Researchers
are investigating if relationships formed by kids with media characters like
Dora the Explorer or Elmo help them learn science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM).
Rebekah
Richert, associate professor of psychology at University of California,
Riverside, said that many people are involved in designing educational games,
and there is a lot of interest in creating high-quality and interactive media.
"On
the surface they seem likely to help children learn. But there can be big gaps
between what technology offers and what children really learn."
In
a series of studies with children ages 18 months to 6 years, the researchers
will examine how toddlers and preschoolers learn from educational media and how
that can support STEM education.
Among
the questions the NSF-funded project will attempt to answer is which characters
or types of characters in children's media - like the popular Dora the
Explorer, created for Nickelodeon, or Sesame Street's Elmo - could be used to
stimulate STEM learning.
The
psychologists also will conduct a workshop at Northwestern in spring 2014
involving experts in science education, computer-game design, and television
learning for children to consider how best to direct future research to achieve
the greatest impact on educational television programs and computer games.
Richert
said that at the end of five years they hope to be able to provide information
about or be actively involved in designing high-quality television programs and
games that are most likely to engage children in STEM learning. (ANI)
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