Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedIntegrating Technology at Integrating Technology at

the Preschool Levelthe Preschool LevelDr. Roxanne Wilson

Kathy McKechnie MS CCC-SLP

Timberlane Learning CenterTimberlane School District

Principles & BeliefsWhen educators appropriately integrate technology and interactive media into

theirclassrooms, equity and access are addressed by providing opportunities for allchildren to participate and learn (Judge, Puckett, & Cabuk 2004; Cross,Ods, &Schweingruber 2009).

Preschool - REALLY???To be representative of the culture in which our students live – then we have to find a

way toincorporate technology into our classrooms.

Technology is a means to an end. To promote student learning, technology must be used in

effective, engaging ways.

Technology must: support student performance of an authentic task. Be integrated into activities that are a core part of the classroom curriculum. Be treated as a tool to help accomplish a complex task rather than a subject

of study for its own sake.

Selecting TechnologyTechnology should be used to enhance student productivity, support collaboration, or engage students in authentic learning experiences

Select appropriate technology and media for the classroom in a similar manner used to choose any other learning material.

Blocks, pens, paints, paper, doll house, big books, manipulatives, interactive media, digital camera, video camera, SMARTBoard, iPad, software, applications, etc.

Aligning and Integrating Technology and Media

Interactive SMARTBoardLetters alive (Augmented Technology)iPad (Tablet) Sonic Pics (App)Power Point Story boards (PC)SoundingBoard (App)

Advantages

Engages the learner Student Participation Technology

Vocabulary Large group

Instruction Visual

representations

Smart BoardSMARTboard YouTube example

Limitations

Takes up wall space Can be glitchy Teachers need

training

Smart Board

Letters alive

“Augmented reality” by Logical Choice Technologies

Digital 3D animals enhance the learners early literacy instruction

Letters alive

Letters alive

Advantages

• Large or small groups can benefit.

• Great visual representations• Helps build concept

knowledge• A wide range of uses for

enhancing early literacy lessons.

• Can be used to bring science and social study lessons to the classroom.

Limitations• Curriculum is not a strong

component.• Costly tool with limited

options• Technology can be finicky• Requires a projector screen or

flat white area for projecting.• Requires table top space for

cards and documentation camera.

iPadAdvantages

• Works well for individual and small group use

• Fairly inexpensive• Unlimited applications

for targeting a wide range of skills.

Limitations

Can be hard to manage for schools

Durability for active use by young children

Replacement costs if the device is dropped or damaged.

Sonic Pics $2.99

Technology can help children save, document, revisit, and share their real-life experiences through images, stories, and sounds.

Turn your photographs into narrated slideshow movies.

Features: - Create and narrate custom photo slideshows.- Records your voice while you flip through your images. - Automatically synchronizes your images to the audio recording.- Publish your recordings, share to your computer, save to your photo library, or email to your friends.- Present your stories on the big screen using video output- Record up to 60 minutes per session! - Easy image selection and editing. - Include text on images that can optionally be shown during recording.- Build slide shows with photos from photo albums, camera roll or build in camera of your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

Sonic Pics Youtube

Sonic Pics

Sonic PicsSuggest Activities:

• Document Class field trip• Digital story telling• Creating Mini-presentations• Create book reports or historical events• Travel Logs• Create Audio books• New town experiences• Photo tours• Language instructionRequires Quick Time to view movies or convert to .mwv

ConclusionsJust as we encourage children to use crayons and paper well before we expect them to write their names, it seems reasonable to provide access to technology tools for exploration and experimentation.

Young children need tools that help them explore,create, problem solve, consider, think, listen and view critically, makedecisions, observe, document, research, investigate ideas, demonstratelearning, take turns, and learn with and from one another.

The impact of technology is mediated by teachers’ use of the samedevelopmentally appropriate principles and practices that guide the use ofprint materials and all other learning tools and content for young children(Van Scoter, Ellis, & Railsback 2001; Clements & Sarama 2003a; Plowman &Stephen 2005, 2007).

The end, but only the beginning…