UWW310 Technology & Early Childhood

Due to budget cuts elementary school classes have to be much larger. In order to accomodate all students, computers are being used. Available in both audio and text.

An article written and researched by the Brian Harvey Computer Science Division University of California, Berkeley. Outlines cognitive effects, highlights use of the web, and the importance of human touch.

The first tip in this article is "Get the Wiggles out" and ends with "Create a safe environment". A basic guide for introducing children to technology.

I really liked this article, I agree and am excited to have technology (computer) better understand a child learning style, speed, level... "McGraw-Hill's LEAD21 reading program, which offers a personalized and interactive experience for various reading levels. It can adjust vocabulary, concepts, word counts, font size and spacing for different grade and age levels." I wonder how personalized it is, will it learn the child's learning style and adapt to it?

Interesting how they recommend letting the kids work together in groups with the "more advanced students serving as peer tutors." Score one more vote for collaboration!

The article discuss Gardner and a diversity of learning styles (multiple intelligences) - if these are discernable at such a young age and technology is used to enhance these intelligences, is the development of a well rounded child being ignored?

Interesting article and perspective from Early Childhood educator, recommendations for children over aged three, a they do not see computers/technology as being developmentally appropriate for children under age three.

The Waldorf School in California believes that technology does not belong in their school for the 14 years of age and under. They even frown on parents that let their children have computer devices at home. These children are still learning their basic math, reading, and writing skills without the aid of a computer, IPad, or any technology. Yet these children are able to do critical thinking, math and literacy at the appropriate learning stages.

A study describing how early childhood educators are able to understand the use of technology themselves showing that 60% of educators are knowledgeable with technology, cameras, ipods etc..and how educators are looking at integrating technology in their classroom. The positive and the negative effects

This is an article about the benefits of reading aloud to children. It helps with vocabulary/

This group has been established around the Ed Tech Crew podcast to share site, information, links, ideas and thoughts. Please feel free to join and to add any great links or ideas; the more the better so we can share them with an amazing world of students, teachers and anyone really.

This article talks about how computers affect children physically, intellectually, socially, and psychologically. It also says how children will be use computers in their futures. I think this link will help explain the behavior of children we will be educating one day.

An article written by Scholastic describing how scissor were introduced in 1761 was new an inventive similar to how computers are to children today. This article gives guidelines in how to introduce your young child to technology and what children may know when entering kindergarten about computers.

Cool site with Pops of information - quick highlights of information on school topics presented in a way a middle school age child would find appealing.

This article explores the implications of young learners' dispositions towards the use of digital technologies in contemporary early childhood settings. It is proposed that young learners have grown up in very different social conditions from previous generations, mainly through the saturation of digital technologies, in particular computers.

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aCenter on the Developing Child at Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts; bHuman Sciences Research Council and the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; cCenter for Universal Education, Brookings Institution, and the Amsterdam Institute for International Development, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands and dDivision of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan Abstract Building a strong foundation for healthy development in the early years of life is a prerequisite for individual well-being, economic productivity, and harmonious societies around the world.

As part of a diagnosis and tutoring project in an elementary education reading course, a pre-service teacher was encouraged to use an iPad as the vehicle for intervention strategies with a fifth grade struggling reader with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The device not only helped the student focus attention, it facilitated his becoming much more metacognitive in his reading.