|
Peak
Computing
August 22, 1997 |
|
|
Peak
Computing
August 22, 1997 |
|
One Site Doesn't Fit All
by Donna Ladd | ||
|
I'll never forget a half hour I spent
recently in a Springs bookstore. As I scanned the new fiction, a man
walked to the counter to return a book. He told the clerk he wanted a
refund on the large picture book that someone had given his child as a
present. She looked at him over her tortoise-shell glasses.
"You could choose another title," she responded. "No, there's nothing here I want." Hmmm. I could tell by the look on the clerk's face that she took his response rather poorly. In an entire bookstore filled with titles for adults and kids, this man could choose nothing for himself or his child? I thought she might run after him, forcing him to take a book home to read to his kid. Good bookstores exist to do much more than sell books. They're gathering places, they're motivators, they're excitement builders. Many bookstore proprietors do everything in their power to increase the literacy around them. People who love books know what non-readers are missing. Fortunately, readers like to turn others on to this lost world. You'd certainly expect nothing less from Tattered Cover. If there's any experience that captures the excitement of a wide frame-of- education reference, it's a good bookstore. Places such as Tattered Cover are literary experiences. People are reading everywhere. |
It should surprise no one then that Tattered
Cover has extended its literacy bubble to the Web and even further to
kids. Working with the University of Colorado at Denver's computer science
program, Tattered Cover recently announced KidsTown, a Web site promoting
children's literacy.
The site (kidstown.mine.nu) promotes literacy for elementary school age kids by combining bright graphics and fun games with instructional exercises. The idea isn't new: The site makes learning fun. "Promoting literacy means providing the opportunity for children to want to use their language skills, and making it interesting so they will want to read and use their higher-level cognitive skills," says Jody Paul, assistant professor of computer science at CU-Denver. The site is definitely subtle. Kids aren't hit over the head with lessons; instead they can visit a zoo, library, a park and several other spots. Once there, they can play trivia games, learn what's special about different states and play with animals in the zoo. "The wonderful thing about this project is that it provides the opportunity for cooperative learning at so many levels," says Tammy Kilgore, Internet services manager for Tattered Cover. "At the same time, it is committed to the development of a truly useful product." |
The site ... resulted
from Paul's computer-science courses at CU-Denver. The content conforms to
the new literacy standards adopted at the state of Colorado and already in
use in Denver Public Schools.
Another cool site While the kids are visiting KidsTown, parents should head to Edmark's new "Dear Parents" site (www. dearparents.com). The division of IBM recently launched the site to speak directly to proactive parents. "Parents are concerned about their child's school success and life-long learning," says Donna Stanger, general manager of Edmark. "Our new Dear Parents site is an opportunity for us to share what we've learned -- some things that really work with a community of interested and caring parents." Stanger is a 20-year educator and a developer of children's software titles. The site is updated weekly. You can get tips on how to involve your daughter more in the high-tech world and how best to encourage your boy or girl to use the computer in a productive way. Stanger also gives advice on handling kids with special needs and how to get more involved in your child's classroom. You can also click on a subject area of your choice, including reading, writing, math, science and the arts. I particularly liked the category "thinking skills." Stanger also offers several tips on choosing the best educational software for kids with different needs. Also cool: You can hear the answers in RealAudio. |
| Donna Ladd is a freelance writer and publishing consultant. She teaches seminars on the writing business, mentoring and the Internet's role in education. For info on classes and joining her writer's network, see www.shutup101.com/writethis/ or email donna@shutup101.com. |