Spanish-language educational programmer the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) has launched two tablet-based apps designed to help young children as they develop English-language, reading and math skills.
The project is part of the Ready to Learn research grant that Brooklyn, N.Y.-based HITN received from the U.S. Department of Education, and is a collaboration with Zinkia Entertainment, the creators of Pocoyo, a popular animated character originally conceived in Spain.
HITN, which reaches more than 40 million households in the U.S. via DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-verse TV, Verizon FiOS TV and cable MSOs, in 2010 received a $30 million Ready to Learn grant for Project LAMP (Learning Apps Media Partnership) from the Education Departement’s Office of Innovation and Improvement.
The five-year grant was the first ever given to an independent group and will fund the development and deployment of media content to improve the math and literacy skills of children age 2-8.
The first two Pocoyo PlaySets (At the Seashore and Things that Go) support English-language learning by engaging children in ways to develop vocabulary and build comprehension skills.
