When a 53-year-old lawyer from Evanston didn't like the games that were being sold in stores, he decided to create his own.
Seth Weinberger said he has researched every educational video game on the market.
INNOVATIONS FOR LEARNING
Teachermate handheld computer system
"I couldn't see how any of them would teach a kid anything," Weinberger said. "They were more entertainment than education."
His determination resulted in a game called Teachermate.
"I am very excited to have them in our classroom," first grade teacher Maureen Hogan said.
Hogan teaches at the Gallistel Language Academy on Chicago's far east side. She's happy to get rid of large desk computers, replaced by the same games on the compact Teachermate.
"It's exactly what we're doing in our math class and what we're doing in our reading class," Hogan said.
The hand held computer comes with earphones and eight control buttons. Children can read from the screen into a built-in microphone and recorder. Their voices are played back along with a second computerized voice solidifying what they've read and pronounced.
First-grade reader Arriana said that she likes playing Teachmate because she likes to learn. When we asked her if she's learning with the computer game, she answered with a simple, yes. She also admits that she thinks Teachermate is the best game because "it has a lot of games."
While some software developers can rake in millions for their products, Weinberger has been putting his own money into the non-profit project for 15 years.
With the help of a grant, Weinberg's company is placing Teachermates into the hands of more than 8,000 Chicago Public School elementary kids for free. Weinberg said it's all to help educate children who are at risk of failing.
"We still have 30 to 40 percent of the country that isn't reading at grade level," Weinberger said. "The goal of the non profit is to use technology to teach kids in the inner city how to read and how to do math."
At the end of the week, a teacher can download the work from each game and customize the curriculum for the following week based on what each child has learned.
Seth Weinberger said he has researched every educational video game on the market.
INNOVATIONS FOR LEARNING
Teachermate handheld computer system
"I couldn't see how any of them would teach a kid anything," Weinberger said. "They were more entertainment than education."
His determination resulted in a game called Teachermate.
"I am very excited to have them in our classroom," first grade teacher Maureen Hogan said.
Hogan teaches at the Gallistel Language Academy on Chicago's far east side. She's happy to get rid of large desk computers, replaced by the same games on the compact Teachermate.
"It's exactly what we're doing in our math class and what we're doing in our reading class," Hogan said.
The hand held computer comes with earphones and eight control buttons. Children can read from the screen into a built-in microphone and recorder. Their voices are played back along with a second computerized voice solidifying what they've read and pronounced.
First-grade reader Arriana said that she likes playing Teachmate because she likes to learn. When we asked her if she's learning with the computer game, she answered with a simple, yes. She also admits that she thinks Teachermate is the best game because "it has a lot of games."
While some software developers can rake in millions for their products, Weinberger has been putting his own money into the non-profit project for 15 years.
With the help of a grant, Weinberg's company is placing Teachermates into the hands of more than 8,000 Chicago Public School elementary kids for free. Weinberg said it's all to help educate children who are at risk of failing.
"We still have 30 to 40 percent of the country that isn't reading at grade level," Weinberger said. "The goal of the non profit is to use technology to teach kids in the inner city how to read and how to do math."
At the end of the week, a teacher can download the work from each game and customize the curriculum for the following week based on what each child has learned.
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