Digital Learning for Our New World

The world is going global. Our economic future is tied to the world's economy. What does this mean to the future of today's learners? It means that acquiring a foreign language will be critical for succeeding in tomorrow's business climate.
You want your child to be ready this new world. You want them to learn a 2nd language so they WILL be ready. But your school offers no foreign language instruction. This is all too common in U.S. schools. What's a parent to do?
Go digital! Modern software teaches children correct pronounciation of a new language, and allows them ample opportunity for repetition. It also typically teaches them using phrases rather than instructing through isolated vocabularly drill. This phraseology method has been proven to be more effective in foreign language instruction. And, Michelle R. Davis reports in Education Week's Digital Direction that using up-to-date technology keeps students more engaged and gives them more opportunities for speaking practice.
So, if your child isn't learning a foreign language in school, and if you, as a parent, are not bilingual, don't stress. There are wonderful products on the market, such as the vdoBug, that can help your child be prepared for the new and exciting world that awaits them.

Robots Our Future Teachers?

We live in the Age of Technology, which includes the emerging use of robots. Robots are used seemingly everywhere and for everything, from perfoming delicate operations in hospitals to vacuuming homes. But are we ready for robotic teachers in our schools? AND, are we ready for robots taking on the task of teaching our young ones a foreign language?

South Korea is. This country is implementing robots to teach their students English! Sound like science fiction? Yes. But it isn't. South Korea, faced with a shortage of teachers with the ability to teach English, are using robots for this task. The Committed Sardine's blog site reports that English-teaching robots were developed by the Center for Intelligent Robotics at the Korea Institute of Technology. They're called Engkeys, and 36 of them are slated to be teaching English in 18 schools. The Engkeys are controlled by a human teacher from English-speaking countries as far away as Australia. The teachers not only control the educational content, their face appears on the screen.

How are students reacting to these modern-day teachers? They love them. Mun-Taek Choi, the project's senior research engineer, recently reported to CNN that "the educational robot system indeed helps increase students' interest and self-motivation in studying English and improves their English skills."

So next time you request that your child's school implement foreign language instruction and you're told they don't have enough qualified teachers for the task, show them this post.

How do you feel about schools using robots in the classroom? Do you think it's an effective way to teach? Or scary science fiction?

Let's Celebrate!

It's time to celebrate! This Saturday is the first National
Neighborhood Toy Store Day. Over 500 independent toy stores throughout the U.S. will be ringing it in with lots of family fun and free giveaways.


The Doll House & Toy Stores' 2 Valley of the Sun locations will be brimming with activites. The Vdo Bug will be demonstrating its interactive, animated stories and computer software. Children will have the opportunity to click the "Bug" and hear stories in multiple languages, play educational games and sing along with the story songs.


AND, kids will have the opportunity to meet Calico's Critter's Mrs. Fisher Cat and participate in all kinds of hands-on activities. Families can browse the Doll House and Toy Stores' aisles stocked with ASTRA 2010 Best Toys for Kids award-winning toys. And because this event is a kick-off for the "Toys for Tots" Drive, participants can donate toys to this wonderful charity.


But there's more! One lucky family will win the Grand Prize of a $29 Gift Certificate at The Doll House &Toy Store each month for a whole year!

So if you're looking for something to do with the kids this weekend, head out to one of The Doll House & Toy Store locations:


Promenade Shopping Center
16447 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
9 AM-12 PM


The Shops at Norterra
2510 W. Happy Valley Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85285
1 PM-4 PM


For more information, plase log on to http://azdollhouse.com/

New World of Digital Learning

"Today's world is not the world we grew up in, and not the world our children will live in. Digital learners prefer processing pictures, sounds, color, and video before text."

--Understanding the Digital Generation: Jukes, McCain & Crokett

Do your child flourish when multi-media is added to their learning experience? Is your school keeping pace with technological advances? What modalities does your child prefer to receive instruction?