Experiencing Technology in Early Childhood

LearningJacqueline I. de Terán

August 2015

Getting to know each other

Lettuce 11-7 Purple 4 1966

Can technology help children learn or live the experience?Will children be able to acquire language or learn about linguistics and grammar?

Technology

Ensure an educational purposeEncourage creativityIncrease child's intrinsic motivation to learnChoose variety of programs that include free play and programmed learning.

Encourage collaboration

Light & Butterworth 1992 "activities requiring 'joint attention' which involve children learning to share provide a better cognitive challenge for young children"

Douse & Mugny 1984 "provide opportunities for cognitive conflict as children make efforts to reach consensus"

Encourage collaborationForman 1989 "finding potential solutions together in the creative course of problem-solvingSiraj-Blatchford 2002 "apparatus encourages social interaction, with children sharing more visual attention and making increased eye-contact

Integrate other aspects of curriculumPlay and project work1. Relevant to children2. Meaningful context for real purposes3. Real technological artifacts4. Understanding purposes and uses5. Engage and interact with virtual and audio artifacts

and environments6. Develop an awareness of symbols and ability to

manipulate them

Emergent literacy and numeracyWhat does technology enable children to do that they couldn't do otherwise?

Ensure the child is in controlImaginative responsesOpen problem-solvingDevelop any sense of real achievementComplex real life dilemmas: Babyz by Mindscape www.babyz.net

Choose applications that are transparentClearly defined and intuitive functions

● Drag and drop● Click

Avoid applications containing violence or stereotypingComputers can empower all young children to be more independent, but research shows that issues of equality are key. A number of studies have shown that: girls often use computers less often than boys the presence of a computers in a setting does not ensure access teachers, while concerned about equity, often hold attitudes which hinder access, forexample use of the computer may be granted as a reward, or its use may be restricted todrill-and-practice tasks for less able children children from low-income families often have less access and/or lower-quality access tocomputers in the home (see, for example, Thouvenelle et al. 1994).

Be aware of health and safety issuesComputer use is integrated with other activities as a tool, Imaginative role play, modelling or painting, children will benefit from greater movement and exercise away from the computer. Use of the computer should not be at the expense of outdoor opportunities and experiences which promote developing essential gross motor skills through running, climbing, jumping, swinging and using wheeled toys. Some ICT applications can encourage playing and being outdoors. Metal detectors have already been mentioned. Identifying ICT in the outdoor environment when out walking or using programmable toys outside can help but is no substitute for the running and climbing that practitioners should ensure goes on throughout childhood (though it’s always possible for some young children to be taking digital pictures of their friends as they run and climb).

Enhancing the qualities of teachingOpportunities Building ICT capabilitiesF2FVirtual LearningE-learningBlended Learning

Integrating Learning EnvironmentsSchool teachers, peersHome parents, siblings

Acquisition Learning OutcomesConnecting Outcomes

● parents ● family ● community

Professional Learning Outcomes

CurriculumHolisticSocial-CulturalAuthentic Learning Contexts

XXI Century PedagogyMethodologies/ApproachesMontessoriRegio EmilioConstructivismWhole language

Teaching & Learning through Technology

Enhances children's learningHelping services connect with their communitiesImprove the quality of teachingRealizing HOW technologies are used

Enhancing children's learningOpportunities for learning & social connections Affordances high-order thinking, cognitive enquiry, improved literacy and numeracy

● Strengthens oral language ● Conversations with teachers and peers● Gain teacher insight interest & learning style● Engaging in storytelling● ESense of wonderment

Connections with CommunitiesMeaningful relationships between teachers and familiesQuality care and educationPictures and videos of places, objects and peopleProfessional global conversations

Enhancing the quality of teachingTime for teachers to learn and engage with new technologies"Learning to let go of control of the equipment"Reflective practice "Commitment to,lifelong learning"

Qualitative GainsDeeper pedagogical knowledge Substantial increases in teacher confidence and competence in relation to ICTsIncreased use of ICTs for variety of curriculum purposesSignificantly increased levels of integration of ICTs into children's learning programs

A much greater focus on the children themselves using ICTs for learningMore critically reflective practice as teachers Knowing how to access and generate knowledge is everything

Developmentally Appropriate Technology in Early ChildhoodParental InvolvementMake informed

Parent InvolvementTo involve parents, they should: use digital, still and video pictures on a TV or computer in the classroom or entrance, recording trips, the day’s activities, curriculum presentations, and any special events use digital pictures in the records ask parents to trial new software use closed circuit televisions to enable parents to watch children at play and learning loan cassette recorders to take home make CDs of children singing make use of the standing touch screen as an information resource develop a website.

Useful WebsitesBBC CBeebies: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/• BBC Games: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/games/index.shtml• Berit’s Best Sites: http://www.beritsbest.com/• Enchanted Learning Online:http://www.enchantedlearning.com/categories/preschool.shtml• Kids @ National Geographic: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/• Kids Domain: www.kidsdomain.com• Kid’s Wave: http://www.safesurf.com/safesurfing/• Microsoft Kids Website: http://www.kids.msn.com/• Peter Rabbit: http://www.peterrabbit.com/• PBS Kids: http://pbskids.org/• Thomas the tank Engine: http://www.hitentertainment.com/thomasandfriends/uk/• Winnie the Pooh: http://www.worldkids.net/pooh/welcome.html• Yahooligans: The Web Guide For Kids: http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/