Vast Wasteland or Vast Opportunity?

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Fisch, S. M. (2002) Vast Wasteland or Vast Opportunity? Effects of Educational Television on Children’s Academic Knowledge Skills, and Attitudes, chapter 15 in Media effects: advances in theory and research, Bryant J. and Zillmann, D (eds), Manwah, NJ.: L. Elbaum Associates.
Keywords: Sesame Street, educational television programmes, Fisch

In this chapter the author reviews “research on the impact of educational television programs on children’s knowledge, skills and attitudes in academic areas such as literacy, science, and mathematics (P398)” going from key findings to theoretical mechanisms. The author analyses the impact of Sesame Street in the development of school readiness emphasizing in language development, reading skills, mathematics, and science and technology.
Useful quotes

• All television is educational, the only question is what is it teaching? P397 Citing Liebert and Schwartzberg, 1977 P70).
• Comprehension –and even learning- of the educational content in a television program does not guarantee that viewers also will be able to apply the material successfully in new problems or situations. P418

Alberto Ramirez Martinell