INVESTIGATION OF INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EARLY MATH AND SCIENCE CONCEPTS FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

A MAJOR NEW INITIATIVE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION IS THAT MANDATEDBY THE 1986 EDUCATION OF THE HANDICAPPED AMENDMENT WHICH REQUIRES STATES TO OFFER APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO 3- TO 5-YEAR-OLD HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. THE CHALLENGE TO RESPOND TO THIS INITIATIVE WITH INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES AND MATERIALS IS THE IMPETUS FOR THIS SBIR PROPOSAL TO INVESTIGATE INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR OFFERING EXPERIENCEIN MATH AND SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT OF FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS IN PRESCHOOL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. INTERACTIVE VIDEODISC IS UNIQUELY SUITED TO DELIVER MULTISENSORY, INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. MODELING BASIC CONCEPTS WITH VIDEO AND GRAPHICS, PARTICULARLY IN ABSTRACT DISCIPLINES SUCH AS SCIENCE AND MATH, SERVES PREOPERATIONAL AND CONCRETE OPERATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL LEVELS OF THESE CHILDREN AS EXPRESSED BY PIAGET. INTERACTIVE, THE MEDIUM RESPONDS TO THE USER'S GROWING PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE ABILITIES TO MANIPULATE THE ENVIRONMENT. VISUALLY AND AURALLY STIMULATING, VIDEODISC HELPS BUILD STRONG CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS FOR LEARNING. THERE IS A VOID IN PROGRAMS ADDRESSING MATH AND SCIENCE CONCEPT FORMATION OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. MACRO SYSTEMS, INC., PROPOSES TO INVESTIGATE SPECIFIC EXPERIENTIAL NEEDS OF THESE CHILDREN THAT COULD BE MET THROUGH SIMULATION DELIVERED IN A COMPUTER-BASED PRODUCT; EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS; AND DESIGN AND DOCUMENT A PRODUCT TO DELIVER THE REQUIRED INSTRUCTION.