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Robotic Pets & Preschoolers [pdf] [top] This study examined preschool children's reasoning about and behavioral interactions with one of the most advanced robotic pets currently on the retail market, Sony's robotic dog AIBO. Eighty children, equally divided between two age groups, 34-50 months and 58-74 months, participated in individual sessions with two artifacts: AIBO and a stuffed dog. Evaluation and justification results showed similarities in children's reasoning across artifacts. In contrast, children engaged more often in apprehensive behavior and attempts at reciprocity with AIBO, and more often mistreated the stuffed dog and endowed it with animation. Discussion focuses on how robotic pets, as representative of an emerging technological genre, may be (a) blurring foundational ontological categories, and (b) impacting children's social and moral development.

Tech on Deck - Volunteers Needed The Technology and Young Children Interest Forum is doing it again and we need your help! We are looking for TYC Interest Forum members to volunteer a little bit of their time during Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20 during the NAEYC Annual Conference to make Tech on Deck the most successful technology in early childhood event. About Tech on Deck Tech on Deck is a professional learning experience designed to help early care and education professionals learn about innovative technologies through hands-on experience and demonstrations at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in conversations on how technology and digital media tools can be integrated into their unique setting. Participants will also have the opportunity to share resources and join the Technology and Young Children Interest Forum (TYCIF).

From a webinar presented on May 9, 2012 on Early Childhood Investigations

From a webinar presented on May 9, 2012 on Early Childhood Investigations.

TotSpot integrates many aspects of technology together to create a Facebook-like network for parents and their child. The network is private and accessible to only account holders. Parents create an account then are able to add their children to the account on their own page. Pages can be shared through friend invite. The parents and children can upload pictures, videos, write journals, create developmental charts, and track milestones. Friends on the account can view items and make comments. With families living far apart and technology on the rise, families can keep track of their childrens' progress (even before birth!)

A friend of mine's three-year-old son can turn on a computer, direct the internet browser to YouTube and search for funny video clips. When I learned this I thought, "there's no way." But it's amazing what kids are capable of. These so-called digital natives never knew of a world without computers, cell phones, or the internet. I read about a couple who develop iPhone games for kids, and use their three-year-old as the guinea pig. Parents often rely on their kids to show them how this stuff works, leaving them wondering how they're supposed to, well, be the parents here. We wanted to find out how parents can encourage their kids' use of technology without losing control. So we called up two experts in the field. First, Warren Buckleitner, editor of Children's Technology Review, and author of a recent study on young children's tech habits, and Lisa Guernsey, senior policy analyst at New America Foundation, and author of the 2007 book Into the Minds of Babes.

Blog on early education policy by the New America Foundation. According to their website, Early Education Watch "provides analysis, reporting, and commentary on early education, with a focus on policies that affect children's access to high-quality, aligned educational programs from ages 3 through 8. I haven't explored the blog well enough yet to see whether it contains information about technology and young children, but it's a good example of using technology to connect early childhood educators with public policy.

I spent some time searching for apps for my granddaughter. I was disappointed to see that there was so many apps focused on letter recognition, number recognition, and shapes, yet not enough open-ended apps that encourage creative and divergent thinking. The iPad has so much potential, but if the software isn't appropriate, it will be of little value.

Hi everyone, I hope you are doing well. I tried to send the plan through the Listserv and I'm not sure if everyone was able to get it. Please follow this link to see a draft of the Tech on Deck plan for the Orlando conference. Last week, I had the pleasure to speak with Stephanie Olmore, director of NAEYC quality enhancement initiatives, regarding "Grandes Comienzo, Futuros Brillantes and the Tech on Deck. She mentioned that NAEYC is exploring to do things differently for the Orlando conference and that they would love to hear from us about how we can make Tech on Deck an event within the conference. I asked her about the possibility of getting donations though NAEYC that are designated to cover the cost of Tech on Deck and she said that this might be doable as they are exploring different things. She said that her team will start having conversations in January and that it will be helpful to have our proposal by then. I would like to have your feedback on the draft plan by December 27. Guiding questions/items: Venue (a room, exhibit hall, throughout the conference) Possible donors Possible speakers Who will or can staff this (volunteers, school, university in Orlando)? Let the discussion begin!

On their Resources page, Tips on Technology for families are offered in both English and Spanish.

I found this website to be very confusing to use. It doesn't seem like it would be very appropriate for young children. There is a chance that a teacher could use it in a early childhood classroom, but overall, most children that young would have a hard time listening to a presentation, even if it was a cool one. Also, Prezi costs money to use so that is definitely a draw back. However, if you were a college professor or even high school teacher, Prezi may be worth the money.

Madelyn, you are right- this is not for use by young children. It is a new type of presentation tool which shifts from the typical slideshow type presentation to one that organizes all of the information components on a single document, and allows the presenter to zoom in on sections of the content, and particulars, to help share ideas. There is a free download version available, which is the one I have started to explore. For example, I have documented the development of our use of Diigo in early childhood settings, and created an image map. That is not visually interesting/accessible when shared as a whole, but might be transferable into a Prezi document which would be. We will see...

PLA Cited in sample in Social Media Class

Describes and links to the new, free One Best Things series of books, created by ADEs, available on the iTunes store http://search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZContentLink.woa/wa/link?path=onebestthing

Until now, there have only been a few broad-brush reports that lump 'technology' into single or narrow categories that don't provide the specifics needed to inform early education directors' decision-making. Some existing studies about young children and technology are focused on technology or television use at home. Other surveys focused on educational technology in K-12 classrooms. This study isolates classroom use of interactive technology tools.