This is my daughter playing with her iPod Touch.

She’s 23 months old.

That’s weird, isn’t it?

Yet, she knows how to 1) swipe her finger on the screen to get to the main screen, 2) change pages of apps to get to her favorite flash card app, 3) start the app and 4) play the flash card game by swiping and turning the device horizontally and vertically.

That’s a complicated 4 step sequence that I thought would be too advanced for a 2 year old. However, she’s not alone as a few of her other Pre-K friends also know how to “use” Touches or laptop keyboards (she loves my MSI Wind and Asus eee netbooks). 

I’m still blown away every time I see her manipulate a Touch and intuitively “get it” much better than my own 30-something aged peers.

So, my question to you is… Why aren’t schools using these tools to help kids learn?

Sure, It’s a leading question. However, it’s one we need to ask ourselves as we continue to try and shove pencils and paper down the throats of our children in the hopes that they learn better cursive. There’s something to be said for pen and paper, but there is also a good deal to be said about the continuing information/technology revolution we find ourselves in the midst of either observing or being involved.

Regardless, (to mix my Who references) the kids are alright.