CHAPTER I
Introduction

Project Context
Nowadays toddlers are not only interested in toys but are also into playing computer games. In getting the child’s attention, these computer games come in various approach in drawing the child towards playing it over again. Although there are a lot of games available over the Internet, those do not guarantee that such computer games would be educational and appropriate for preschool toddlers.
In line with this, the researchers closely examined the problems that comprise this topic. One of the main concerns is that there are games that are not good and wholesome for children. Another concern is that toddlers are most likely to be uninterested of studying using their books. Lastly, the methods of teaching of preschool teachers are inadequate when it comes to incorporating the use of computers.
Based on the problems observed, the researchers come up with a study to develop a system that will address the mentioned concerns. The study entitled “Online Toddler Educational Games,” fits together with educational and gaming website systems. The researchers will integrate the former and the latter system to come up with an online system which makes it possible to have interaction and playful learning in the sense that toddlers are highly involved and essentially motivated. Thus, the system will then serve as one of the excellent foundations in enriching the knowledge of a preschool toddler.
Purpose and Description Online Toddler Educational Games are not only for preschooler ages 3 to 5 years old, but their respective parents and preschool teachers are also the ones who would potentially benefit from the system. Having this online system will help promote technology and especially computers to be a significant learning device in today’s classroom. Consequently, this will result to a more integrated role in the early learning process of preschool children.
In contrast to other media such as television, adequate educational computer games open up possibilities for interaction and active involvement (McCarrick & Xiaoming, 2007). Computers can have a powerful impact on attention in children, as well in adults. When used and constructed adequately, educational computer games can deliver powerful motivational and time on task gains compared to more traditional educational tasks. Educational computer games often provide the opportunity for playful learning, which is linked to school readiness (Veenstra, 2011).
Moreover, developing this system would answer the three main concerns that were previously discussed on the project context of this study: Meet prospect standard. Computer games found on the system will be educational and appropriate for the age and learning curve of preschoolers.
Develop the child’s interest. Toddlers will be most likely to have fun while learning using the interactive games that are also related to their class lessons.
Improve teaching methods. Preschool teachers would have the convenience of incorporating the use of computers through accessing the online system that is especially designed for toddlers.

Objectives 1. To create and develop an online system that has the educational standard appropriate for a toddler (ages 3 to 5 years old). 2. To develop a system with multimedia interactive games that is related to the preschoolers’ class lessons. 3. To develop a system that improves the teaching method of preschool teachers through this online educational games system.

Scope and Limitation This study would focus on the available lessons for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5 years old) as they are also considered as the secondary users of the system. Aside from them, their respective parents or guardians and their preschool teacher will be the ones who would also interact with the system.
In this scenario, we’ll have the teacher as the primary user, for he or she will create an administrator profile and a preferred username and password. The primary user’s task includes accepting, rejecting, editing or deleting an account that will be registered by a parent for their child’s online account. Aside from this, the teacher will also have the control in adding, updating, or removing the class lessons, educational games and stories that will be shown on the website on a particular day.
For the secondary user, which is the parent, will be the one to create the child’s profile for the Online Toddler Educational Games system. The system would ask for the parent’s full name, email address, contact number, as well as the child’s full name, age and gender. The parent will also be asked to create a username and a password. The child will communicate with the system by playing the interactive games, read short stories and learn some class lessons that are displayed in a simple graphical manner – enough to charm the child’s attention. Through this, the child will be able to learn step by step and later on will have the idea about good moral and spiritual values. Most of the animation will be in a Flash format along with a clear audio. The system will also include a graduated type of learning wherein the games are categorized into their class subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, Music, Arts, etc. Every game will have a level of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard, wherein scores that were accumulated per game level will be stored and can be viewed. This will be shown in a way that the scores will have a rank status and it can be compared with the scores of other preschoolers. When it comes to choosing what particular device should be used to be able to communicate with the online system, the user can make use of any device that can surf the Internet – personal computers, laptops, smart phones, etc. The system will be developed using the PHP programming language and MySQL for its database.