The AWE computers are one of the most popular features in the children’s section of the library. If your child is already a fan, this will come as no surprise. With a wide variety of games featuring fun storylines and familiar characters like Dora the Explorer, it’s easy to understand the appeal.
The good news is that there’s also a lot to love about these safe and secure touch-screen computers from a parent’s perspective. In this blog post we’ll touch on a few different ways playing with the educational programs on the AWE computers can provide a valuable learning experience for your child.
STEM Support: A selection of programs on AWE computers engage young learners with STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics) related content by applying their learning and skills to real world situations. Examples include:
- Diego’s Safari Rescue (Mathematics and Science): The player helps Diego save the African elephants of the Serengeti from an evil magician while learning about the animals on the savannah, counting, colors, shapes, patterns and native culture.
- World of Goo (Technology, Engineering, Mathematics): The player solves an increasingly more difficult set of challenges with constructions of “goo” featuring varying characteristics in this wildly popular game based on simple physics and problem solving.
Early Literacy Exercise: AWE computers contain programs that support the Five Practices of Early Literacy that are part of the Every Child Ready to Read program: Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, Playing. By playing along with your children, you can enhance their experience learning important pre-reading skills such as print awareness (noticing letters and numbers), letter knowledge (knowing the shape and sound of each letter), phonological awareness (knowing sounds of letters and playing with words) and vocabulary (learning to speak and understand new, interesting words). Examples include:
- Bailey’s Book House: This game builds the foundation for a lifelong love of reading through the exploration of letters, words, rhyming and sentence building.
- Reader Rabbit: Players develop confidence and essential reading skills while exploring 26 Letter Lands filled with fun phonics activities and engaging storybooks.
Common Core Competency: The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort to provide a clear framework to prepare students for college and the workforce. AWE computers help give your child an early start with programs that are aligned with California State Common Core Standards for Grades K-3rd. Examples include:
- Graph Club 2.0 (Mathematics): Players create and evaluate five different types of charts and graphs while learning how to process, organize, and interpret data.
- JumpStart Advanced Kindergarten (Language Arts): This game features six early reading, math, music, and art activities. Players practice sounding out letters, adding and subtracting objects, sequencing, and drawing.
For a full list of AWE computer programs that align with different skill sets, talk to your local librarian!