In 2005, Waterford Institute began a home pilot program in the Salt Lake City area. Fifteen families participated in the study, and case study reports on the families were completed by the study’s director, Dr. Stefanie Rehn.
Of the 15 families, 13 did not have a computer or Internet connection before the pilot provided them with those technological tools. Waterford’s intent was to use the pilot to work especially with families that would need the most support for the program and gather data on supporting those families as a precursor to larger pilot programs.
A number of interesting insights emerged from the pilot study, especially from parents reporting significant changes to home life resulting from the convenience of having the learning tool in their home rather than having to travel to a program site.
Additionally, parents also reported that children seemed to use the program more during difficult times. Parents have suggested this may be because of the encouragement and sense of accomplishment the children derive from the program.
Other advantages identified in using the home as a center of learning included the fact that, compared to the school day, there is almost unlimited instructional time available.
The pilot also showed—not surprisingly—that optimum results occur when caregivers are involved in the children’s learning experience and can help motivate, monitor, and encourage them.
Waterford used these initial case studies to develop instructional programs to show parents how to use materials for their children and to provide supportive instructional lessons, how to use computers and the Internet and its capabilities, and how to use reporting data to measure their children’s progression.
