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5 Anchors For Using Technology To Teach Reading by Paul France, NBCT, InspirED Teaching reading is an art filled with limiting factors: motivation, vocabulary, decoding, and comprehension are only a few of the comprehensive skills or...

Interesting take on ICT role in the Australian curriculum stating it should be separately assessed. This is a good point but I still feel it integrates across all learning areas and needs to be up to the teacher how they use ICT. I agree though that a subject teaching the skills and workings of ICT is a good idea and there does seem a huge variation as to how much ICT is used in the classroom. This article may be a bit dated (2011)....

15 reasons to use ict

Believe this could be really beneficial info for Assignment 1 in regards to why we should enable the use of ICT with in the classroom - hopefully you will be able to resonate with a few pointers in context to something you may have experienced or be familiar with.

I read a very interesting article written by Joke Voogt (the Netherlands), Chris Dede (USA).Ola Erstad (Norway), which discusses the importance of ICTs in 21t century learning. They reiterated on the topic that "rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICT) are continuously transforming the way in which we live, work and learn." They explored they skills that are required for living and working in the 21st century: collaboration, communication, digital literacy, citizenship, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, productivity. I agree with Voogt and Dede when they say that "an important change has taken place in the way new digital tools and collaborative environments have enhanced learning, from an emphasis on reproducing information and content to content creation and sharing in virtual environments, which some describe as a remixing culture. There are 3 main literacies that we need to develop: Technological literacy (to be aware of the interplay between technology and society), ICT literacy (the skills needed to make effective and efficient use of ICT) and Information literacy (the capacity to access information efficiently and effectively) (Voogt and Dede, 2011). I think the biggest statement that they make is "using ICT to shift our educational structures from industrial era schools to new types of 21st century formal educational models is important" (Voogt & Dede, 2011). I believe schools are now on the edge of this shift, but some educators are reluctant. I mean to make that shift, to evaluate how I use ICTs in the classroom and how I use them to transform learning, not just to use them as 'add-ons'.

Using technology in the early years

Article from the New York Times talking about how some of their (quite amazing) photos can be used in a class setting. Lots of advice on how.

Journal paper that talks about a particular use of ICT in learning. May be referenced a bit in the week 2 learning path to touch on "why" ICT is used with pedagogy. *Abstract* Slowmation is a twenty-first century digital literacy educational tool. This teaching and learning tool has been incorporated as an assessment strategy in the curriculum area of science and mathematics with pre-service teachers (PSTs). This paper explores two themes: developing twenty-first century digital literacy skills and modelling best practice assessment tools. In the growing debate about the impact of multi-model representations, researchers such as Hoban and Nielsen, and Brown, Murcia and Hackling emphasise the development of conceptual understandings and semiotics. This paper focuses on PSTs' experiences of and reflections on Slowmation as an educational tool. Data was collected from a cohort of final year PSTs who created, presented and reflected on their Slowmation process.

A blog of an Early Childhood teacher who uses differentiated instruction to develop fun learning activities to help develop fine motor skills in young children. This teacher uses a variety of fun art activities that help children learn site words and sounds, letter formation and recognition, word construction and learning to count and sort shapes, while also strengthening up the children's fine motor skills.

Video of young learners giving instructions to a bee-bot to play snakes and ladders while practicing their numeracy skills.

Hi David, This looks like something new and fun but is it? Is this technology replacing, enhancing or transforming learning? Also there are only 8 children in the video in a real prep class there would be 20 plus and they would not be as calm and well mannered when taking turns. Seems like fun for a small group all the same.

Detailed blog post outlining some reservations and limitation around the research around Dweck's Growth Mindset. An idea used early in this course. Reinforcing the idea to keep a skeptical view of your theories.

This website is set up for Early Childhood educators to make life easier. Its quote is "We all need to work together to make the Early Years Framework a reality". It contains links to interactive ICT websites and advice on the following topics: Being, Belonging, Becoming Reggio Emilia Learning through Play Social & Emotional Development Communication Skills Learning Literacy Learning Numeracy Equal Access for All Consistent Curriculum Smooth Transition Partnerships Quality assurance Activities for Little Kids ICT for Littlies Australian Early Years Framework Regulation Videos Other Early Years Links Recipes safe for kids

Its great to hear people say that we need to work together. I remember years ago a friend of mine (who was a Grade 6 teacher) told me of her frustration when she would encourage her students and they were alive with excitement to learn and explore and the work they handed in was exceptional from her point of view. However, six months into the next year she would be so disappointed because the grades of the Year 7 students would be declining and their attitude was one of apathy. What she wanted to do was to work with the Year 7 teacher so with a combined effort they could assist the students to continue their positive attitude throughout their time at upper primary school. The Year 7 teacher felt threatened and the sad cycle continued. When I read http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/blog-early-blog-often-the-secret-to-making-boys-write-properly-2211232.html as well as http://www.letthechildrenplay.net I was thrilled to hear what great progress is being made by teachers/schools when they collaborate. Thanks for the info.

If you're contemplating using Project-Based Learning or are already trying out the latest craze to hit the modern classroom, you should know about this checklist. It details if you're actually doing it correctly. For example, does your project focus on significant content, develop 21st century skills, and engage students in in-depth inquirty (just to name a few)?

Technology is an integral part of children's everyday lives and at home they come in contact with mobile phones, television remote controls and toys that have buttons and particular functions. Whilst outside the home they see cash registers, bar-code scanners, traffic lights, automatic doors, security cameras, the list can go on and on.

Very interesting, with some twists on the conventional ways to problem solve. Worth a look at the graphics.

What can you learn from gaming? From Minecraft?

A summary of work done by a World Bank supported group. Attempts to summarise what is known about the use of ICT in education -- original shared by Lisa Stewart

what do we know about successful pedagogical strategies?

Interactive calendar for the Early Years students found in: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/May-Interactive-Flipchart-Calendar-222952 * What learning area/year level you think you might use this. This can be used in kindergarten and the first years of primary school. It promotes language development (learning the names and the written form of the days of the week) and number recognition. * What it is you like about the flipchart. It is interactive and allows the children to take over, giving them ownership of their own learning. * Any problems you think it might have. Prior to downloading this, it requires a relevant application to be installed.

Ms Cassidy's blog documents the interesting and valuable learning achievements of her students. Her blog offers a great variety of lesson ideas, including those which involve ICTs such as twitter to communicate with other learners from around the world and enhance the learning experience of all.

This blog site is up to date and relevant, providing an inside look at the class practice with current photos and videos.

I found this blog really interesting as it shows the children are engaged in using ICT in the classroom with their own blogs and videos of their work. It also shows the use of not using ICT with lots of hands on experiences. I think it shows the importance of using both in the classroom depending on what your learning. I will definitely keep a close eye on this blog.