In this short course you will explore the possibility that children might acquire written language in a way that is similar to how they acquire spoken language—without instruction. You will encounter various aspects of behavioral science and technology that are relevant to this proposition. You will have the opportunity to learn the the perceptual, cognitive, and neurological capacities of children during their first years of life. You will advance your understanding of children and how they learn language. You will also be more attuned to current advances in the technology of human machine interactions, and what these phenomena imply for learning to read at an early age.

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Syllabus

WEEK 1

Introduction, Challenges, and Language

Universal literacy, differences between spoken and written language, models of perception and processing, and implications of natural acquisition of reading.

WEEK 2

Acquiring Spoken and Written Language

Influences on language learning, iconicity, recognition skills of infants, visual processes in reading, and rapid serial visual processing.

WEEK 3

Reading, Early Reading, and Technological Innovations

The nature of reading, reading myths, current approaches to teaching reading, demographics of literacy and illiteracy, and technological innovations.

Technological Innovations