Go! Kits with Technology and Traditional Learning
Montgomery County Public Libraries, Md.
Innovation Synopsis
Under the umbrella initiative “All Children Excel” (ACE), a unique early literacy and education program for children and families to help them succeed in school, Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has developed the Go! Kits, science-based backpacks especially designed to explore the world of science while combining playing and learning.
Challenge/Opportunity
Young children’s early years are crucial for building a strong foundation for future growth and learning. Research shows that early literacy as well as early science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education enhances later knowledge, narrows the achievement gap, and provides support for future success in life and school. The Go! Kits are a new tool that introduces these principles to young children and their families. Equipped with two books, an educational toy, a mini-iPad preloaded with access to e-books and several topic and age-appropriate apps plus a folder with instructions and information for the whole family, the Go! Kits offer diverse ways of learning at the choosing and pace of the users while promoting interaction between young children and their families.
Key Elements of Innovation
Available at 7 of 21 branches, 2 types of Go! Kits were developed: Little Explorers recommended for children ages 3 to 6 and Young Voyagers recommended for children in grades 3 to 6. Each unique Go! Kit wheeled backpack offers different science themes to choose from and contains materials that marry technology with traditional methods for reading and learning. With access to printed books as well as many e-books, appropriate age apps and MCPL online resources about early literacy and STEM, children and parents can enjoy different ways of learning while playing and exploring.
Achieved Outcomes
The 99 Go! Kits currently available at MCPL have been very well accepted in the community. Since January 2014 until February 2015, they have been borrowed 1,514 times in total. Evaluations provided to customers indicate that:
- 79.6% of respondents mentioned that their child was more interested in the subject matter of the Go! Kit after checking it.
- 92.3% of respondents were satisfied.
- 90.1% of respondents specified that they would very likely check out another Go! Kit with a different science-based topic.
MCPL is planning to expand the kits to other branches, the topics offered – dinosaurs, oceans, space, plants, volcanoes, animals, insects, machines, experiments, the solar system, bridges, the world around us, weather and robots – and improve their content.