1. Cool
C l Technology Tools i
h l l in
Early Childhood
…for the Tech-Savvy, Technology
Novices, and Everyone in Between
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2. Where We re Going
We’re
Attitudes about technology
What makes technology useful in
early childhood?
Tips for using technology in early
childhood
hildh d
Cautions and challenges with
technology
Cool tech tools and web resources
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4. Technology in ECE?
Benefits Challenges
Authentic way to Passive activity
explore new topics
p p Unequal access to
Chance to create tech tools
Way to share Can be overused
creations and Safety concerns
receive feedback for c d e o
o children online
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Supports critical Easy access to
thinking inappropriate
pp p
Chance to work content
together 4
5. Problems with “Drill and Kill”
“Drill Kill”
Decreases creativity
Reduces problem solving
Reduces children’s motivation to use
R d hild ’ i i
computers
Increases frustration
Requires q
q quick reaction time
No way out
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6. Four Uses of Technology
1. Teacher planning and collaboration
T h l i d ll b ti
2. Communication with families
3. Direct teaching with children
4.
4 Hands on
Hands-on discovery learning
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7. The World is Changing…
Technology is a part of our society
society.
Children born today will be “digital
natives.
natives ”
Children see adults using technology.
“Web 2.0” has changed our ways of
understanding the world.
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8. Web 2.0
The web is no longer just a source of
static information.
Users expect to contribute to
content.
Content changes much more quickly.
C h h i kl
Collected knowledge
How do we know what to trust?
Image from www.learnit2.com/tutorial%20018/index.html
I f l it2 /t t i l%20018/i d ht l
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10. The “Computer Question” Is
Changing
Ch i
The “old” question: Should young
old
children use computers?
The “new” question: When and how
new
should young children be introduced
to technology?
gy
How early is too early?
What’s developmentally appropriate in
Preschool?
Early elementary?
Later elementary?
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11. Technology for young
children should be…
hild h ld b
Developmentally appropriate
Used only when it’s the best tool
Available as just another learning
material
Used for exploration and discovery
A chance for collaborative learning
Available to ll hild
A il bl t all children
Adult-monitored!
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12. Some Types of Technology
Digital cameras
Music players (ipods and others)
Digital i
Di i l microscopes
Digital whiteboards
Smart toys
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13. Tech Example: The ProScope
Digital USB microscope
Hand-held and portable
Child-safe
Can be used to examine almost
anything
Images saved as digital photos or
videos
Costs about $250
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16. Creative Tech Ideas
Create a digital alphabet!
C t di it l l h b t!
Image from www.alphabetphotography.ca
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17. Creative Tech Ideas
Comic Life
Here’s a sample of what
you can do with Comic Software package
p g
Life in about 5 minutes! Quick way to share
photos in a meaningful
way
Relatively inexpensive
($29.95)
www.plasq.com
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24. Cool Tools on the Web
Collaborative Document Creation
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25. Cool Tools on the Web
Image Sharing and Commenting
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26. Cool Tools on the Web
Social Bookmarking
Bookmark collection
Accessible f
A ibl from any computer
Can be shared with others
Communication tools
Commenting on links
Highlights and sticky notes
Discussion topic threads
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27. Keeping Children Safer
Online
O li
Always review websites thoroughly
Watch for similar addresses!
Set limits on children’s online access
Supervise carefully
Teach children “ f surfing”
T h hild “safe fi ”
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28. Questions?
Dr. Diane B l
D Di Bales
Cooperative Extension
The University of Georgia
dbales@uga.edu
g
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