Ready To Learn
Challenge
All children need high-quality early learning experiences that foster their success in school and life. Yet millions of children do not receive a high-quality early education. While digital media has the potential to help families and teachers promote children’s early learning, more research is needed on how to use digital media wisely and well to enhance learning.
For 19 years, EDC studied the CPB-PBS Ready To Learn initiative to advance knowledge of whether and how digital media can promote the school readiness of children in low-income communities. Our research deepened understanding of whether Ready To Learn resources meet their goals to promote children’s early learning, guided producers in strengthening the resources, and widely shared effective strategies to support educators and families in using the resources.
Key Activities
Our research contributed to the larger field of early education and produced tools and guidance for digital media creators, educators, researchers, and families. Activities included:
- Conducted research, including randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, mixed-methods evaluation, and survey and observational research
- Collaborated with producers of new children’s media products and services, focusing on the content’s learning potential, appeal, and utility
- Continue to maintain an open-access hub of Ready to Learn publications and research tools
- Raised public awareness of effective use of media to promote children’s learning to support families and teachers, facilitate research, and inform policymaking
Our Impact
- Our research has been published in peer-review journals, for example Learning Science and Engineering From Videos and Games: A Randomized Control Trial of PBS KIDS The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, The Efficacy of Digital Media Resources in Improving Children’s Ability to Use Informational Text: An Evaluation of Molly of Denali From PBS KIDS, and A curriculum supplement that integrates transmedia to promote early math learning: A randomized controlled trial of a PBS KIDS intervention
- Our research team published their findings in the book Getting Ready To Learn: Creating Effective, Educational Children’s Media.
- Our studies have shown that PBS KIDS resources can improve young children’s learning in literacy—including informational text—mathematics, and science. Our studies also have shown that podcasts can support family learning.
- Our studies demonstrated that use of PBS KIDS content across media platforms supports teachers’ confidence and deepens understanding of how to help parents engage in learning with their children.
