Early learning, assisted by technology

Susan Kelly is excited about the possibilities when her school welcomes its first class of students this fall. Kelly is the vice principal of VINCI School in Ottawa, Canada, one of a series of new early learning schools that model the approach of VINCI Education: a hands-on blend of low-tech and high-tech instruction, guided by a skilled classroom teacher.

The tablets and curriculum come from VINCI Education, whose ClassVINCI solution includes more than 70 digital games and lessons and is available for purchase by other institutions. Each activity is rooted in cognitive science and is aligned with the Common Core State Standards.

Digital games are accompanied by a robust learning management system that teachers can use to schedule and assign specific activities for their students, Kelly said. And while the children are working on these activities, the software closely tracks and analyzes their progress -- giving teachers an easy way to see if their students have grasped the material.

“Teachers can see exactly how each child is doing -- how many times the children have attempted a lesson, and whether they were successful or not,” Kelly said. This allows teachers to hone in on concepts that are giving their students problems and offer more personalized, one-on-one support.