Technology in the Classroom: Birth-Preschool

Sarah Teichmer, Zenaidia munguia, Teala Spring, Chelsea Griffin, Alison Sims, Katie Weber

Technology in the Classroom

An array of complex tools that help students learn. In a classroom these can be:

Inquiry Question:

What is a developmentally appropriate way to expose young children to technology in the classroom?

Group Philosophy

• Essential tool• Ignites exploration• Encourages social interaction• Can encourage physical activity• Aid in reaching developmental milestones• Prepares for further learning and later the

competitive corporate world

Digital Resources:

Michael Robb of the Fred Rogers Center:

They’ve developed the Early Learning Environment (Ele), an online space

where adults can find high-quality digital resources to support early literacy

and other learning and development for children from birth to age 5.

Teachers and parents can browse free materials from around the web,

including videos, games, ebooks, music, and other interactive tools from

national organizations in early childhood development and early literacy.

Ideas about technology in ECE

The American Academy of Pediatrics vs. NAEYC/Fred Rogers position statement

Technology should be limited, but what matters most is how technology is used.

Is it developmentally appropriate?

Is it interactive?

Does it spark social interaction?

Infant: 0-12months

Technology for infants should be used through adults as an interactive experience together.

How To Use Technology To Hit Milestones for Infants

Moving -Most babies try to reach and hold phones that are held in front of them.-This demonstrates that they can play with their hands and reach for toys. Understanding -You can use FaceTime, Skype, or even pictures on a digital camera to help infants

recognize familiar people. - Teachers can use Ipods and MP3 players to introduce new sounds and songs to

infants. Seeing -There are apps for infants and you can look to see if the baby is following moving

objects with their eyes.

Hearing -Use an Ipod/music -Different apps can promote different sounds such as animal noises

Infant Activity

Activity: Read an E-book while holding your baby. Point out the different people and animals. Use different tones as you read.

Why: To promote reading and language development. Social Interaction: Being held by an adult helps nurture and establish a

relationship.

Toddlers:12-36 months

Technology for toddlers can be directed by the child, but should have adult interaction close at hand, allow peers to join in and interact.

Toddler Activity

•Activity: Cake or Cookie Doodle App. These types of games allow children to follow simple directions of real world activities like decorating cookies.

•Why: This activity helps the toddle learn to follow directions, work on fine motor skills, reading skills, and art.

•Social Interaction: This activity could be followed by actually allowing children to decorate cookies possibly for a school party or special activity.

Toddler Activity 2

•Activity: TV Teacher DVD’s. Alphabet Beats.

•Why: These DVD’s help children learn to write and recognize the letters of the alphabet.

•Social Interaction: The teacher can add visual demonstrations as well as songs to teacher to all different learning styles in the classroom.

Preschoolers 3-5 yearsTechnology for preschoolers can be completely child directed, but should have adult interaction accessible for problem solving and reflection. Peers should be encouraged to join in and interact.

Preschool Activity Activity: Letter Writer app for Ipad. This app guides preschoolers into letter

tracing using fun sequencing like a bug eating an apple or a crab chasing pineapple.

Why: This activity helps the child to learn letter shapes which is a writing competency.

Social interaction: Students can identify letters together on tablet. Then to build on this activity, you could give child a crayon and ask what letters they remember. Have them identify the letters they wrote.

Preschool Activity 2

Activity: iLearn with Boing on tablet

Why: Only lets child move on if they understand the material. Rewards child

with a "gift" when they do well. Helps them learn their numbers in order, and

eventually how to calculate numbers. This would be a math competency.

Social Interaction: The group that are using the ipads can get to a certain

then talk about it as a group, and for example they can count as a group,

and point to numbers on the board in order if they are mixed up.

When using technology in the classroom ask yourself:

Is it developmentally appropriate?

Is it interactive?

Does it spark social interaction?

Is it preparing them for further learning?

Sources•http://www.naeyc.org/content/technology-and-young-children

•http://www.teccenter.erikson.edu

•http://www.joanganzcooneycenter.org

http://ele.fredrogerscenter.org/

http://www.del.wa.gov/publications/esit/docs/WHMG3-6Mos_English.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/infants.html

http://www.del.wa.gov/publications/esit/docs/WHMG6-12Mos_Englis

http://www.del.wa.gov/publications/esit/docs/WHMG12-18Mos_English.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/toddlers.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/toddlers2.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/preschoolers.html