Center for Children and Technology

Since the personal computer was invented in the 1970s, technology has been invoked as a powerful tool to transform teaching and learning. Too often, though, the focus on technology overshadows the fact that education is fundamentally about people.

At EDC’s Center for Children and Technology (CCT), we explore ways that technology can support and broaden engagement, communication, and interaction both among children and between children and adults, opening up new possibilities and avenues of exploration and learning. We deepen understanding of how to thoughtfully use digital tools to create dynamic learning environments in the United States and around the world.

In all of our work, we address the educational challenges and obstacles that under-resourced and under-represented communities face. We work with our partners to ensure broad and equitable access to resources through design and development choices for devices, broadband access, study design, and program implementation. This work includes:

• Conducting basic, applied, formative, and summative research
• Supporting high-profile, public-private educational partnerships
• Developing award-winning multimedia tools that help teachers and caregivers enhance pre-K–12 learning
• Expanding educational offerings to families, schools, and communities
• Prioritizing inclusion and equity in everything we do

Services We Offer

• Formative research
• Digital strategy
• Policy development
• Evaluation
• Professional development
• Project planning and design
• Organizational capacity building
• Training and technical assistance

Our Work: Selected Examples

Tools

• Zoom In, Supporting Emergent Bilingual Children in Early Learning and Integrating Technology into Early Learning (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
• Mission US (with Thirteen/WNET and Electric Funstuff)
• Bringing Science Home with Peep, Finding Our Way Around and Next Generation Preschool Math and Science (with WGBH)

 Equity in Access

• IDEAS (Inventing, Designing, and Engineering for All Students) Maker Program (improving the social and functional skills of youth on the autism spectrum)
• Math for All (helps teachers engage students with disabilities and students from underrepresented groups)

Our Impact

CCT serves as the lead research partner to the CPB-PBS Ready To Learn initiative, a $100 million federal program funded through the U.S. Department of Education. One of our recent studies is Mahsi’choo for the Info! Molly of Denali Teaches Children About Informational Text.

Our Partners

PBS, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Sesame Workshop, Google, New York Hall of Science, National Geographic, New York Philharmonic, Thirteen/WNET, WGBH, Library of Congress, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University, Apple’s ConnectEd, IBM’s Reinventing Education, Intel Teach, Cisco’s 21st Century Schools

Guiding Principles

From its launch in 1980 at Bank Street College of Education, EDC’s Center for Children and Technology has been one of the first education technology research and development organizations. We are guided by the belief that digital tools are most supportive when they:

• Present clear, accurate, and culturally and linguistically relevant content
• Provide models of real engagement for educators, parents, and children
• Connect educators and families to a community of fellow learners
• Provide ready access to resources and adaptable activities for children
• Offer tailored learning that reflects adults’ prior knowledge and experience
• Blend new uses of technology with tried and true hands-on learning

 Work with Us

To partner with CCT, contact Naomi Hupert or Shelley Pasnik.

 Related content

 Blog posts

What the Tech: Can Tech Help Kids Make Sense of their World?

What the Tech: Parenting, Young Children, and Digital Tools in the Age of COVID-19