MakingConnections

"If you have a young learner in your house, you're probably already gearing up for the fall, buying new backpacks and enjoying the last few weeks of summer. For those of you looking for advice on how to use digital media with young children at home or in school, we've collected this roundup of key messages from the past few months on our blog."

This is the video that Candace shared in her email. "If we invest in programs that promote learning beginning at birth, the statistics will change, the stories will change, the future will change."

"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."

"The Cooney Center catalyzes change by disseminating research that informs the national debate, stimulating investment in effective reforms. It does so through its publications on timely topics, including the landscape of children's interactive media, mobile learning, and the debates over media multitasking - all of which have received national media attention."

"Every session in the Early Childhood Investigations Webinar Series is recorded"

"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."

Good article

"Choose up to 10 photos and record 10 pieces of audio to create your own spinner. Press or shake the spinner and it will randomly land in one of the segments. Press the settings button to add your photos to the spinner. It will load your photo folder to choose from. Press record to record your audio, then press stop, play it back or re-record your audio."

"riting books with or for young children supports literacy skills and creative thinking. Come to this session ready to learn new ways of making books and experience software programs and apps that educators, parents and children can use to produce e-books for viewing electronically. Attendees will learn about eBooks as well as several iOS apps that can be used to create custom eBooks that support and enhance the reading and writing process and content area knowledge. Be ready to create, design and publish your own e-publication and share it with others!"

"Stories About Me allows parents and teachers to create their own social stories for their children and students. Blending photos, text, and voice recordings into a talking picture book, children can playback rich media stories of their own personal experiences. Swiping advances the pages and tapping plays the audio; simple as that! Creating, editing, and ordering stories is easy and simple. Sharing stories with others who have the app and backing them up is made possible with Dropbox integration. Parental lock feature prevents accidental edits or deletions."

As a national and international resource for addressing emerging issues affecting children from birth to age 5, the Center continues Fred's commitment to building bridges between early learning and children's media. The work of the Fred Rogers Center resonates with Fred's own belief in the positive potential of television and new media for supporting the healthy social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of young children.

"My PlayHome is a doll house for the iGeneration. Imagine a doll house where your child can use everything, even the closets, TV and shower. Where you can fry an egg and feed the family pizza. Where you can pour drinks, blow bubbles and turn out the lights."

"Making a book for children has never been so easy. In several hours of pure fun you will get an amazing result. Spend some quality time with your kids and get them excited about books."

"Last week, I had the privilege of attending the National Association for the Education of Young Children conference in Atlanta, perhaps the nation's largest gathering of early childhood education professionals. It was an absolutely exhilarating weekend, and I cannot thank the organizers at NAEYC, the panelists or my fellow conference-goers enough for all your great insights. "

"Young children are increasingly using tablets (as well as smartphones and other devices with touch screens) in early education settings and with family members. This raises important questions, such as when and how these devices can be used with young children."

Can create online videos using a child's pictures plus other online activities. From the JibJab people

Creative  Communicating -Pati King-DeBaun iPad app

The Application Evaluation Rubric provided below will assist schools to select applications appropriate to their context.