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Implementing iPads in the Early YearsA Pilot Project for Niagara’s Licensed Child Care Programs
The Early Childhood Community DevelopmentCentre and Niagara Region Children’s Servicesare excited to be joining forces to pilot theuse of iPads in Niagara’s licensed childcare programs over the coming year.
We are pleased to have Speech ServicesNiagara support the project throughfacilitating the selection of appropriateeducational apps and offering training specificto using iPads in early years settings to enhancespeech, language and emergent literacy. We arealso thrilled to have Brock University’sinvolvement in coordinating the pilot research components and through offering anIntroduction to iPad Basics Training Session and Advanced iPad Functionality Workshop.
What is the Purpose of thePilot Project?The objectives of the iPad Pilot Project are
• To investigate the impact using iPads in licensed child care programs has on the practice and pedagogy of early childhood educators
• To investigate the impact the iPad engagement has on preschool children’s learning
• To investigate the impact iPads have in supporting children with special needs
Who May Participate?Thirty licensed child care programs will have an opportunity to participate. Interested programs are invited to submit the attached expression of interest form outlining their commitment to be involved in the project. For the ease of collecting data, we are looking for the iPads to be implemented with one early childhood educator and one group of children only rather than an entire child care program.
What are the Benefits to Licensed Child Care Programs Who Participate?
• Having access to an additional tool to support children with special needs
• Free iPad to keep for your program’s use beyond the project
• Ten or more free educational apps for your program’s use beyond the project
• Opportunity to receive three free training sessions: Introduction to Using iPads; Using iPads to Support Language and Literacy in Early Years Settings; and Advanced iPad Features (Video Modelling, Photo taking, etc.)
• Opportunities to share strategies in using iPads through in person network and pilot project blog
• Opportunity to engage in an innovative research study which measures the impact of iPads on educators’ practice and pedagogy and preschool children’s learning
• Increased understanding regarding the role of technology on children’s learning
• Enhanced technological competence
What Activities Can I Expect as a Pilot Site Participant?• Commitment to attend a two-hour pilot project orientation meeting
and three to four other meetings over the course of a year.
• Commitment to participate in a session for the selection of appropriate educational apps.
• Commitment to attend three, two-hour training sessions as determined. For example; iPad Technology Orientation Session, Integrating iPads in Early Years Settings and Using iPads for Photos and Video and Other Special Features.
• Participation in all pilot project evaluation measures including: consenting to be a research participant, pre and post surveys, training feedback forms, completing a pre and post environmental literacy checklist, pre and post observation visits, and ongoing photo taking and documentation of the iPads in action.
• Willingness to participate on an informal iPad Pilot Project Technology Network and iPad Pilot Project online blog.
Is There Any Criteria For Participation?In order to be eligible to participate in the pilot project, licensed child care programs will need to sign the attached form indicating that they have met the following pilot project participation criteria.
• Endorsement from the child care centre Supervisor, Director, Owner, or Operator to participate with his/her group of children
• Pilot Project Lead Early Childhood Educator is trained in Phase 2 of Quality Child Care Niagara Program Planning
• Pilot Project Lead Early Childhood Educator is trained or is registered to attend the Visual Schedules Training Session
• Pilot Project Lead Early Childhood Educator is committed to participating in all Pilot Project meetings and evaluation measures
• The Pilot Project Lead Early Childhood Educator has an ability and willingness to observe and document children’s play and learning
• The Pilot Project Lead Early Childhood Educator has completed an Environmental Literacy Checklist and has attached the results to show a commitment to offering an environment which is rich in language and literacy experiences
• Participating sites should have the capability and ability to assume the cost of ‘wireless connectivity’
• Commitment to inform families of the pilot project and consent for photographs of children’s use of iPads to be used on the pilot site blog and to share pilot project findings with community members
Implementing iPads in the Early YearsA Pilot Project for Niagara’s Licensed Child Care Programs
Pilot ParticipationExpression of InterestYes, I am interested in and committed to participating in the iPad Pilot Project with my group of children.
Name of Program _______________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Early Childhood Educator ______________________________________________________________________
Number of Preschool Children in Classroom _____________
Signature of Supervisor, Director or Ownerto Show Endorsement of Participation _________________________________________________________________
Please check all that apply
I am trained in Phase 2 of Quality Child Care Niagara Program Planning.
I have been trained or I am currently registered to attend the Visual Schedules Training Session.
I am committed to participating in all Pilot Project meetings and evaluation measures.
I have a willingness to observe and document children’s play and learning
I have completed an Environmental Literacy Checklist and have attached it to show a commitment to offering an environment which is rich in language and literacy experiences. I agree to complete the same checklist at the end of the pilot project.
My site currently has access to wireless or are committed to assume the cost of the wireless connectivity.
I will develop strategies to inform families of the pilot project and will gain and submit their consent for photographs of children’s use of the IPADS to be used on the pilot site blog and in sharing the pilot project findings to community members.
Signature of Pilot Site Early Childhood Educator _________________________________________________________
Please submit completed form to the ECCDC by faxing 905.646.2692 or scan and email it to [email protected]. Potential qualified participants will be randomly selected from the completed expression of interest forms
Implementing iPads in the Early YearsA Pilot Project for Niagara’s Licensed Child Care Programs
Environmental Literacy SurveyPlease complete the following survey and attach it to the Pilot Participation Expression of Interest form.
What kinds of children’s books do you have in your classroom?
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How are you using them?
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What kinds of writing materials do you have for children to use in your classroom?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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How are you using them?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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What kinds of literacy-based games and puzzles do you have in your classroom?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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How are you using them?
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What kinds of props for dramatic play do you have in your classroom?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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How are you using them?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Please share the top three activities that you use to encourage children to engage in emergent literacy activities.
1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Implementing iPads in the Early YearsA Pilot Project for Niagara’s Licensed Child Care Programs
