Technology Integration at the Kindergarten Level

Many early childhood educators would agree that technology can have a powerful impact on children's learning. In fact, many teachers readily welcome new technology into their classrooms and take on any opportunity to acquire new technology. However, just having new technology available in the classroom isn’t enough to have a positive impact on student learning. New technology is a great classroom resource but teachers must receive proper training on how to use it and implement it into the curriculum to achieve the desired results.

Research has shown notable benefits technology has on student learning when it is properly integrated in the kindergarten classroom. New technology motivates students to interact with the subject area over and over again in unique and exiting ways. It helps to enhance and increase learning potential for all students by involving them in the learning process. As opposed to the traditional learning method that involve seeing and hearing new information directly from the teacher, different forms of new technology provide students opportunities to experience new knowledge in new and abstract ways. Clearly, technology has the power to transform students from passive learners to active learners by allowing them to learn and share their understanding in a variety of ways.

Some teachers believe that kindergarten is too early to introduce kids to technology because it replaces time spent on important foundation skills. While many teachers may believe this, it is necessary to understand that the purpose of using technology in the kindergarten classroom is not to teach students to use technology for the sake of learning to use it or to replace integral skills that need to be learned. Simply stated, the goal of using technology at the kindergarten level is not to teach the use of technology but rather teach with technology to expand, enrich, implement, individualize, differentiate, and extend the overall curriculum which, in return, has a positive impact on student learning. It seems that an important consideration here is to find a reasonable balance that allows students to acquire the necessary skills while using new technology to expand new learning.

Many kindergarten teachers have successful integrated new technology into their classrooms. Developmentally appropriate technology that is currently being used includes document cameras to demonstrate ideas, interactive white boards to explain and illustrate concepts, classroom computers for educational software and websites, digital voice recorders for literacy development, multimedia technology, and so forth.

Below are just a few ideas to help kindergarten teachers successfully integrate technology in their classrooms.

1. Allowing student to illustrate their own kindergarten alphabet book using a paint program.
2. Researching and selecting instructional computer programs that support learning objectives in the classroom.
3. Using the website Starfall.com for reading development (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension).
4. Using a SmartBoard which has a touch-sensitive screen to provide a kinesthetic approach to learning (math games, making words, tracing numbers, etc.).
5. Allowing students to create an illustration for their writing piece using KidPix.
6. Using narrated online children’s stories to extend literacy in the classroom.
7. Using multimedia to create slide show demonstrating step-by-step directions for an activity or routine.

Assessment Online

I selected the super crossword creator because it allowed me to create crossword and word search puzzles. The one I downloaded is the free version so there are some limitations. Nonetheless, it is fairly easy to use this program. You open it, type in the answers and questions, select a few layout options, and then you are ready to save it. The best part of it was once it was saved/exported to Word, I was able to add clip art, change the language, and change the font style and size to make it appropriate for kindergarten students.

Super Crossword Creator

Cyber-bullying

Cyber-bullying “involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others” (Wikipedia, 2008). Such behavior may include defamation, threats, sexual remarks, gossip, disclosing personal data, and so forth. This can be through emails or text messages, online forums, online postings, or any other means of cyber communication.

Good Web Resources
10 Ways to Help Prevent Bullying
Teaching Tolerance- Cyberbullying
8 First Steps to Fighting Cyberbullying

Netiquette

The term netiquette is used to describe “a set of social conventions [rules] that facilitate interaction over networks, ranging from Usenet and mailing lists to blogs and forums” according to Wikipedia. While network etiquette rules vary, the following website provides a list of general netiquette guidelines for common courtesy.

Netiquette Guidelines for the Internet community
Here are a few:
You should not send heated messages even if you are provoked.
Don't send large amounts of unsolicited information to people.
Use mixed case and proper punctuation, as though you were typing a letter or sending mail.
If you find a personal message has gone to a list or group, send an apology to the person and to the group.

Good Web Resources
Netiquette Home Page
Online Etiquette Quiz

Teacher Website- Voice Thread

Ms. Jeri's Kindergarten Class
Here is a kindergarten teacher’s blog that is a great example of how to use voice thread, Animoto, and Bubble Share. These are a few programs similar to what we're using to share work with students, parents, and the community.

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling allows the user to craft, record, share, and use images and music to create a sensory journey. It allows the expression of personal voice and can be used to facilitative teaching methods and learning. Digital storytelling is often used for personal narratives, examination of historical themes and events, and stories that inform or construct just to name a few. As stated on the following website, a digital story is a "…short, personal multimedia tales told from the heart. These stories can be created by people everywhere, on any subject, and shared electronically all over the world.”

Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
This is really a good website for any information you need about digital storytelling. It is concise and easy to use.

Educational Use of Blogs

Educational blogs are commonly used by professors, teachers, parents, students, and the greater community as an alternative communication tool. While each person may have different reasons for using them, blogs provide an online experience for personal expression and exploration on multiple topics that matter most to people. Several of the websites I visited show multiple benefits of using blogs in education.

Blogs are a great resource for educators to communicate with parents, students, and the community at large. They can be used to post newsletters, assignments, online homework tools, announcements, upcoming events, or any other important information they wish to share. They are a great tool for educators because they can be written, edited, and updated from any computer with Internet access at any time of the day or night. Any information posted can also be easily accessed by student and parents.

Blogs are a useful tool for students to continue communication outside the classroom. Students may use blogs as a reflective journal where they share news, opinions, and personal posts. Teachers find blogs very useful because they give all students an opportunity to communicate equally. Students that are shy or timid in the classroom are more likely to express and explore ideas more freely in this type of environment. Most importantly, blogs enable students to connect with each other and engage in thoughtful conversation!
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While I have never been interested in following or participating in blogs, I did find some useful blogs that touch upon topics that interest me the most.

What Kindergarten Teachers Know
I really like this blog because it discusses topics that focus on what’s happening in the kindergarten classroom. Since I teach kindergarten, I am very interested in hearing what issues or topics others are discussing. Here are a few that are listed on the blog 1) Ask the teacher 2) Book recommendations 3) Communicating 4) Giving directions 5) Handling strong emotions 6) Handling transitions 7) Routines 8) School preparation

School Family
This is a website that provides fabulous articles (and blog posts) about any topic in education. Some interesting articles that I found are 1) Teacher's Tips: How Parents Can Help 2) What steps can I take at home to help my child do better in school? 3) 7 Things to Tell the Teacher, and so forth.

Elementary Education Blog
This is a great blog for elementary educators, principals, and specialists to gather and share ideas.

The journal that I selected is called Early Childhood News. It is an online journal resource for teacher and parents of children from infant to eight years of age. It provides articles on the latest trends, examinations of the newest procedures, and evaluations of traditional practices. It provides articles on the topics that interest me such as: language & literacy, kindergarten, child development, child behavior and guidance, and curriculum.

Website:
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/

PPT as an Educational Tool

PowerPoint is a great educational resource because it allows both teachers and students an opportunity to use a tool that can enhance learning. The features on PowerPoint can be used to emphasize words, show pictures, and make learning more interactive and fun for students when video and audio clips are added. I believe that teachers at any grade level can integrate PowerPoint into their teaching and see the benefit of it. Students who are taught and encouraged to use this program can also become more engaged in learning. PowerPoint allows for creativity with it’s hundreds of features. I can see how students would want to do their best to make their work unique.

Here are some helpful resources:
http://www.midgefrazel.net/powerpoint.html
http://www.bitbetter.com/powerlinks.htm
http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/powerpoint.htm

Digital Natives Digital Immigrants

In my opinion, digital natives should learn some of the content the old way and digital immigrants should teach some of their curriculum the new way. Both teachers and students should be connecting half way and finding a middle ground. I see the benefit of both and think that a combination would benefit all students. As I think about it, I realized that there’s a benefit for all students to learn in a digital, current method. However, I also see the value of learning the “traditional” way. Students need to be able to develop skills such as being able to focus on something that’s not constantly flashing at them.

About Me

Greetings,

My name is Delia Villanueva. I teach kindergarten in Spanish at Puesta del Sol Elementary. I love the language. I especially enjoy teaching in Spanish! This is my third year teaching and I look forward to another great year.