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Helping Children Create, Collaborate, and Communicate—with Technology
Children are growing up with technologies as part of their daily lives at home and in school. For educators, it is important to understand how to use technologies to promote learning in developmentally appropriate ways. This book helps you make thoughtful, informed decisions that will enhance what you are already doing to support children’s learning.
Learn how to:
- Use technologies in ways that build on, not detract from, the learning children gain through play
- Introduce technologies using a gradual release of responsibility model
- Foster children’s storytelling, reflection, early coding skills, and more
- Use technologies to enrich your partnerships with families and invite them into the classroom community
- Work with colleagues to develop a digital culture that supports the program’s goals
With the guidance in this book, you’ll be able to evaluate technologies and understand how to put them to their best uses in your program.
Finally, a resource that supports practitioners with integrating technology appropriately into the classroom to support student learning goals and connection with families. Victoria uses her classroom experience to provide teachers with strategies that encourage creativity, collaboration, and communication. A great read from start to finish.
—Kimberly Buenger, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Olathe School District
The author is committed to the dialogue around technology, play, and young learners, revealing that there is indeed more to the conversation. With a detailed view that is theoretically grounded and quite practical, the book draws on experiences that mirror many an educator’s classroom. It probes deeply into educators’ thoughts, urging us to think about how to harness the power of technology as a tool to create the highest quality learning opportunities for a new generation of children. This is a gem of a resource for understanding how to navigate this constantly evolving debate.
—Ihuoma Iheukwumere, Site Director, South of Market Child Care
Technology is rapidly changing the teaching world for learners of all ages. This book provides a foundation for teachers to incorporate technology into their teaching and assessments daily. It supports teachers in making good choices about using technology not just as a device but as a tool that can enhance learning at multiple entry levels in the curriculum.
—April Grundman, Early Childhood Educator and Professor
Introduction
Guidance for Intentional Decision Making Around Technologies
Guiding Principles in this Book
What’s in this Book?
What’s Not in this Book
Part 1: Setting a Foundation for Technologies in the Classroom
Chapter 1: Making Intentional Choices About Technologies
Technology Is Not the Teacher
Navigating Concerns About Technologies
Close- and Open-Ended Apps
Using Technologies with Purpose
Next Steps
Chapter 2: Creating, Collaborating, and Communicating: A Framework for Thinking About Technologies
Creating
Using Technologies to Explain and Reflect
Using Technologies as a Medium for Creating
Collaborating
Communicating
Supporting Children’s Pride in Their Work
Learning from Each Other
Connecting to Families
Next Steps
Making Intentional Choices: Evaluating Technologies: Can Children Create, Collaborate, or Communicate?
Part 2: Developmentally Appropriate Technology Use
Chapter 3: Mindsets and Guidelines for Using Technologies
A Play Mindset
Explore
Fail
Focus on Process, not Product
Scaffolded Learning: Digital Natives, not Digital Wizards
Supporting Child Creators
Guidelines
It’s Everyone’s Device
“Must Do” and “Can Do”
We Learn from and with Each Other
Next Steps
Making Intentional Choices: “Let’s Be Troubleshooters”
Chapter 4: Teaching with Technologies
Gradual Release of Responsibility Model
Modeling
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Save Time for Sharing
Including All Children
Visual Images
Feedback
Engagement
Including All Voices
Next Steps
Making Intentional Choices: What Type of Technology-Related Lesson Do the Children Need?
Chapter 5: Creating and Collaborating with Technologies
View and Review
Playful Creations
Class E-Book
Story Retelling
Storytelling
Story Acting
What Does Story Acting Look Like?
Movie Making
Digital Puppetry
Stop-Motion
Movie Trailer Templates
Coding
Assessment
Portfolios
Assessing Process
Next Steps
Making Intentional Choices: Many Pathways for Creating
Chapter 6: A Connected Classroom
Creating a Connected Classroom
Empowering Children
Empowering Families
Connecting to All Educators
Bridging the Digital Divide
Next Steps
Making Intentional Choices: Privacy Considerations
Chapter 7: Planning for Intentional Technologies Integration
Setting a Purpose
Setting Goals
Create
Collaborate
Communicate
Classroom Activities
Individual Child Accomplishments
Handling Technologies as a Goal
Identifying Key Teaching Partners
Do You Need a Technology Cheerleader?
Do You Need a Critical Friend?
Are You the Only Tech-Curious Teacher in the Classroom?
Teachable Moments
Next Steps
Making Intentional Choices: Where to Start
Appendix A: Student Sharing Checklist
Appendix B: Weekly Planning Sheet
References
Resources
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Author