IBM and Sesame Workshop have collaborated to develop what they call the industry's first cognitive vocabulary learning application for early childhood education.
Sesame Workshop is the non-profit organisation behind Sesame Street, providing educational learning resources through television, articles and other media.
According to the technology company, the app, based on IBM Cloud, aims to advance early childhood education across the globe. It enables an ecosystem of software developers, researchers, educational toy companies and educators to tap IBM Watson cognitive capabilities and content from Sesame Workshop's early childhood research, to build engaging experiences to help advance children's education and learning.
Watson's augmented intelligence capabilities are designed to enable the Web- and mobile-based app to provide digital assistance in the classroom. Teachers can monitor children's vocabulary development in real-time through a secure dashboard and adjust lessons, pacing and curriculum to each child's needs, adds the company.
"Sesame and IBM share a belief that cognitive computing can enhance and spark excitement for learning in children everywhere," says Harriet Green, GM, IBM Watson IOT, customer engagement and education.
"Together, we are combining Watson capabilities and Sesame's rich educational knowledge to give teachers new insights about their students' vocabulary development and ultimately, create a unique learning experience personalised to each child."
The app is one of the first of many cognitive apps, games and educational toys that will be built over time on this new platform, she adds.
According to IBM, Gwinnett County Public Schools district, in Georgia, US, has completed an initial pilot of the learning app.
In the initial phase, Gwinnett kindergartners and teachers in six classrooms engaged with a tablet-based, cognitive vocabulary app to enhance vocabulary development of pupils. Teachers can monitor children's vocabulary development in real-time through a secure dashboard and adjust lessons, pacing and curriculum to each child's needs, notes IBM.
"Sesame Workshop is committed to reaching and teaching children in the critical years between ages 0-5, meeting them wherever they are and adapting to the ways they learn best," says Jeffrey D Dunn, CEO of Sesame Workshop.
"Educational technology like the platform we've created with IBM Watson is a promising new channel for learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, and we're excited to explore it further."
The current pilot is the first phase of a process to understand whether multi-modal learning experiences can improve vocabulary and literary. The app will soon be available on the IBM Cloud for adoption in local schools and globally.
Share