Group items tagged

"Research supports that young children are developmentally ready and able to engage with educational technology in ways that promote positive outcomes in school readiness and success in early schooling. To fully realize the potential of such opportunities however means understanding why educational technology must be carefully evaluated by programs considering its use, and how they can skillfully do so. In this webinar, you will learn about the key components that influence educational technology including the theories that drive the field and best practices in designing for young learners. We will share a roadmap of the elements to consider in evaluating the quality of early childhood educational technology. Some of the areas we will discuss are determining if the educational technology is based on how children best learn, if outcomes are defined and if they are appropriate, and to what extent the educational technology can be integrated into the classroom. "

"A growing research literature confirms educational technology has a major, positive impact on social-emotional, cognitive, language, and academic outcomes for young children. Supporting early learners means attention to good design, such as being success-based, offering a meaningful context for children, being developmentally appropriate through providing content needed for school success, and providing activities and approaches that match children's development and readiness levels. Whether they come to the technology with fewer skills due to less opportunity, with a language other than English, or as young special needs children; educational technology can support young learners' success in early schooling. In this webinar, you will learn about all these elements, with a special emphasis on how early literacy and mathematics learning can be supported with educational technology. We will then have a dialogue about where educational technology for early learners is currently in the context of 21st Century Classrooms and what you see as needed critical future directions."

"The purpose of the Use of Technology to Support Head Start Practice project was to review the knowledge base related to the use of technology to support the practice of early childhood professionals who work directly with children and families. The results were intended to fill a knowledge gap regarding what technologies are currently available to early childhood programs; how practitioners are using these technologies; and the barriers to and facilitators for practitioner use. The review examined three topic areas of interest: 1) instruction and assessment; 2) parent, family and community engagement (PFCE); and 3) professional development and informal learning. It also outlined both the facilitators and barriers to effective technology use in early childhood settings."

"The future success of our children will depend not only on how wisely they use technology, but also on how well they are capable of navigating ever changing forms of technology. This lens will introduce both educators and parents to basic apps and creative ways to use technology at home or in the early childhood classroom."

"Technology and Young Learners "Resources and stories of technology used with young learners" RSS"

"Yet, despite rapid growth in society's use of digital technology, many children in low-income families in the United States are not able to access and use technology in the same ways as their more-advantaged peers. This means they have fewer opportunities to learn, explore, and communicate digitally, and fewer chances to develop the workforce skills they will need to succeed in later life. Early childhood education can play a valuable role in ensuring that low-income children can access technology and learn how to use it. However, there are a number of important issues that need to be addressed."

"The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) recently released a report reviewing the knowledge base related to the use of technology to support the practice of early childhood practitioners who work directly with children and families. The report, Uses of Technology to Support Early Childhood Practice, is accompanied by three related research-to-practice briefs: Instruction and Assessment Brief Parent, Family and Community Engagement (PFCE) Brief Professional Development and Informal Learning Brief"

"Assistive Technology The SEEDS Workgroup on Early Education Technology (SWEET) was created in August 2005 to address one of the seventeen topical areas identified by early intervention staff throughout the State of California. The purpose of the SWEET is to connect California's early intervention programs and families to Assistive Technology (AT) resources for young children with disabilities."

Imagine a monthly Consumer Reports style publication, dedicated solely to children's technology products. Children's Technology Review (CTR) is designed to keep you up-to-date on the latest technology products for children birth to 15 years of age.

"ACTTT used a variety of technology tools to support its curriculum activities. The list below offers explanations of the kinds of tools used and offers tips to teachers about selecting and using the technologies."

"This study explored the viability of tablet computers in early education by investigating preschool children's ease in acclimating to tablet technology and its effectiveness in engaging them to draw. A total of 41 three- to six-yearold children were videotaped while they used the tablets. The study found significant differences in level of tablet use between sessions, and engagement increased with age. Teachers reported high child interest and drawings as typical to above expectation. Children quickly developed ease with the stylus for drawing. Although technical issues in learning this new technology were encountered, children were interested and persisted without frustration. What seems to matter for children's learning is the ways teachers choose to implement this technology."

"Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8 Issued by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media at Saint Vincent College"

"Welcome to Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years: Tools for Teaching and Learning. The work of 25 contributing authors, this bookoffers early childhood teacher educators, professional development providers and early childhood educators in pre-service, in-service and continuing education settings a thought-provoking guide to effective, appropriate and intentional use of technology with young children. "

"To help, we are pleased to introduce a checklist that brings together recommendations from all of these experts. This checklist is meant to help educators identify exemplary uses of technology and interactive media for early learning. ("

"Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years: Big Ideas, Best Practices and Future Directions, by Chip Donohue, Ph.D."

"Prekindergarten teacher Yeliz Zurawic talks about how she integrates technology in her classroom environment along with her approach to selecting content for the different technologies in this TEC Center video.  "

"With the proliferation of AAC apps, it seems that many people quickly get or want to get an AAC app for their child with an autism spectrum disorder. It is awesome and amazing to see so many people who need AAC begin to have access to AAC. But once there is accessibility, it is not always readily apparent what to do and it is like any technology or gadget, if you don't learn how to USE it, it could become like the 'proverbial treadmill clothes hanger' or abandoned musical instrument."

"This workshop defines technology integration as it related to emergent literacy. It provides examples of ways software can be used to assist children in developing early literacy skills and behaviors. Several integrated curriculum activities are included in the workshop. Information and activities using adaptations are also provided. "

"he TEC Center at Erikson Institute empowers early childhood educators to thoughtfully and appropriately use technology in the classroom and other early childhood settings"

"Digital Decisions for active preschool classrooms. Practical technology ideas, tools, and advice by early childhood educators, specifically for early childhood educators."