Technology in Early Childhood and

Elementary EducationJessica Gilboy

LeKeisha Weimerskirch

Laura Windels

Stephanie Zimmer

Web 2.0

In education can promote inquiry practice, communication, individual express, literacy

Most students already use Web 2.0 in some capacity, the teachers are the ones that need to learn how to use them.

Constantly new applications of Web 2.0 emerging.

Teachers have the role of evaluating the technology and then implementing it into the classroom.

Blogs

• Entries of commentary, videos, or instructional tools

Found online

Can be used by the teacher and/or students.

Can be a resource for the students to use or for the parents to help their students

• Teachers can post lessons.

• Students can use for help or to post discussions on problems.

• Parents can use it for a resource to see what the class is working on.

Blogs In the Classroom Examples

Real Classroom Blog (Math)

http://chetsmath.blogspot.com/ - 1074617637315863340

Real Classroom Blog (Classroom Updates)

http://harju.edublogs.org/

Blogs & Educational Equity

Access: All students will be able to use the Blog.

Instruction: Every student will receive the same amount of instruction.

Interactions: Positive interactions encouraged

Language: Positive and appropriate language.

IF it is to be used all students must be given access throughout the school day.

NOT accessible to all parents (works against equity in the classroom)

Assessing and Improving Instruction

• Assessment:

• Writing Skills Grammar Punctuation Spelling Communication skills

Math Skills Correct answers Explaining their work

• Instruction

• Can be used in writing skills• Students can post about

certain topics in class

• Math skills• Students can post their

answers to their math problems

Equitable Teaching

Not all students may have access to the internet at homeAllow all students to have in class time with the

internetNew teaching aid for those students struggling

Between other studentsStudents can share answers to math problemsPost discussion questions and answers

How to Assess Student Learning

Review all of the posts on the blog and the comments that have been made All posts go in reverse chronological orderCan look at all of the written content

Mathematical solutionsExplanations given

Twitter

The teacher can post assignments, reminders, lessons, and supplements.

The students can post daily activities and what they’re learning

The students can use it to read assignments and get homework help

The parents can use it to see assignments, lesson, and to get advice from the teacher

Brief 140 characters or less posts

Available online

Can be used by the teacher or by the students

Can be for the students or their parent/guardian

Twitter in the Classroom Examples

Our Site For This Class http://twitter.com/#!/WSUElemTeacher

Real Classroom Twitter Site http://twitter.com/#!/room302

Twitter & Education Equity

IF the teacher lets students use Twitter in the classroom

NOT accessible to all parents to (working against education equity)

Access: All students allowed to use it in class

Instruction: All students receive the same instruction

Interactions: Positive interactions encouraged

Language: Positive and proper language encouraged

Assessing and Improving InstructionAssessment

Evaluate students spelling, grammar, writing Assess typing skills Measure summarizing skills

Instruction Used as writing instruction Students compose a short message/summary of the day Teaches communication

Equitable Teaching

Students may not have access to a computer/Twitter account at home Give them this opportunity at school A new form of communication

Between other students Students can use Twitter to communicate with students

from other schools Even other districts/states/countries

Learn about students from different places

How to Assess Student Learning

Twitter keeps all of the posts so comparing the beginning of the year to the end

Evaluating improvements in spelling, grammar, social communication

SKYPE

Can be used by teachers, parents, students, or all three

Connect students with experts worldwide

Connect students who are learning similar & related content

Allows students who are absent a chance to participate

SKYPE in the Classroom Examples

Skype connecting classrooms learning similar content http://education.skype.c

om/about

School using Skype in their classrooms http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=WrVm5njFXZ8&feature=related

SKYPE & Education Equity

Access: All students are able to experience and access Skype

Instruction: All students are able to experience classroom activities via Skype

Interactions: Students are all able to interact with persons and places via Skype

Language: Students are encouraged to engage in conversation and questioning via Skype

Every student or parent may not be accessible to a computer from home

Assessing and Improving Instruction

Assessment

Students can reflect on their Skype experience Journal Entries Information Literacy

(evaluate, analyze, categorize data collected)

Presentations to other classrooms

Informal assessment: Have students talk about what happened

Students can record Skype session for assessment (jobs given prior)

Instruction Teaches communication Can be integrated in

almost every subject (Social Studies, Science, Math, Music, Language Arts, etc.)

Expands perspectives on these core subjects

Extra instructionally methods such as tutoring can be available

Teachers can collaborate on instructional methods they have used and find beneficial

Equitable Teaching

Some schools may not have the budget to be able to attend certain field trips Allows teachers to bring the experience/field trip to the

classroom

Students may miss class/or have extended absences from school Allows classmates, parents, and teachers to stay in contact

by “Skyping” classes live and/or recorded and having Skype conferences with teachers, classmates, and/or parents

Teachers can collaborate with each other and share resources that others may not have had Through Skype, teachers can hold a class together on

similar content, offer resources for lessons, or watch other teachers as they teach a class

How to Assess Student Learning

Can evaluate improvement of students social skills, communication, group work, and comprehension by observation as well as recorded data they will do along the way

Examples of a Way of Assessment