Tech-ing Wisely in K-2 Classrooms by Jeanell

I found this Technology Article from Education World very interesting. They sent some of their "Tech Team" to answer this question, "Are computers simply entertaining babysitters in early childhood settings?" The members all disagreed with that question. They felt as if computers were "citing real value in appropriate use" in the K-2 grades.

Something that I found interesting was that software that they suggest all of them need to be purchased. With all the new Web 2.0 tools, that are free, I would have thought that at least one of them would have been suggested. Here is what the article gives under Software Suggestions.

"With hundreds of software titles designed for early childhood, which have been used with success by teachers and techies? The following programs were recommended by Tech Team members as some of the best for educational value and ease-of-use in early childhood:
Kid Pix and Kid Pix Deluxe -- for simple presentations
Kidspiration -- for graphic organizing
Scott Foresman's Social Studies templates for Kidspiration
Golly Gee Blocks -- for 3D reasoning and perception Word processing programs -- for basic literacy skills
Type to Learn, Jr.

One expert, Pam Livingston, suggests that "emerging reading skills can be reinforced with computers" Now it seems only obvious that the teacher could write a blog every day about skills taught or about daily happenings that could assist in reinforcing emerging reading skills. I have also read about Interactive Storybooks, like the ones offered for free on Starfall or on Scholastic.


Another expert, Beth Gregor, "emphasizes both journal writing on the computer and learning the keyboard, particularly capital and lower case letters." She suggests using Kid Pix Deluxe.

I immediately thought of the link that Marie told us about, Class Blogmeister, in her July 17th blog would be just as effective as this purchased software. Then teaching the keyboard can go be used to go along with teaching the letters. Almost every K-2 classroom you will find an alphabet on the wall and at least one computer station. What would be the problem also posting a keyboarding poster. As you go over the letters of the alphabet you could highlight them on the keyboarding poster. This way the kids are aware of the letters and their position on the keyboards. I have used Type to Learn and kids do love it.

Finally the expert that I'm the most happy with is Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain. She says, "K-2 students can and should use technology to build information literacy and technology skills for the years ahead. She identified those "tools, skills, concepts of information use, presentation and organization, and the intellectual capability to be effective technology users throughout changes in technology and culture as 21st Century Information Fluencies."

Yippy!! Finally someone is thinking about the future of these kids and the skills they will need to be successful not just literate. Now if we can get them to starting thinking Web 2.0 and the FREE tools that go along with them instead of always purchased software we might be able to see this to our administration easier because it won't cost them a lot up front. We can hit them up for new computers, Avery Key's (links computer to TV) and projectors later. ;-)


Issue: Integration of technology into K-2 classrooms, Software versus Web 2.0 tools.

J