EC Technology – Making the most of what we know

Missouri District Professional Church-Workers Conference

November 2014Drew D. Gerdes

You can view and print this entire presentation at:

www.slideshare.net/dgerdes

Handouts…

Why are you here?

What do you hope to gain from today?

What do you want to know?

You Are Here!

Goals For Today

Learn something new!

Gain insight in a variety of strategies.

Be affirmed in what you are already doing.

Expand your thought process.

A Look Back to the Past

A Look Back to the Past

A Look Back to the Past

One More Look Back to the Past

Ok…Maybe A Few More…

Served a specific purpose and was deemed necessary for a particular time period in our

culture.

Was sometimes considered a luxury.

Eventually became a common feature.

Eventually faded into the past.

Everything We Just Viewed…

Modern Advances

What are some modern advances that we could not live without today?

How have these modern advances

impacted people of today?

Technology

Technology is here to stay, so embrace it!

Think of the many ways technology is

your friend!

Everyone Has A Car…But A Different Car

We Are All Different!

We all have different interests and abilities

in technology.

That’s okay!

The key is how we can grow and learn something new.

We want our students to grow and learn – so we must look in the mirror and have the same expectations.

Teaching Young Children

No matter what age of children we work with, we are to educate the

whole child!

SpirituallyAcademicallySocially, etc.

Is it right for us to withhold an area of development and

learning from a child?

Developmentally Appropriate Practices!

Technology Is…

Already in our classroom…where?

Used in a variety of different ways…

Important…

Already in the hands of the children…

Arguments against the use of technology in play point to children’s need for concrete, first-hand playful experiences in order to promote

cognitive development.

However, we must rethink play in the digital age. It’s not going anywhere, and your

students are already using it in different forms.

Nature and context of technology use…

Technology Research

It’s Technological Candy!

There are 3 ways in which technology intersects with play:

1. Its use FOR play2. Its incorporation INTO play

3. Its use to INFORM play

Children draw on their experiences with technology to inform their play quite often.

Technology Research

Technology Research

This book has some of the latest and most updated research on the use of technology and impacts of digital

media on young children available.

Copyright 2015!

Technology is a tool for social-emotional development

Educators need more preparation

Media-based literacy instruction can be beneficial

STEM!!!!

Strengthens the Home-School connection

Individual teachers make the use of technology successful

Technology Research

Mr. Rogers

Fred’s instinct in the 1950’s was to be

excited and challenged by new media, never to be afraid or put off by it. It was the potential of new media to play a constructive role in the

development and education of young

children that inspired him.

More Mr. Rogers

Fred went into television because he hated it. He knew it was not beneficial for

kids – but that kids would watch it.

His “ministry” was to provide constructive

media that puts children first!

Still More Mr. Rogers

Technology and any type of technological devise is simply an additional tool for

learning.

“No matter what the machine may be, it

was people who thought it up and made it, and it’s people who

make it work.”

We don’t know which way technological advances are heading.

We don’t know what is coming next.What you purchase in the store today is

already old technology.

Research is not fully available on all the impacts.

A Tricky/Sticky Situation

But…There Is Help…

Research Is Still Being Done

Some Surprises:

CooperationCollaboration

Digital CitizenshipConnection to the real

world

When used intentionally and appropriately, technology is an effective tool to support

learning and development.

What are the KEY WORDS here?Beneficial when used within the framework of

developmentally appropriate practice to support learning goals for children.

Expand knowledge in hands-on, engaging, and empowering ways.

An Effective Tool

One Example of Technology as an Effective Tool

The teacher leads a group discussion about

shapes with the children. Next, she

displays an image of the school’s

playground on the interactive whiteboard.

The teacher asks a child to trace the

outline of a shape she sees on the picture.

Through ongoing professional development, teachers learn to

effectively select, use, integrate, and evaluate technology.

Keep up with rapidly changing technologies and implications for their use.

Some of the best PD comes through play and exploration! Hands-on for teachers, too!

Evaluate Technology

It is important to limit children’s use of technology and media.

This is a tricky one!Public health organizations offer

recommendations about the appropriate amount of screen time for young children.Teachers need to monitor screen time use.

Limit Technology

For infants and toddlers, educators must be more selective when choosing

technology.

For this age group, only technologies that support responsive interactions between

teachers and children and strengthen adult-child relationships should be used.

More Limits on Technology

Some People May Ask…

What is a developmentally

appropriate use of technology with an infant or toddler?

Thoughts and ideas?

One Example…

Using a tablet, Mrs. Smith takes pictures of Ryan as he plays with a ball. Ryan is interested in the tablet and sits on Mrs. Smith’s lap. She shows him the

last picture taken and asks, “Where are your eyes?”

Ryan laughs and points to his eyes on the screen.

www.hatchearlychildhood.com

Provides computer learning systems, classroom supplies, and educational resources for early

childhood education.

They want to sell you items, but they have a plethora of free resources and ideas!

HATCH

www.teccenter.erikson.edu

The TEC Center at Erikson Institute empowers early childhood educators to make informed decisions about the appropriate use of technology with children from

birth to age 8. Through carefully selected resources and real-world examples, the Center strengthens educators’ digital literacy and their ability to intentionally select,

use, integrate, and evaluate technology in the classroom and other early childhood settings.

Erikson Tech Center

Unfortunately…

The secular world takes it a bit too far…

Companies want to “cash in” on technology.

Not appropriate one bit!

More Unfortunate News…

Recently released…

TabeoToys-R-Us

Less than $150 and contains pre-selected

apps.

What are your thoughts?

Technology is a tool.

There are good uses for technology.

Yes, children can touch and use technological devices.

Let’s take a look at some “official” uses.

Back To What Is Appropriate Use

Exactly what is it?!?!

What do you think?

It’s how we use technology in safe, healthy, acceptable, responsible, and socially positive ways.

Making sure children have equal access to technology.

Good Digital Citizenship

The early childhood field needs ongoing research on the use of technology and

young children.

Research helps educators better understand how young children learn and use technology.

Short and long-term effects.Research guides policy and evidence-based

practices.

In A Nutshell…

In Your Classroom

What do you find to be the most used

technological items used in an early

childhood classroom?

Briefly discuss at your table.

Be ready to report!

Computers

Desktop and Laptop computers have been available in the early childhood classroom

for some time.

CD Roms…Software programs…

Web-based!!!

No need to save, store, or remember where

you put it!

Web-Based Technology Programs

One of the most readily available technology

uses is from web-based sites; Internet.

Many resources are free and take little

time/effort to manage.

How do you locate a good website?

What constitutes a good, developmentally-appropriate website for young children?

How do you manage children working at laptops or desktops?

How long should they use these devices?

How many children can use a device at a time?

Good Websites For Young Children

www.starfall.com

www.abcya.com

www.jcplayzone.com

www.pbskids.org

Interactive WhiteBoards

What is it?SmartBoard

A large interactive display that connects to a computer and

projector. A projector projects the computer's desktop onto the

board's surface where users control the computer using a pen, finger, stylus, or other

device. The board is typically mounted to a wall or floor stand.

What Else Can You Do?

Thankfully, you never have to create your

own activity!

There are thousands of activities already available online!

Just sign up for FREE!

Reading Stories Together

www.wegivebooks.org Free!

Many great kids books: favorites, classics, new ones,

too!

Kids turn pages, etc.Great large-group activity.

Bonus to support charities, too!

IWB’s are a tool. They are simply a resource for learning. Nothing can take the place of

real, hands-on learning within the context of the child’s environment.

Utilize child/adult communication. Ask questions as to why a child is doing an activity a certain way. Without rich communication, an

IWB is just a big video screen.

Always Remember…

SmartTables

It’s an IWB…just horizontal!

Cool…but expensive!

According to Drew…

If money is an issue and big obstacle – don’t try to purchase technology for your school/classroom!

As Christian stewards, money should be used carefully.

Priorities!

Money, Money, Money…

Tablet and iPads are basically the same thing. An iPad is a type of Tablet. Apple has the biggest

niche in the Tablet industry.

Ponder for a moment…how many of your students already use an iPad, iPod, or iPhone?

Current statistics suggest 85% of 3 year-olds are familiar with this type of technology already.

Tablets & iPads

iPads and Preschoolers

Let’s take a brief look at this video…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGbDgSpWAak

You are in my prayers…

For continued success in your ministry!For more opportunities to learn!

THANK YOU for being a special person in a Lutheran School!

Congrats & Blessings

Contact Me Anytime!

Drew D. GerdesEarly Childhood

DirectorMessiah Lutheran

SchoolWeldon Spring, MO

dgerdes@messiahnetwork.org

On Facebook:Education Ease

On Twitter:@ddgerdes