Fall+2012_Group_2

= The Early learner: Introducing the Preschooler to the world of Technology. If I would ask, "how can you teach preschoolers the normal things like letters, songs, coloring, numbers," what would be your answer? Well it would probably involve you telling me something like writing practice, counting objects, doing hands on projects. I would then tell you, that you were absolutely right. Does it all just have to end up with a pencil or crayon though? Nope, it can be so much more than that. Preschoolers are so eager to learn and are so curious about the world around them why wouldn't we wouldn't we try to use everything possible that we could that is present in their world. (Angela is using purple!)

Here are two really great and easy ways to introduce the early learner to technology:

= iPads: =

iPads are not just for the grown up any more! There are several ways to integrate this useful piece of technology are a great tool to help gets get excited to learn. But first there are just a few things to remember when introducing the iPad to a room full of big eyes and eager hands to touch.
 * make sure you introduce it to the children. Let them know what it is, and what it is used for
 * a set of rules are always good...make sure you stress how the iPad should be handled (this is a great way to get the kids involved by letting them come up with some of the rules), than this way the children know what to expect. For example hands must be washed before playing with it, or you are not to walk around with the iPad, you must stay in the created for the iPad.

Once all the rules are set in place, it is now time to play! Through the use of many helpful apps it will reinforce the concepts that the the children children learn. Here are a list of a couple of apps many that are at low cost or free that you can obtain.




 * iLearn with Boing:Ocean Adventures, is a free app to start with but additional contents is available with in app purchasing ,"With program is a series of learning game based apps; each game is designed to prepare 3-6 year olds for school. Included in the learning program are apps for math, science, language, and literacy. The iLearn with Boing: Ocean Adventures specifically covers key language skills such as vocabulary, listening comprehension and sentence formation."



> >
 * Abc Tracer is a totally free app that:1) Animates and shows how to write the letters with strokes in the right order on the traditional red-blue guidelines.2) Provides fun feedback of right and wrong strokes.3) Has a lot of re-enforcing fun activities

> > > > media type="youtube" key="SvkjaWs1ffQ" height="315" width="560" align="center"
 * Kidztory is a really great app that has hundreds of classic children's stories that are animated and interactive

> > So remember take advantage of this technology, and don't let it slip through the cracks. Its a easy start to building the stepping stones to a brighter future

Smart boards: Here is an excellent video to check out. It describes the positive influences the Smartboard has made in a preschool classroom. media type="youtube" key="jLRCEu7Mmbk" height="315" width="560"

Just think of what Early Childhood Education Preschool programs could start to look like if everyone adopted this idea of technology being something that needs a place along play dough, the water table, letter worksheets, and blocks. Where would we start to get the funding for something like this though? One way would be though fund raisers which is an excellent way to get the parents and the children evolved in this processes, and the other way would be through writing grants. Where there is a will there is a way. We have such and opportunity to reach kids earlier and more effective. Lets do everything we can to build up a generation of children who are eager, willing, and excited to learn.

References:

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-preschool/113418-using-ipads-in-preschool/ http://xiongmao12.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/the-ipad-at-preschool/