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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.

"A Wetpaint website is built on the power of collaborative thinking. Here, you can create websites that mix all the best features of wikis, blogs, forums and social networks into a rich, user-generated community based around the whatever-it-is that rocks your socks. A social website that's so easy to use, anyone can participate."\n About Us. (2009). retrieved February 28, 2009 , from WetPaint Web Site: http://www.wetpaint.com/page/about \n\n Technology has become such a great assessment and device to drive and promote learning in the classroom. I believe that it would behoove teachers to take advantages of these new tools and incorporate them in the classroom. Technology has open so many new ways to allow teachers and students to collaborate while learning, and WetPaint is the way to go. By using WetPaint, Teachers can create blogs for their classrooms; which may include, syllabus, information, assignment, etc. The students of the classroom can join the bog and post new information, ask questions, work on projects, etc. WetPaint can be used in classrooms of different ages. The teacher can disable ads and other information that children may not need to see. Parents can also read the blogs. This allows a chance for parents to know what their children are learning and promote these ideas at home. WetPaint is can become child-directed, if the teacher is will to make it that way. If teachers allow children a chance to learn about and experience this in the classroom, WetPaint can become a very child-directed technology. The possibilities are endless with using WetPaint.

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).

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.

A mom's blog with ideas for using technology with children in productive ways.

Bummer, this was last updated in January 2009. This looked nice!

This site provides many examples of websites that parents or teachers could use with their children. Links are given with detailed descriptions, uses of the technology, and an example is provided that this mother used with her children. Examples of technology include make-your-own poster online and make-your-own video consisting of your photos.

The EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative's (ELI's) 7 Things You Should Know About... series provides concise information on emerging learning technologies and related practices. Each brief focuses on a single technology or practice and describes: What it is; How

"that we can lead examined lives with our technology. That each of us, in our everyday interactions, can choose between letting technology shape us and shaping it towards human purposes, even towards honoring what we hold dear."

Review of technology tools and resources for children - includes interesting articles about how to use technology with children.

A great resource of technology review for early elementary education

Presented by Susan Gunnewig on supporting early learners with technology through good design, meaningful context, appropriate content, and providing activities and approaches that match children's development and readiness levels.

Topic: Understanding why educational technology must be carefully evaluated by programs considering its use, and how they can skillfully do so.

"Technology is just a piece of the whole, and that what we really want to make sure we get is the whole." Jeannie Crowley, Bank Street College

Nice quote at the end of the video, around 2:17

In the Washington Post: A collaboration between Verizon and ISTE helps teachers integrate educational technology in middle schools in PG County, MD. So, where's the money and interest in ECE?

EdcampME is a FREE technology un-conference for preK-12 educators across the state/region interested in sharing, learning and collaborating about use of technology in the classroom. A conference for teachers, by teachers! Learn more and register here! Date: March 31st at the Waynflete School, Portland, ME

This piece is baseless. There are no references and citations. For a thoughtful and insightful response, see this piece by Gary Stager, who happens to be an educational technology expert, which Carlsonnn-Paige is not: http://stager.tv/blog/?p=2893

Thanks for sharing Gary's rebuttal. I didn't agree with Carlsson-Paige's piece either, but it's important for those of us in the field to hear what is being said, so we can answer it intelligently (as Gary has done very well!)

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