Page 6 - 2022 Annual Report

Reimagining the Role of

Technology in Early Education

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Building Brains with Baby Talk: Every interaction in early childhood education.

At Jack & Jill Center, we believe technology can be a powerful tool for transforming learning. It can help
affirm and advance relationships between educators and students, reinvent our approaches to learning
and collaboration, shrink long-standing equity and accessibility gaps, and adapt learning experiences to
meet the needs of all learners.
This year we incorporated LENA (Language ENvironment Analysis) early talk technology and data-
driven programs into our early education classrooms to transform our children’s futures through proven,
sustainable improvements to children's language environments.
LENA language measurement technology uses a small wearable device—often referred to as a talk
pedometer—combined with cloud-based software to deliver detailed feedback on conversational turns.
LENA technology counts that a turn has occurred when an adult speaks and a
child follows, or vice versa. Conversational turns are predictive of language
and social-emotional development, as well as brain structure and function
and IQ scores in middle school. Conversational turns have also been
shown to be predictive of children's vocabulary skills specifically in
preschool settings.
It is incumbent upon educators and caregivers in children's lives
to tune in and respond to them, even when their vocalizations are
just babbles and grunts. Having LENA technology in our early
childhood education classrooms supports, motivates, inspires,
and provides actionable feedback on what matters most:
building nurturing relationships that help children thrive.
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