Lessons Learned Integrating Technology at the Preschool Level Dr. Roxanne Wilson Kathy McKechnie MS CCC-SLP Timberlane Learning Center Timberlane School District

Principles & Beliefs When educators appropriately integrate technology and interactive media into their classrooms, equity and access are addressed by providing opportunities for all children to participate and learn (Judge, Puckett, & Cabuk 2004; Cross,Ods, & Schweingruber 2009). Preschool - REALLY??? To be representative of the culture in which our students live – then we have to find a way to incorporate technology into our classrooms. Technology is a means to an end. To promote student learning, technology must be used in effective, engaging ways. Technology must: support student performance of an authentic task. Be integrated into activities that are a core part of the classroom curriculum. Be treated as a tool to help accomplish a complex task rather than a subject of study for its own sake.

Selecting Technology Technology should be used to enhance student productivity, support collaboration, or engage students in authentic learning experiences Select appropriate technology and media for the classroom in a similar manner used to choose any other learning material. Blocks, pens, paints, paper, doll house, big books, manipulatives, interactive media, digital camera, video camera, SMARTBoard, iPad, software, applications, etc.

Aligning and Integrating Technology and Media Interactive SMARTBoard Letters alive (Augmented Technology) iPad (Tablet) Sonic Pics (App) Power Point Story boards (PC) SoundingBoard (App)

Advantages  Engages the learner  Student Participation  Technology Vocabulary  Large group Instruction Visual representations Smart Board SMARTboard YouTube example SMARTboard YouTube example Limitations  Takes up wall space  Can be glitchy  Teachers need training

Smart Board

Letters alive “Augmented reality” by Logical Choice Technologies Digital 3D animals enhance the learners early literacy instruction

Letters alive

Advantages Large or small groups can benefit. Great visual representations Helps build concept knowledge A wide range of uses for enhancing early literacy lessons. Can be used to bring science and social study lessons to the classroom. Limitations Curriculum is not a strong component. Costly tool with limited options Technology can be finicky Requires a projector screen or flat white area for projecting. Requires table top space for cards and documentation camera.

iPad Advantages Works well for individual and small group use Fairly inexpensive Unlimited applications for targeting a wide range of skills. Limitations Can be hard to manage for schools Durability for active use by young children Replacement costs if the device is dropped or damaged.

Sonic Pics $2.99 Technology can help children save, document, revisit, and share their real-life experiences through images, stories, and sounds. Turn your photographs into narrated slideshow movies. Features: - Create and narrate custom photo slideshows. - Records your voice while you flip through your images. - Automatically synchronizes your images to the audio recording. - Publish your recordings, share to your computer, save to your photo library, or to your friends. - Present your stories on the big screen using video output - Record up to 60 minutes per session! - Easy image selection and editing. - Include text on images that can optionally be shown during recording. - Build slide shows with photos from photo albums, camera roll or build in camera of your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Sonic Pics YoutubeSonic Pics Youtube

Sonic Pics

Suggest Activities: Document Class field trip Digital story telling Creating Mini-presentations Create book reports or historical events Travel Logs Create Audio books New town experiences Photo tours Language instruction Requires Quick Time to view movies or convert to.mwv

Conclusions Just as we encourage children to use crayons and paper well before we expect them to write their names, it seems reasonable to provide access to technology tools for exploration and experimentation. Young children need tools that help them explore, create, problem solve, consider, think, listen and view critically, make decisions, observe, document, research, investigate ideas, demonstrate learning, take turns, and learn with and from one another. The impact of technology is mediated by teachers’ use of the same developmentally appropriate principles and practices that guide the use of print materials and all other learning tools and content for young children (Van Scoter, Ellis, & Railsback 2001; Clements & Sarama 2003a; Plowman & Stephen 2005, 2007).

The end, but only the beginning…