In my search for ways to bring technology into classrooms I found FIRST Lego League (FLL) and Jr. FLL which are geared towards elementary aged children. I had a great deal of experience mentoring FLL and JFLL teams in the Rochester area, and was constantly looking for ways to reach an even younger audience. I found that while technology for elementary students was an up and coming trend, technology for early childhood still seems to be lacking in regards to authentic learning experiences. Teachers are often forced to pave the way themselves in regards to developing such learning experiences through trial and error instead of having structured programs like FLL and JFLL to build off of. Last semester I had the pleasure of doing field work in an elementary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) classroom at Allendale Columbia School. The class taught students from all grade levels, including those in the early childhood classrooms. I was impressed with how the STEM teachers and volunteers were able to effectively integrate technology into the classrooms of such young learners while keeping the learning experiences both developmentally appropriate and authentic.
The youngest students had technology incorporated into their learning experiences in a number of ways including use of the SmartBoard in well planned lessons that used the board to enhance learning. Students also had the opportunity to listen to audio recordings, view short videos (including some that were recorded of the students work in the classroom), and interact with traditional computer and mouse using age appropriate software. My favorite way that the teachers brought technology into the classroom was with the use of Bee-Bots. Bee-Bots are small robots that can either be programmed on the computer, or with the pushing of very simple up down, left, right buttons on the robot. Students were able to use their planning and spacial skills to attempt to navigate the Bee-Bots through very simplistic obstacles around the classroom. This turned out to not only be a fun activity, but it helped students to see cause and effect, develop spacial awareness, and the lessons built off of a unit on bees and butterflies that the students were learning about in science class.
In my own classroom I don't have Bee-Bots although I would love to purchase a few! Most of the technology that I use on a day to day basis revolves around the SmartBoard which I use each morning during morning meeting, and throughout the day for students to participate in hands on learning activities such as games that I have created, viewing digital stories that I may have recorded, or simply practicing their writing skills by drawing on the board. Each week when planning out my lessons I make new activities for the SmartBoard to enhance lessons where appropriate. For instance when we were learning about colors I made a sorting activity for students to group all like colored images. When we learned about shapes I had a pumpkin with different shapes that could be dragged on top to create a jack-o-lantern's face, and when we learned about emotions I created a digital story that students could flip through with their own pictures showing various emotions.
Besides the SmartBoard I am most excited to say that we received a grant for iPads and received five for my classrooms use. Unfortunately they arrived after I went on maternity leave, but I am already researching and planning out ways to implement effective ways to integrate them into my classroom upon my return. If anyone has any suggestions for early childhood apps feel free to leave them in the comments!