O'Brien

After researching the different effective technology interrogations the one I felt was strongest was constructionism. Taking objects from the real world and developing them in the classroom can benefit young children in a way that allows them to use it again in their real life. For example, taking real life object such as turning the dramatic play area into a grocery store can let the students develop knowledge in the jobs that take place in the store: casher, stocker, management. these a life lessons that are important in foundations of education. if i were create an activity for my class i would aline it with current study with nutrition and physical growth. with the use of technology they will be able to examine and learn new fruits that may be difficult to bring into the classroom or are only found in certain parts of the world. this can construct knowledge that is broader then just apple, banana, oranges. This way of teaching is commonly used in Preschool. 

https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/what-were-getting-wrong-about-technology-schools-debate-0

“…The value of technology and how it should be deployed in schools, and what role it should play in children’s education.” 

The idea of technology in the classroom is something that i am not very found of. Of course the use of whiteboards for older grades is useful and easier then chalk, but for preschool i don’t see the need for technology. In my classroom i see that the children really aren’t very concerned with it. when they begin centers maybe one student will ask if the iPads are open but if they answer is no I do not see them being upset. it should only be used for education reasons rather then free-time.

“He [principal Vallance] argued that they [laptops] were distracting students from learning, and there was no place for them in the normal life of the school.”

I agree with this idea completely and laptops are useless for my age group. In college or high-school levels they are needed and very beneficial for each student to keep all their work in one place; but a computer lab should be introduced until minimum 1st grade. In normal life of school there is a place for technology but there is no reason for young children have have a computer time.

“…Vested interests in the form of technology companies were the ones driving educational technology policies and not educational academics and policy-makers.”

I disagree with this statement. There maybe a monopoly in one of the computer brands due to prices but i don’t see that as a student. I think that having computers is more so relating to funding rather then the companies driving policies.

“In what way do we use technology?”

There are endless forms and ways to use technology and the can be very helpful. We continue to advance in this field and this provides more ways to use it. In the classroom it is used to transfer and find information daily. We use it to produce music for our classroom movement activities, and even to provide visuals of a topic. In a way it has turned into a new way of communication.

“If technology has become an ever-present constant in our lives, then surely one of the most important things that schools must do is teach students how to use it effectively and meaningfully? So why shouldn’t we teach them about using technology safely and effectively?”

We defiantly should teach the proper use of technology and the internet. But also tailing that education should be ways around it. The ways to use books rather then juts googling something. We have so much knowledge at our disposal we have began to lack personally.

With preschoolers we look to limit the amount of time they spend on computers and rather them engage in physical activity. Since this task is related to computers all of the plans are on the computer. It is important now though to incorportate the saftey and proper use of these devices since they are more popular today.

 8.1.P .A.1 Understand and use technology systems.

 Begin with the computers off and allow each student to turn on computer, log in and get to the webpage they desire or are looking at for that day. If it is a game we would preprogram the game to be right on the homepage to make navigation easier. They will mainly focus on operation of the device rathe then skills in activities. 

8.1.P .A.2 Navigate the basic functions. 

Students will be asked to use the computer in this exercise and show they know how to use it. One the teacher has the computer turned on the student will demonstrate volume controls, the mouse, how to navigate through applications and websites. They will also be asked to close all of the pages opened and turn off the computer. This will gain them the chance to use the computers during centers if they show they can operate them properly. 

8.1.P .A.3 Use digital devices to create stories with pictures, numbers, letters and words.

 In centers the students will have an app that allows them to use the IPen and the iPad to trace numbers and letters. They will write their name and decorate word art. This allows them to have experience with other devices as well. 

8.1.P .A.4 Use basic technology terms in the proper context in conversation with peers and teachers (e.g., camera, tablet, Internet, mouse, keyboard, and printer). 

Each student will be given a hunt to find the numbers. On the keyboard, screen, mouse, router, and printer if one is in the room, they will find the numbers and clues as to what the next one is. I.E 3. I create copies of your homework so everyone can have one. What am I? Then they will be asked to tell the teacher the name of the object and what it does. 

Once going over to the standards from the ISTE I began to read into them. There are seven in total that break down into sections. I was interested in the 6th one; creative communicator. With this I would create my three assignments using the iPads. The first would be directed to 6C: students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem solving.

Our activity would be mathematic counting using an app on the iPad for addition and subtraction; We would also have just number counting for younger students. They would be asked to remove a certain number of apples from the bunch to get the answer. This allows the student to break up the problem and facilitate problem solving.

Next I would incorporate empowered learning. the subdivided standard 1A, I would allow the students to spend time on study-island a website that has both games and quizzes for all ages and they provide instant reflection on their progress.

Then my las less would instill the idea of digital citizens 2B. This could be taught without a computer and with. The idea of safe computer using should be taught more in schools and how we should not cyberbully, as well as personal safety for each student when creating accounts or giving any information.

Although the idea of us falling behind in terms of technology the country is planning to change it. The Obama administration pushed for more over time and now we are seeing the changes. New jerseys’ Governer Murphy is hoping to formalize computer education or computer coding as a course in many grade levels. After visiting high schools around New Jersey, his goal is to process a 2 million dollar assignment to better their computer education. This two million dollars was divided between schools and they share websites with students, parents, and teachers to explain their education and what the students will be intorduced to. They provide groups for children of all ages to learn how to code; they have the option to use it for fun or educational purposes: mind-craft is a type of coding. Some districts pay for the cites while others are free. Out of the four cites we were given Coderdojo is my favorite. My likes of it are for the meet ups this allows students to make study groups or even create new friendships on something that can better their life. The dislike is how it can become unsafe if young children get involved without parent supervision. https://coderdojo.com/start-a-dojo/

https://code.org/learn

This is the second of the cites. This cite provides games and actives for young students to learn while having fun. This would be fantastic for center time on iPads or during special reward times. They have games for al types of interests and can provide learning activities for different age groups.

The last two are both just other cites that I didn’t have any true favoritism from.

https://www.tynker.com/dashboard/parent/courses/catalog

Tynker gives information for parents of students studying the coding. They help the parents be involved in the education, but the cite requires you to sign up with email. https://www.codecademy.com also make you create and email address but they don’t have much info unless you create an account. I prefer those cites they don’t make students provide emails since not all of them have computers or aren’t old enough to have email addresses. I feel although the children benefit from the game style education since they enjoy doing it.

From many classes I have taken I learned how to educate younger children. There are many ways we are taught as educators to get children to move, learn, and understand. We are given standards to follow and expected to attend workshops in order to do so. The idea of becoming a teacher is a science. Those who put in the work in college, receive their degree, and continue will become a teacher but there is more important expectations. Being a positive instructor is an art. Being able to convey your ideas to young children takes a lot of skill as they are not always willing to listen. Prodding a strong parent teacher relation takes a skill that someone has or just doesn’t have; not everyone is a strong communicator. A teacher is expected to understand culture, and needs of each individual child in their classroom; but most don’t even know all of their names. There is an art behind becoming a strong teacher but many only learn the science; what they need to get by. One with both the knowledge of the science behind teacher along with the art to control their students, show compassion, and include their parents in the development of their children is one who is successful and will make the most of their lessons. I find that those who provide the hugs when a child needs it, or even help them move from missing their parents through the school day have a happier and healthier relation with both parents and students; this is what I strive to do. From personal experiences i have a teacher I am working with now who knows the science. She is a wonderful teacher but lacks in the compassion. This is the art; the love and bond she is lacking makes the children listen but they don’t express their feelings rather they lash out because they don’t understand why the stuff they are doing are wrong. 

The sunflower or any flower is a great lesson for children, the teacher can take them outside or even bring the flowers in the classroom. this is a great tool for explaining the parts of the flower and how our flowers grow. my model goes further in depth then i would do for my actual classroom but this explains what i intend to do.

With intentions to teach my students expectance and self-love, I will be using Visual words, Visme, and Wordle to show them powerful words and the meaning of loving once self. We will define the terms needed to understand bullying is wrong and not tolerated in the classroom. They will also have the ability to discuss any feelings they have and draw a self portrait. They can make themselves princesses, superhero , or anything that makes them feel powerful.

Funding is a way that teacher can receive money and better their programs. After searching I found I was interested in a few of them. My main two would be the Funds for Classroom Enrichment/students achievement and Elmers’s teacher Tool Kit grant. 

the reason for choosing Funds for Classroom Enrichment/students achievement is because they give the teacher the option to what their school needs. It is an open grant meaning the amount given can be discussed if they are willing to provide the grant. I think it is smart and more relatable as the waste on unneeded tools is unnecessary . 

the Elmer’s teacher tool kit provides structure for a classroom. This is important in all grades but for preschool we aim to have materials for exploration. This grant gives schools classroom supplies for learning and hopes their project will meet the students needs.  There are also many other types of grants. Some websites such as https://www.wkkf.org/grants and https://www.nj.gov/education/ece/psexpansion/ have grants for preschool educators. 

Isabella O’Brien 

2/27/19

Ages 4-5

Nj early childhood standard: 1.4 children express themselves through and develop the visual arts.

Area of development: visual arts, use of technology, numbers, and small motor skills. 

Title: counting with colors

Goals: allow students to use the app called Happy color. They will pick a picture then fill it in with the correct color according to numbers. 

Objectives: match number to color (concert understanding of 1-20) 

Allow the students to create something they will find pleasing, but also use numbers to create it. 

Vocabulary they will be used: one, two, three… eighteen, nineteen, twenty. 

Materials needed: Ipads