HITN Early Learning Collaborative » News

Making Meaningful Learning Games

webmaster — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 22:03:01 +0000

In ELC’s quest to create meaningful tools for preschoolers along with their families and teachers, we love to learn about educators and creators as passionate as we are. In this post from KQED’s MindShift, Katrina Schwartz reflects on the transitional state of game-based learning. “Creating games that tackle tough concepts is a huge challenge,” writes Schwartz, citing a recent talk delivered by Dan White of Filament Games. “The objective of game technology isn’t to sugar coat learning, it’s to give a nice entree into the learning,” says White, who suggests supporting games with a strong network of materials to help scaffold learning and professional development. The fundamental challenge of finding the meeting point between formal and informal learning, and between assessment and exploration, has often led developers to default to quick mobile apps aimed at parent consumers. This leaves a significant gap, along with significant opportunity, in the world of educational games in the classroom. We can’t wait to see what’s next.

National Head Start Association’s 2013 Parent Conference and Family Engagement Institute

webmaster — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 21:53:06 +0000

We are excited to report that this December, the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network – Early Learning Collaborative (HITN/ELC) participated in the National Head Start Association’s 2013 Parent Conference and Family Engagement Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference focused on how parents, families and Head Start program can work together to best serve children.

Family Engagement in the Digital Age Symposium

webmaster — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 21:50:49 +0000

At the Family Engagement in the Digital Age Symposium we had an engaging dialogue about future strategic directions and potential collaborations to support and potential collaborations to support parents and families. The session was lead by Ed Greene, HITN/ELC’s Senior Director of Educational Outreach, and Yolanda Garcia, Director of the Excellence in Early Education Institute. (part of the Center for Child and Family Studies) at WestEd.

NAEYC 2013

webmaster — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:00:07 +0000

November 22-25, 2013, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) held its Annual Conference and Exhibition in Washington, DC.

The HITN Early Learning Collaborative (HITN/ELC) Team presented an educational exhibit booth experience with hands-on digital and non-digital resources that support young children’s English language, early literacy and early math development.

Visitors to the booth had the opportunity to learn about this U.S. Department of Education Ready to Learn initiative developed by the HITN Early Learning Collaborative. They were able to explore and play with the transmedia PlayGrounds that include a series of much sought after bilingual storybooks, puzzles, games, and tablet-based applications. along with accompanying parent engagement strategies and resources for preschool programs.

Currently, the materials and apps, including resources for English language learners, are being field tested in HITN/ELC pilot sites across the USA and in Puerto Rico. The transmedia PlayGrounds will be available to the public for purchase in 2014.

Participants attending the booth also received information from the team about how to access free, educational online materials, games, early childhood resources, and downloadable bilingual storybooks through the HITN/ELC website: www.earlylearningcollaborative.org

In addition to the educational booth in the conference exhibition hall, Senior Director of Outreach, Dr. Ed Greene, presented the HITN/ELC transmedia project at the OMEP International FILMedia session. Also at this year’s NAEYC conference, Ed was honored at the Annual NAEYC History Seminar with a tribute acknowledging his fortieth consecutive year participating in the NAEYC Annual Conference.

Trick or Treat Trot

webmaster — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:47:56 +0000

What do bouncy houses, races, coloring pages, puzzles and digital media have in common? Together, they provide a day of fun and learning for preschoolers at the Trick or Treat Trot event in Evanston, Illinois! Thanks to Early Childhood professor Lenore Wineberg who introduced the HITN/ELC transmedia PlayGround to children and their families and made sure each child received an educational treat while their parents learned more about ensuring their children were ready to succeed in school and beyond!

Common Sense Media 0-8

webmaster — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 19:38:24 +0000

Common Sense Media reports that the percentage of children under the age of two have used mobile devices, rose sharply, from 10% in 2011 to 38% in 2013. Despite this increase, only 28% of children across all families in the U.S. use the mobile devices for educational content.

HITN/ELC is moving boldly into this gap by developing transmedia learning materials that are developmentally and age appropriate, engaging and educational. To preview our “works in progress,” please join us at our next community event! For more events visit: earlylearningcollaborative.org/events

Full Report: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/zero-to-eight-childrens-media-use-in-america-2013

Luna Park Halloween Harvest

webmaster — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 19:12:56 +0000

Against a backdrop of carousel music, the roar of roller coasters and the shouts of hundreds of costumed children giddy at the thought of Halloween, young children and their families came to Coney Island’s famed Luna Park to celebrate the Halloween Harvest Festival — in true HITN/ELC fashion. The youngsters had to be pried away from playing with puzzles, journal pages, PlaySets and taking pictures with Loula, Elly, Pocoyo and Pato and the astronaut visible only through Augmented Reality! As the children played under the watchful eyes of ELC staff, other staff met with their parents to talk about the work we do and guide them to our website for activities they can do at home with their children. Parents left the HITN/ELC tent with a deep interest in our work, and their children left with a bilingual storybook and a Passport to Fun and Learning that will help guide them to the resources on the ELC website.

Viva Bronx!

webmaster — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:05:10 +0000

HITN/ELC, along with partner Radio Disney, recently participated in the lively Viva Bronx Street Festival, held on Sunday, September 29th at 149th Street and Grand Concourse. It was a sunny day filled with the scents and sounds of Hispanic culture. HITN/ELC was located across from the entrance to Hostos Community College and near the main stage, which featured various Latin American bands ranging in style from Bachata to Cumbia. The HITN/ELC booth was visited by children from toddlers to tweens, and many were eager to color, play with puzzles, and test out the tablet applications in a fun learning environment. Thanks to all the families who stopped by the booth!

FLAEYC 2013

webmaster — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 15:05:17 +0000

Senior HITN/ELC staff members, Maryann Marrapodi, Ed Greene, and Kayrn Scarcella, attended and participated in the FLAEYC (Florida Association for the Education of Young Children) 2013 Conference on September 26-28th. It was a colorful event filled with engaging lectures and meaningful interactions at the HITN/ELC booth. Visitors were immediately drawn to the suite of transmedia materials presented from the Things That Go PlayGround. Even other vendors stopped by to assemble the puzzles and try out the tablet applications! The conference was a wonderful opportunity to meet and engage in discussions with peers in the field of early education.

National Advisory Board Meeting

webmaster — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 15:05:45 +0000

On September 25th, 2013, HITN/ELC’s National Advisory Board convened in historic Building 92 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The all-day gathering hosted many conversations, all geared toward moving the HITN/ELC project forward. With Dr. Ed Greene leading the way, the Board was first updated on recent developments to the existing tablet applications and other transmedia materials. HITN/ELC team members then introduced brand new materials and invited discussion of elements still in the early stages of development. As experts in their fields, the Board members provided valuable insight for improving the materials, making it a beneficial and productive day for the project.