Using Technology and Collaboration with Children - 5 views

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  #1 Ellie Brissette on 04 Nov 09

   

  For my technology assignment, I chose to experiment with some websites that deal with artwork, image, and storybook creation and editing. I really enjoyed this exploration and found a few really cool websites that would be great to use in the future with children. I chose to focus more on DoInk and actually make an example of that technology because I found it to be the most open-ended and engaging. DoInk allows you to draw any kind of a picture you want and then use their tools to add animations. The sky is the limit in terms of what kind of a picture you want to make and how you want to make it move. Something that makes this site so great is the ability to collaborate with others and use their ideas to enhance your own. For example, I used a pre-made background and added my own drawings to the forefront. You can search for props to add, and there are plenty to choose from--anything you can think of, really.
  As far using this in an early childhood setting, I think there are a few limitations. First of all, it wouldn't be a good idea to let the child explore the site freely because there are some inappropriately themed animations that probably were not intended for children to see. Secondly, you have to be 13 to set up an account. I think that's important because it's obviously the suggested age to use the site based on maturity levels and capabilities. Don't get me wrong--I think this is a really fun, interesting, and interactive site; however, with young children I think adults would need to help out a good bit. One idea would be to allow the child to draw the picture because it's a really simple process and then ask what kind of animations they want to add to it. The animation part is tricky, and I don't think that a child under 10 would be able to figure it out for themselves.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">For my technology assignment, I chose to experiment with some websites that deal with artwork, image, and storybook creation and editing. I really enjoyed this exploration and found a few really cool websites that would be great to use in the future with children. I chose to focus more on DoInk and actually make an example of that technology because I found it to be the most open-ended and engaging. DoInk allows you to draw any kind of a picture you want and then use their tools to add animations. The sky is the limit in terms of what kind of a picture you want to make and how you want to make it move. Something that makes this site so great is the ability to collaborate with others and use their ideas to enhance your own. For example, I used a pre-made background and added my own drawings to the forefront. You can search for props to add, and there are plenty to choose from--anything you can think of, really. <br /> As far using this in an early childhood setting, I think there are a few limitations. First of all, it wouldn't be a good idea to let the child explore the site freely because there are some inappropriately themed animations that probably were not intended for children to see. Secondly, you have to be 13 to set up an account. I think that's important because it's obviously the suggested age to use the site based on maturity levels and capabilities. Don't get me wrong--I think this is a really fun, interesting, and interactive site; however, with young children I think adults would need to help out a good bit. One idea would be to allow the child to draw the picture because it's a really simple process and then ask what kind of animations they want to add to it. The animation part is tricky, and I don't think that a child under 10 would be able to figure it out for themselves.</div>

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