Learning and Gadgets

It’s hard to believe that in less than a hundred days, the Yuletide season will once again leave it’s mark. It seems last Chrismas was jst yesterday, but here we are again…Carols are playing, trees are being put up and there is that excited cheer in the air. By now I would bet my little pinky that some people are already working on their Christmas lists. I’m sure people are already awai ting their bonuses and looking forward to spending it. I know I am!!!!

Anyway, with Christmas lists in mind, I’m sure the most important present many parents are thinking of are those that are for their kids. While I may not ordinarily think electronic devices or gadgets are the most ideal (especially since I prefer books and arts/crafts toys for kids), I came across this item that made me change my mind. It is called the EASY ENGLISH PSL. 

The Easy English PSL is a palm sized learning tool. It looks very much like an ipod (picture to follow: takes too long to upload with my dial-up connection!!!), but geared towards teaching standard American English to young learners. It contains a wide array of Mother Goose rhymes and riddles, Aesop’s Fables, verses, and vocabulary words. In many ways, it reminds me of the audio books I used to have as a child, the kind in which you flip through a book and listen to a narrator on a tape player (yes, the one in which you turn the page when you hear the ‘ting’). This one, however, is so miuch cooler and more efficient. Here, you look at the video screen while listening and see the words light up as it is being read (and as you follow it as well). I think its a more integrated way of putting sight and sound together. The pictures are also beautifully illustrated! 

Perhaps a unique feature of this gadget is it’s storage/memory chip slot. Like many of the present PDA’s, it has a memory chip slot. At present (if I remember correctly) there is one preloaded chip in the device. However, in the future, more chips can be purchased for different difficulty levels. An interesting thought for this gadget (IMHO) is that they come up with a Tagalog chip, for example. Of course, this is for when the product has already built up its market!

As a Filipino, an added feature of the Easy English PSL is the fact that Filipino artists were the one’s who illustrated the stories. I think this was important to one of it’s creators, who incidentally is also Filipino. Based in Hawaii, JJ Reyes really does make our country proud.

While many educators and the like may question the promotion of yet another gadget, I think this particular one deserves a shot. The only drawback, however, is that at present, it is still quite expensive. Initially, the unit costs Php 7,999. While cheaper than many game consoles in the market, it is a little steep given todays economy. However, it’s utility and educational value does make up for the cost. True, the Easy English PSL can not replace a parent reading a bedtime story to his/her child at night, this may be an interesting alternative bedtime ritual for parent and child. Together, they can listen and learn with the Easy English PSL. 

As a preschool teacher, I used to have my doubts about learning and gadgets. While I still value the role of play, imagination and the like, I have to admit that in the advent of our technological world, gadgets indeed can also contribute to the positive learning experiences of today’s children.