Wii Are Family: Intergenerational Play and Its Implications for Digital Media and Learning

Tracy Fullerton · Diane Tucker · Logan Olson · Dixie Ching

Thu., June 11, 3:30–4:30, Inn Wisconsin (2nd floor, East/Southeast)

Researchers have consistently reported greater learning benefits when children co–view an educational television program, compared to viewing alone. Could benefits also exist when adult and children use educational interactive media together?

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center, along with the Game Innovation Lab at the University of Southern California, and the University of Michigan, are exploring how digital media can be designed to foster intergenerational play that enhances children’s learning. The overall objective is to develop research–driven design principles for creating intergenerational play patterns that help children learn in a variety of scenarios and settings, with a special emphasis on design features that meet the needs of underserved children and families.

Key issues we are investigating include:

• Can intergenerational uses of digital media be better established?
• Which knowledge–building skills are best practiced on an interactive media platform?
• Which platforms are well–suited for specific skill sets and which are not?

We will present our latest findings stemming from qualitative observations and interviews with our target populations (children 6–8 and their older siblings and adult caregivers).