Why interactive software?

Today’s young people, more than any other generation, are immersed in technology. Just as parents of the 1960’s were often bemused by their children’s absorption in television, today’s parents are often similarly bemused by their children’s absorption not only with television, but with their iPods, their cellular telephones and text messaging, and of course, their computers.

Any educated person who uses the computer as a research tool is often surprised by the amount of misinformation that exists on the internet, and still has to rely upon his or her own resources to discern what information is valuable and what isn’t, and is often surprised at how often young people uncritically accept information they look up using search engines. Similarly, we have seen how facility at using computers is not necessarily indicative of academic progress, especially in areas that impact technology. American children, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, nonetheless lag behind those of other developed nations in the areas of math and science. Many of our children entering college every year are required to take remedial courses just to approximate “normal” achievement.

The computer is a fact of everyday life for the vast majority of youth today, and determining how it will be used to positive effect is our responsibility as parents and educators. There’s no doubt that our children are fascinated with technology—with practically anything that has a screen! One positive way of steering our kids toward achievement is to use this technology to teach. Well-prepared interactive software, that responds to a child’s intellectual growth with new challenges, and that imparts important information, is one path to reaching a child’s imagination and therefore the child’s potential.

At home or in school, interactive software can be used by parents and teachers to help children learn. It provides two additional dimensions not easily found using more traditional methods: for parents, our products can actually serve as a “refresher course” in the subject matter your child is learning (and any parent who’s not an engineer that tries to help their child with algebra homework knows how useful that could be!). For teachers, when properly used, interactive software gives you the potential to customize work for each student, which amounts to more individual attention, which, regardless of their demeanor, most kids crave.