'That bucket is for filling in!'

The incidence and use of ICT in the early years

Programme

• Personal starting point

• The incidence and use of ICT in some 3-7 settings

• ICT in children's lives beyond the nursery / classroom

• Some issues raised for ITE

Personal starting point

• Qualified support: A common sense act of faith and the OECD Developmental appropriateness

• Starting from the child ICT is an everyday experience for children Young children are ICT capable / knowledgeable i.e.

'That bucket...'

• A broad interpretation of ICT

Nurseries & schools: what have they got?

• A wide range of hardware when shared resources are included.

• Incidence increasing i.e. electronic whiteboards, digital cameras.

• Considerable diversity of software (but some common themes i.e. literacy, numeracy, drawing).

Nurseries & schools: what are they doing with what they've got?

• Some innovative and creative practice however:

ICT often conflated with PC Some hardware under-utilised / not seen as part of ICT Free standing content rich (drill & skill) software common:

questionable learning on occasion Variable adult involvement / interest (ICT as a reward) Limited use in role play / imaginative play Competing (policy) pressures sidelining ICT Whole class work in ICT suites

ICT in the home

• High levels across the board• Routine / daily use for most and long

before starting nursery• Universal urge to explore / experiment• Differing levels of adult involvement e.g.

games consoles and autonomous use• Girls more eclectic? 'Daddy's area'?• Impact of older siblings double edged

Some issues raised for ITE

• PC ≠ ICT

• Skilling for now or empowering for the future?

• How to realise the transformative power of ICT (assuming that we want to)?

• Partnership with parents

Issues contd.

• The role of the practitioner? – Planning / differentiating– Mediating– Monitoring / assessing

Issues contd.

• Suites – Yes? No? Maybe (for now at least)?

• Time for ICT?

Issues contd.

• Outdoor as well as indoor provision?

• ICT in role play / imaginative play?

Summary

• Purposes of workshops and discussion groups

• Conference report