KidSmart
- GUIDE TO EARLY LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY
Parents – Coping With Computers
and Kids
Whether
you are just becoming comfortable with technology or have been using it
for years, this site will help you understand what's possible when it
comes to young children and computer time. The site contains:
-
KidSmart Comics - comic strips featuring parents discussing learning,
computers, and kids;
- Things
You Can Do - a list of useful ideas and suggestions to help you
get the most out of your family's PC; and
- School
Link - concrete teacher tips, overviews of classroom issues and
other tools that your child's teacher may use.
The
text and audio features of this site will help you discover that the computer
is just one of many rich, varied materials found in a good learning environment.
Click to see introductions
to:
Access
For All
How can I that the computer serves my child?
Integrating
Technology
How can I make computers a part of my household routine?
Learning
and Playing Together
How can I use computers to encourage early leaning in my home?
Teachers – Information Resources
and Promising Practices.
The computer
is a relatively new arrival in many early childhood classrooms. For many
of you, computers are already one among many of the rich, varied materials
found in a good learning environment. For others, technology is new territory
and you may need to become comfortable with the equipment and familiar
with software activities. This site contains:
- Overviews
- introductions to important issues about teaching and learning with
technology;
- Conversations
- practical discussions that teachers have about these issues;
- Teacher Tips
- concrete tips on evaluating software and useful aids for classroom
management;
- Promising Practices
- real lesson plan ideas submitted by teachers; and
- Home Link -
suggestions for what parents can do to use computers to support early
learning at home.
Click to see introductions
to:
Access
For All
How can I make sure that computers sere all my children?
Integrating
Technology
How can I make computers a part of my regular classroom?
Learning
and Playing Together
How can I use computers to support early leaning in my classroom?
Promising
Practices
What are
teachers doing with computers in their classroom?
PARENTS
Access for
All
All children can benefit
from learning with computers. This section suggests ways to provide equitable
access to computers for all children, regardless of gender, cultural background,
and physical or learning disabilities. Although there is no "right
answer" to any of the complex topics in this section, thinking creatively
and critically about the computer will help you find ways to support your
children and those around them.
Click
to read presentations on this subject
Integrating
Technology
In addition to the
games, stories, and other actual stuff on the computer screen, there is
the space around the machine itself — and what your child does in this
space. This section tackles ways to integrate computer play into your
home, including finding a good spot for the computer in your home, having
children take turns using it, and developing ways to connect with school
activities.
Click
to read presentations on this subject
Learning and
Playing Together
Like many toys and
non-electronic activities, computers can provide all kinds of interesting
opportunities to support children's learning, thinking, and socializing.
This section describes how children’s computer play can give them opportunities
to solve problems, make decisions, practice skills learned in playing,
and help one another learn new skills.
Click
to read presentations on this subject
Teachers
Access for
All
All children can benefit
from learning with computers. This section suggests ways to provide equitable
access to computers for all children, regardless of gender, cultural background,
and physical or learning disabilities. Although there is no "right
answer" to any of the complex topics in this section, thinking creatively
and critically about the computer will help you find ways to support the
children in your classroom.
Click
to read presentations on this subject
Integrating
Technology
This section describes
the process of integrating computers into your early childhood program.
Integration involves finding the right spot for the computer, devising
ways for children to take turns and using the computer to support other
learning within your curriculum It also includes facilitating conversations
among and between children and adults, and having children share their
discoveries and creations, solve problems and express themselves
Click
to read presentations on this subject
Learning and
Playing Together
Like many toys and
tools, computers can provide all kinds of interesting opportunities to
support children's learning, thinking and socializing. This section describes
how children’s computer play can give them opportunities to solve problems,
make decisions, practice skills learned in playing, and help each other
learn new skills — just as you strive to do with other activities in your
classroom.
Click
to read presentations on this subject
This section is intended
as professional development support for early childhood teachers who are
trying to integrate technology into their program. It contains concrete
examples illustrating the concepts discussed in all three sections of
this guide.
In the Learning and Playing section, there are short lists of questions
you might want to ask yourself when you consider using different kinds
of early learning software, accompanied by examples of software features
you might want to look for. There is also a short checklist for each concept
designed to help you focus on some important aspects of the children's
learning experience.
Click
to read presentations on this subject
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