What are some of the best technologies to implement into the Early Childhood Education Classroom?
 

I've been thinking about how to best utilize appropriate technologies to benefit preschool students.  I don't want to use a technology simply to say that technologies are being incorporated into the preschool classroom.  Just like any teaching tool, I want technologies to be used because they are utterly beneficial, they enhance the learning, and because they are the best way to convey a message. 

So what have we talked about that is appropriate for the little ones?

Smartboards, certainly.  I know many Orange County Schools have received Smartboards and the proper training for all grades...and the results are exciting.

Photo Courtesy of Kathy Cassidy via Flickr Creative Commons







Games, Apps, etc.  Yes--there is something out there to enhance many subjects and age groups.

Photo Courtesy of Tim Lauer via Flickr Creative Commons



Digital Media Authoring?  For preschoolers, perhaps as a whole-class project to recount a well-known story...





Prezi

 



But most importantly of all, I think it is essential for Educators to have the proper technological training and to be able to decide what is helpful, essential, or best for their students' learning. 

I've come across several good blog postings about the importance of teachers continuing their professional education...to include current technologies, of course.  Here are some from Scott McCleod's blog, http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/

Struggling with educators' lack of technology fluency

 

Educators need learning advocacy, not technology advocacy

What are educators' professional obligations to learn from social media channels?

 

 

The more I learn, the more it seems that if educators have the right knowledge and training, technologies of all kinds will come to mind when planning lessons, even in the Early Childhood Classroom.

 

 



 References:

 

 

Flickr. 2012. Retrieved 25 October, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathycassidy/4484720788/

 

Flickr. 2012. Retrieved 25 October, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/timlauer/5407980960/

McLeod, Scott. (2012). Dangerously Irrelevant. Retrieved October 25, 2012 from
http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/

Prezi. 2012.  Retrieved 25 October, 2012 from http://prezi.com/8lnndalvrv7b/digital-storytelling-the-not-so-boring-story/?res_nr=3&sis=1940371338



Please view my Prezi about Digital Storytelling:

 

Digital Storytelling: the not so boring story!

 Photo courtesy of Michael Fitz via Flickr Creative Commons



Further Proof: the Power of Technology in Education

Browsing through blogs and other educators' websites this week I came across two powerful messages regarding--of all things--texting and video games. 


Yes, you read correctly:  Texting--wait, there's a moral here!

Wow, you think.  Is this another video about teenagers texting while driving?  Texting during class?

Nope.  It's called "Texting that Saves Lives" by social advocate Nancy Lublin

 

Retrieved Oct. 9, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiUClSItcy0

for more information, visit http://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_lublin_texting_that_saves_lives.html

 



Texting is the method of communicating for the younger generation.  Texting has a 100% read rate (Lublin 2012).  As the video points out, every text sent to a young adult will be opened and read. 

Thus, Lublin describes an action plan to help children in all manners of crisis, brought to her attention via texts received to social campaigns within the organization http://www.dosomething.org/

Now major steps are being taken to help children succeed and be healthy in all areas of their lives.
The video really counterbalances some of the negatives heard about texting.

And now for another topic frequently dismissed as having any merit or worth:
Video Games--don't discredit anything yet!
 

Retrieved October 8, 2012 courtesy of Ben Harding and Flickr Creative Commons

 

 

Read this inspiring little "mention" about a boy who has successfully turned his passion into a career:

 

"Nurture Your Kids' Passions, Even if They're Making Pokemon Game Walkthrough Videos"

 

Aww, C'mon!  Tell me you can't support that!

 

 

 

  

References:

Do Something. (2012). Retrieved October 8, 2012 from http://www.dosomething.org/

 

Flickr. (2012). Retrieved October 8, 2012 from
     http://www.flickr.com/photos/38605609@N02/7832821594/
 

McLeod, Scott. (2012). Dangerously Irrelevant. Retrieved October 8, 2012 from
     http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/

 

Shelly, G., Gunter, G., Gunter, R. (2012). Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a Connected World (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.


 

TED Ideas Worth Spreading. (2012). Retrieved October 8, 2012 from
     http://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_lublin_texting_that_saves_lives.html

 

You Tube. (2012). Retrieved October 8, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiUClSItcy0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who's Vision of Effective Teaching?

As Educators, we strive to be Effective.  And maybe we have been effective.  Hopefully we still are...

 

Photo Courtesy of cybrarian77 via Flickr Creative Commons

 



Certainly there is always room to improve.  Or perhaps our years of experience have seasoned us so that we think there is little we need to change.

Who's vison of effective teaching are we modeling? 

 

Are we modeling antiquated methods or have we accepted and implemented change? 

As educators of "Digital Students" (Shelly, G., Gunter, G. and Gunter, R., 2012 p. 15), we must re-evaluate our teaching strategies.

For more info, check out this video (by Blackboard and JESS3) found on Scott McLeod's Dangerously Irrelevant site (also on YouTube) called:

"The Voice of the Active Learner"

Retrieved September 18, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5Vy9BgSeY

Are we keeping up with the "digital natives?" (Blackboard video)  What strategies can we use to further engage them?

What makes us hesitant to change?  Are we afraid to fully switch over to digital templates? Is it even necessary to do away with methods we believe have been effective for years?  How can we incorporate technology and also hang onto "lost arts," like even pen & paper? 

How do educators achieve a balance of methods while integrating technology? 

  The goal is to build upon previous methods of effective teaching. 

 Integrating technology is part of the evolution of effective teaching. 

Check out the Teaching Channel's webpage to watch a video about how a 37-year veteran teacher in Finland incorporates and balances technology in her classroom.  Essentially, the story is about how technology can further the learning--and the learning network--of any subject.

Finland: Discovery through Technology

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/discovery-through-technology?fd=1

 

Retrieved September 18, 2012 from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/discovery-through-technology?fd=1 

The students in the video are active, engaged in learning, and they use technology alongside many other meaningful tasks.  

Ok, well... what about Internet Safety?  With how often digital learners are connected to the web, how can we effectively teach and encourage students to navigate the internet safely, and independently?

This is a great resource from the Teaching Channel's website.  Perhaps it may be appropriate and necessary to incorporate this type of lesson:  

 

Online Talk: What's Safe and What's Risky?
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/safe-online-use-for-students
 

Retrieved September 18, 2012 from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/safe-online-use-for-students

 

The teacher chooses an interactive, true-to-scenario lesson about interet safety.  The students clearly are engaged because they identify the material/discussion as completely relevant and useful to their lives.  There are many effective and simple ways to confront the "risks" or "issues" that may keep educators hesitant to fully embrace and validate the use of technologies in the classroom.

 

For more information, visit https://www.teachingchannel.org/ and click on "Digital Literacy"  

 

Need more?  Check out the video "Collaborative Digital Presentations Enrich Projects" from Tech2Tech Learning Series found at  www.edutopia.org

 

Retrieved September 19, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzCQH58Bwpo

 

For now, happy clicking! 

 

 

References:

 

Blackboard. (2012). Retrieved September 18, 2012 from blog.blackboard.com

 

Edutopia.  (2012). Retrieved September 19, 2012 from http://www.edutopia.org/tech-to-learn-collaborative-digital-presentations-video

 

Flickr. (2012). Retrieved September 18, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cybrarian77/6284697172/

 

McLeod, Scott. (2012). Dangerously Irrelevant. Retrieved September 18, 2012 from http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/

 

Shelly, G., Gunter, G., Gunter, R. (2012). Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a Connected World (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.

 

Teaching Channel. (2012).  Retrieved September 18, 2012 from https://www.teachingchannel.org/

 

You Tube. (2012).  Retrieved September 18, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5Vy9BgSeY

 

 

Fast Times, No Teachers Standing By!

 

Think quick--speedy--instantaneous:  21st Century students' minds are geared for rapid-fire.


 



Photo Courtesy of Brad Flickinger via Flickr Creative Commons 

Digital Students are:

 "hypercommunicators...multitaskers...goal oriented"

   (Shelly, G., Gunter, G., and Gunter R. 2012 p. 14). 

  

Whether it's the subject matter or the internet speed,
 

 "It's got to be fast!" (Pearson Education video)

 Check out the following video I found on Scott McLeod's Dangerously Irrelevant site:

 A Serious Talk: Kids Demand Next-Generation Learning

 

 Retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0pZE8WW_Ro

 

 Some say technological advances provide for instant gratification...a negative with children?

  Any way you look at it, students are digital learners, and they are ready to move on.

Are you?

 

    As the following video from Michael Pershan explains, effective teaching in America cannot solely rely on students "watching" the teacher and then "practicing" the methods on their own.

 

 



Retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHoXRvGTtAQ 

 

Although Pershan's clip is about teaching math, it poses these questions: 

 

Are we modeling the most effective teaching strategies in our country?

and

What can we use to become more effective educators?

   

 

A SOLUTION through TECHNOLOGY

 

  Communications.  Networking.  The Web. 

Utilizing Technologies and Integrating these resources into the classroom.

 

Networked Resources 

 

 

Integrating these technologies into the classroom affords

• more student interaction
• more collaboration
• infinite sources of "unlimited educational information" (Shelly et al 2012 p. 54)
• real learning experiences
• a genuine applicability to everyday, familiar life that will "enhance student learning" (Shelly et al 2012 p. 54).

Photo Courtesy of San Jose Library via Flickr Creative Commons

 

We can aim to become the classroom's Digital Concierge: 

• provide learning opportunities through technology to "capture students' attention, eliminate boredom, and...arouse natural curiosity" (Shelly et al 2012 p. 23). 
• Foster students' motivation to learn by making them "...feel that learning is relevant or important to their lives" (Shelly et al 2012 p. 23).  And these days, computers are relevant, familiar, and important to students' lives.

 

So, about instant gratification:  Shouldn't we stop saying kids need to learn to wait? ...when really, students can't wait to learn!

 
 
 
 
 
References:
 
Flickr. (2012). Retrieved September 11, 2012 from
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanjoselibrary/3887312861/
 
Flickr. (2012). Retrieved September 11, 2012 from
 
     http://www.flickr.com/photos/56155476@N08/6660001925/
  
McLeod, Scott. (2012).  Dangerously Irrelevant.  Retrieved September 10, 2012
    
     from  http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/
 
Shelly, G., Gunter, G., Gunter, R. (2012). Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating  
     Technology in a Connected World (7^th ed.). Boston, MA: Course Technology, Cengage             Learning.
You Tube. (2012).  Retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch? 
    
     v=CHoXRvGTtAQ
 
You Tube. (2012). Retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
    
     v=v0pZE8WW_Ro
 
 

Be inspired to teach your kids better online searching skills

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9yZco8bwI8&feature=youtube_gdata

"11 Real Ways Technology is Affeting Education Right Now"

http://edudemic.com/2012/08/new-study-finds-11-real-ways-technology-is-affecting-education-right-now/