UWW310 Technology & Early Childhood

While today's parents worry about the impact of technology on the developing brains of young children, new research points to the potential value of touch screen devices as effective learning tools for toddlers.

Interesting read on depression associated with technology

Effective steps in limiting your child's screen time. Learn how to use technology as a consequence or a reward for your child. The important thing is to focus on one behavior at a time,and stay consistent.

Is excessive screen time making our kids fat? What other problems can computers be causing and how can we fix it?

Each new kind of technology has brought about enthusiasm and concerns for our children over the years.

I love this video series on Youtube. It's PBS, which is cool in its own right, but this host gives great commentary and some good data to back up why Minecraft is an awesome educational tool.

A recent Radio Boston story about how classrooms in Massachusetts are implementing tablets and the potential short term and long term impacts of technology and extended screentime will have on children.

Article focuses on new technology concerns for young children, as new innovations promise educational benefits.

Analyzing the effect of early media exposure on children. The article explains how early exposure to age-appropriate programs designed around an educational curriculum is associated with cognitive and academic enhancement, whereas exposure to pure entertainment, and violent content in particular, is associated with poorer cognitive development and lower academic achievement.

Credits ERIC Counseling and Student Services Clearinghouse Overview When to Introduce Children to Computers Developmentally Appropriate Computer Activities Computers for Kindergartners and Early Primary Children Benefits of Computer Use Integration of Computers Into the Classroom Teacher Training Education and Kids Guidelines for Computer-Assisted Reading Instruction New Survey Finds Computer Units Have Positive Effect on the American Family Whether we use technology with young children--and if so, how-are critical issues facing early childhood educators and parents.

Technology can be used to keep communication open between children and their deployed military parents. For a child to be able to see the face of their parent or to hear their voice can help to keep them connected while the parent is away.

Interesting to see that some classroom teachers are using simulated games for lessons. Not sure how I feel about it, but it is sure an interesting read!

The downside to technology in classrooms and constantly being "plugged in" as a student. 

The benefits of virtual schooling and distance learning.

Saw this on the news. Interesting take on Cyberbullying....it's not technologies fault (according to the author of this article) and kids will be bullied regardless....that is true, but technology makes it much easier. 

This article focuses on children's early communicative and creative experiences, concluding that digital technologies have the potential to expand young children's repertoire of activities in this context, It is therefore important that pre-school and early years specialists recognizes and respond to the expertise children will have already developed by the time they enter formal education, given the increasing technologisa-tion of communicative and creative activities, likely to continue over the life course of those born at the start of the 21st century.

This article looks at the dilemma of whether or not to include technology in an early childcare setting. Technology can provide additional resources and experiences for children and can be a dynamic addition to a classroom setting when used appropriately.

For early childcare programs that are looking to add technology to their classrooms, consider tablets. They are easier for younger children to manipulate and they can provide more of a hands on learning experience than a traditional computer.