ABSTRACT
Enhanced television holds the potential to extend the impact of educational television programs by coupling them with simultaneous data streams that can be accessed during viewing, all through the same television receiver device. One prominent example of convergent media is often referred to as either enhanced or interactive television. Each of the forms of enhanced television poses its own opportunities beyond those of traditional broadcast television. Where studies have been conducted, however, they suggest that educational computer games can contribute to children's learning in areas as disparate as estimation skills and self-management of asthma. Many forms of enhanced television have the potential to deliver similar opportunities by pairing a television program with links to supplementary information or interactive games regarding the same educational content. The benefits provided by contingent feedback resemble opportunities for individualized instruction that are provided by parents, teachers, or child-care providers in television-based outreach.
