Technology Intergration in Early Childhood

Related Technology in Early Childhood Articles:

CONTENT AREA: An Exploratory Study of How Pre-Kindergarten Children Use the Interactive Multimedia Technology: Implications for Multimedia Software Design
GRADE LEVEL: Pre-K
URL: http://www.aace.org/pubs/child

Min Liu presents a solidly researched observational examination that covers the capabilities pre-kindergartners have for using age-appropriate technology. The researcher sought answers to questions dealing with how pre-kindergartners react to the use of multimedia as an interactive learning tool, what is their performance in acquiring spatial concept skills, and what considerations should be included in the design of children’s multimedia software.

CONTENT AREA: Blackbox in the Sandbox: The Decision to Use Technology With Young Children With Annotated Bibliography of Internet Resources for Teachers of Young Children
GRADE LEVEL: Pre-K
URL: http://dl.aace.org/10551

Rosemary Skeele and Gretchen Stefankiewicz present an objective overview in this article of the pros and cons of technology-based instruction for the pre-kindergarten child. They specifically address the question of the developmental appropriateness of computer-based learning materials for this age group.

CONTENT AREA: Instant Video Revisiting for Reflection: Extending the Learning of Children and Teachers
GRADE LEVEL: Pre-K
URL: http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v5n1/hong.html

This research involved an in-depth study of the effects of instant video revisiting (IVR) as an encouragement to reflective thinking on the part of both teachers and students. It was carried out in two preschool classrooms with children from 2.5 to 5 years old. The study showed that IVR helped children to resolve conflicts by means of reflective thinking and to scaffold their ideas when asked to apply them to story construction.

CONTENT AREA: Technology in the Curriculum/Learning & Technology
GRADE LEVEL: Pre-K
URL: http://www.netc.org/earlyconnections/preschool/curriculum.html

Ways to integrate technology into the preschool curriculum are clearly and concisely given in these two articles. The first has two subheadings, Language Development and Emerging Literacy and Emerging Math Skills. The second article deals with Social Development, Approaches Toward Learning, Language Development, and Cognition and General Knowledge. Bulleted text, as well as wraparound, communicate background information and application strategies for use with young children.

Related Technology Integration Websites:

CONTENT AREA: Early Childhood Educators’ and Family Web Corner
GRADE LEVEL: Pre-K
URL: http://users.stargate.net/~cokids

This is a comprehensive site that has valuable links to other early childhood sites. One of the relevant links for integrating technology into the pre-kindergarten classroom is the Internet for Newbies link. The Teacher Pages link also provides helpful links, including The Internet as a Teaching Tool and Content Sites for Kids on the Internet.

CONTENT AREA: Alfy: The Web Portal for Kids
GRADE LEVEL: PreK
URL: http://www.alfy.com

For preK children, this web site offers an easily accessible format that has animated graphics, interactive stories, activity centers, and much more that, along with a unit of teaching resources and lesson plans from preK teachers that show how to integrate technology into the preK classroom. There is also a Virtual Lesson Planner and a tool for teachers to use to create their own classroom web sites.

CONTENT AREA: Kids1 Space
GRADE LEVEL: PreK
URL: http://www.kids-space.org

How to integrate technology-based learning into the preK classroom is well represented at this web site. Its Mission Statement announces that the purpose of the site is to effect “the future educational use of the Internet” to be “fully beneficial for educational use” and to create an “Internet experience for children through . . . child-focused education in computers and networks.” It offers for the preK teacher links for Creative Activities, Communication Activities, Guide to Learning Sections, Story Book, Beanstalk, Pen Pal Box, Bulletin Board, Web Kids’ Village, and Go Outside, all showing how teachers can and do integrate technology into teaching these little ones, the preK-kids.