When it comes to education and parenting there are so many buzzwords thrown around that it can be hard to keep track of each. Are they all important? Which ones should you pay attention to? E-pedagogy is more than a buzzword, it’s an educational method that puts the child first and allows them to learn in a way that encourages them to explore the world around them.
Snorble®, our smart companion, was built on the principles of the e-pedagogical system to give your child the chance to excel. That sounds great, you’re thinking, but what exactly is e-pedagogy and how will it help my kiddo become the smart, well-adjusted child I know they’re supposed to be?
Electronic pedagogy is the practice of teaching with technology for active learning that enhances participation, connection, and reflections on the real world to prepare children for the future they will actually live in and help build.
How does e-pedagogy work?
E-pedagogy works in a circular way:
- Content is prepared by experts
- It is presented and delivered to children online based on the principles of how the children learn
- Once delivered, children engage with the content in a cognitive, creative, and psychological way
- The content and children’s progress are evaluated by the experts to see what can be improved upon
And the cycle continues with the eventual end goal of children adapting to their surroundings, understanding their self-worth, and picking up social-emotional skills in the process. Basically, e-pedagogy creates awareness knowledge to help develop the learner’s behaviors to prepare them for life. This educational method, coupled with the curriculum taught in schools can give your child an advantage.
Here’s how:
With Snorble, we use a gamified path to help kids develop a love of learning. For instance, our Color Game is designed to teach children about colors in a fun way instead of showing them a ROYGBIV chart and hoping for the best. By interacting with our smart companion, children are not only learning but engaging in digital play (more on that in a bit).
The point of using gaming to support kids on their learning journey is to not only prepare them for their lives but also to instill a sense of independence and accomplishment. As a parent or caregiver, you want the best for your kiddo but you want it in a neat package that you can trust. You also don’t want to be replaced which is why Snorble is an extension of the Village (parents, teachers, friends, family - anyone who positively impacts a child and aids their personal and academic growth) and not a substitute.
Is e-pedagogy the same as digital play?
Digital play is a form of play that shows kids how to interact with the cybernated world around them. Because technology continuously evolves, electronic pedagogy utilizes tech to your child’s advantage. There is no world without technology and digital play helps center children in their environment. Additionally, digital play is a part of most e-pedagogical modules (as with Snorble) and occurs mainly around the home in shared family spaces.
Why is digital play an important part of e-pedagogy?
- Digital games/toys prompt a physical response in children such as encouraging them to run, jump and act like their favorite animals.
- Kids usually invoke the digital world when playing by mimicking what they see the adults in their lives do like using a phone and typing on a laptop.
- When children are learning through digital play, it can be both intended and accidental. Intended would be the child brushing their teeth with the help of Snorble’s Bedtime Routine (a routine set by you, the parent, to ensure your kiddo gets a good night’s sleep). Accidental would be the child wanting to know more about their teeth and dental hygiene. The intent was to get the kiddo to brush their teeth, the bonus is them asking questions about why they have to.
Aren’t parents supposed to limit screen time for kids?
You may be thinking, “Sure, digital play seems good but do I really want my kid exposed to another screen?” Yes, it’s recommended that parents and caregivers limit screen time for children. However, not all e-pedagogical digital play devices are considered screens. The blue light projected from screens messes with melatonin production, the hormone that tells our body that it’s time to sleep. Snorble is designed to give off little to no blue light so you can rest assured that your little one isn’t being exposed to another screen when they’re having a blast playing with their smart companion.
Is e-pedagogy a fancy way to say “Montessori”?
Although the Montessori philosophy is a form of education based on learning techniques that put the child first (like e-pedagogy) technology and digital play do not factor into that school of thought. Electronic pedagogy is tech-forward with the idea that today’s children (and some parents) are technological natives, i.e., they grew up with the Internet at home.
Moreover, Montessori courses and the accompanying materials can put a strain on your wallet. With the e-pedagogical learning offered via Snorble, the materials come pre-loaded onto our smart companion with additional educational resources available for parents in our app.
Educational advancement in the tech-forward world
Through an e-pedagogical curriculum that relies on digital play, your kiddo has the opportunity to advance their educational journey early. Children are our future and with the right tools, they will become the intelligent, well-mannered, self-assured, helpful adults they’re destined to be.
Sources:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/29812247_E-pedagogy_The_pedagogies_of_e-learning
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042812020101
Photo by AHMED HINDAWI on Unsplash
