The University of Delaware School of Education (SOE) colloquium series continues on Wednesday afternoon, March 22. with a presentation on “Tapping into Children’s Learning from Interactive Digital Media” by Georgene Troseth, associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University.

Troseth will discuss how early childhood learning is affected by interactive digital media. Digital devices such as iPads, iPhones and other tablets invite a child to physically interact with the screen. Children tap or swipe to elicit a response from the device or application. This physical interaction with a screen promotes “minds-on” learning in young children.

However, poorly designed interactive features may distract a children’s attention and impede the learning process. Troseth’s research investigated such correlations. She will present research showing that the type of screen interaction in a word-learning app, such as tapping, dragging or watching, had an impact on the learning of young children.

Troseth will also review other studies discussing how parents can support early learning through digital playing, watching or reading that is tailored to a child’s current skill level.

The presentation will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 207 of the Willard Hall Education Building, and a discussion with the speaker will follow at 2 p.m.

Students, faculty and community members with interests in education and issues related to educational technology, early childhood learning and digital media in schools and universities are encouraged to attend. These events are free, and no advance registration or RSVP is required.

About the speaker

Georgene Troseth is an associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, where she is a member of the Department of Psychology and Human Development. Her work explores very young children’s symbolic development and their understanding of pictures, video and interactive media as sources of information.

Troseth has consulted with Sesame Workshop and collaborated on research with the Fred Rogers Company. She has also served on the advisory board for the IRADS Digital Media Collaborative Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), on a grant review panel for the NSF, and as a consulting editor of the journal Child Development.

Troseth’s recent publications include an invited paper in Developmental Review and empirical articles in Psychological Science and Child Development.

For more information about this series, visit the SOE colloquium series webpage.

Read this article on UDaily.

Article by Soumita basu