice that drill and review programs can give.
However, they also learn experientially - by doing, touching and
playing. By the end of a long school day they may be resistant to
programs which explicitly try to "teach" them anything
new.
Outside of the
classroom, instead of recreating the school experience, we should
supplement and expand on learning in fun ways, in ways that get
a child thinking creatively and/or moving actively.
The last thing
that kids want after a full day of school is "more work" -- many
turn to cartoons and mindless video or computer games. So our object
is to get them thinking, acting and playing with their whole brain
and body.
Star Wars
Math: Jabba's Game Galaxy
($29.95
Lucas Learning) Too many math programs simply take the same old
math drills and slap on a new licensed character. This one is different:
the games are novel, fun, and develop logic and math skills at the
same time. At the same time, set in the Star Wars universe, the
game has instant appeal to young fans who want to play against Jabba
the Hutt and his henchmen. There are estimation games, a futuristic
Chinese Checkers and the promise of building your own space ship.
It captures a child's imagination, enabling them to bring their
fantasy life into their learning life. The games are more about
outsmarting the computer than drilling, but at the same time lots
of good mental math skills are reinforced. By succeeding at games
that challenge arithmetic and logic skills, players accumulate credits
they can spend on parts for their customized space ship.
Learning
through doing: Models, Robots and Movies
No simulation
matches the skills kids get when they actually use their muscles
and minds to make something. These sets get kids thinking about
logic, math, physics: They use the dreams children have to make
movies or go into space to motivate them to actually create and
do!
Star Wars
Dark Side Developer Kit
(Lego Mindstorms $99) Continuing the Star Wars theme... with this
kit, kids can make programmable robots that move and make noise:
Remember the walking four legged robotic tanks called AT-ATs from
Empire Strikes Back? Now kids can build their own, customized walking
droids (including the AT-AT) with this motorized, computerized assembly
kit. And in doing so, kids are getting hands-on fine motor and logic
skills -- while getting a great introduction to motors, gears, programming
and the "way things work". Ages 9 & up
LEGO Studios
Steven Spielberg MovieMaker Set
( LEGO Systems $179.99) This is the best computer product of the
year. With it kids can make real movies on their computers. The
set includes software, video camera (that records on the computer)
and a Godzilla-like movie set made out of Legos. The buildings can
tumble to the ground, the roadway split apart and there is even
a "giant" version of the monster's leg that can be used
in close ups. Kids record the movie in short "takes" which
are then put into a timeline to make the movie. They can add sound
effects and music. Our toy testers ended up using the supplied Lego
pieces and just about every other toy in the house to make their
special effect movies come to life. Their collaborations were often
noisy, heated affairs as they tested new ideas, developed storylines
and designed sets. This is a completely open ended toy, designed
to bring out the creative impulse within us all.
Ages 10 & up
Get Your
Child Up And Moving
The first thing
that gets cut back in public schools tends to be the music program
-- particularly a shame since studies show that kids who excel in
music also perform better in math.
Samba
De Amigo (Sega $40 game plus $80 maracas) Up until now there
haven't been many music programs for kids, and most of the ones
that exist haven't been much fun. That has all changed with Samba
De Amigo, the most fun filled video game of the year. In fact, this
game is reason alone enough to buy a Sega Dreamcast! You plug special
maraca game controllers into the Sega and then have to shake to
the beat and in the direction dictated by the game -- kind of like
"Simon says". It teaches music, counting, meter, rhythm, sequencing
and strengthens coordination -- but most of all, it's hysterically
fun to play and gets everyone up and moving. Ages 10 & Up
You may be able
to tell if your child is a video game addict by the thick callouses
they typically get on their thumbs and bottoms - sometimes the only
things that get used for hours at a time. It doesn't have to be
that way - get your kids moving.
Freestyle Board
(Thrustmaster $69.99) This cool controller works with Sony Playstation
or Playstation 2. It looks like a skateboard and can be used to
control surf, snow and skateboard programs by leaning from one side
to another. A small hand held unit has all of the standard game
control buttons and vibrates when rough terrain is encountered.
The board has two buttons, one at the front and the other at the
rear and these can be used to do tricks in supported games. Like
Samba De Amigo, it gets kids up and using their entire bodies.
Are Your
Computer and Video Games Listening?
Voice recognition
technology, once reserved for the office, has now come home for
fun and learning.
Hey You Pikachu
(Nintendo $$89.95) This game features the adorable yellow Pokemon
called Pikachu. Although the Pokemon phenomenon has been marketed
to kids of all ages, most of the games have been about combat for
an older crowd. In this game the Pikachu is more of a virtual pet.
You control him by talking to Pikachu with the special, included
microphone. There is a stealth reading component to the game: what
you should say to Pikachu is written on the screen, as are hints.
Kids learn that reading has a direct impact on their ability to
succeed.
Ages 3-5
Tweens, teens
and adults can have fun with voice recognition too:
Microsoft
Voice Commander Headset (Microsoft $69.95) This headset can
be used as an internet phone. It allows players to talk to each
other while they play games over the internet or network. But, it
can also be used to issue commands verbally to any Windows game.
That is where the stealth learning comes into play...the creation
of complex command is actually a kind of programming.
Encarta Language
Learning Spanish and French (Microsoft
$74.95) This is another great voice-enabled program that is a more
traditional learning title, but has a cool new feature: It actually
listens to what the user says in Spanish or French, and then responds
to what the child says through the headset -- enabling conversational
practice in Spanish or French (depending on the version purchased)..
It turns the computer into a a language learning lab. Ages 14 and
up.
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