Resources that Support the Integration of Technology
Use in Early Childhood Care and Education
One of the major challenges facing early childhood professionals
is the integration of information and instructional technology tools into
their organizations. In March of 1997, the Report to the President on
the Use of Technology to Strengthen K-12 Education in the United States
was
published by the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology’s
Panel on Educational Technology. For technology to make an impact in schools
the panel spelled out the following 6 specific strategic recommendations:
1. Focus on learning with technology, not about
technology.
2. Emphasize content and pedagogy, and not just
hardware.
3. Give special attention to professional development.
4. Engage in realistic budgeting.
5. Ensure equitable, universal access.
6. Initiate a major program of experimental research.
Though the report to the president focused on K-12
Education, I believe these apply to all to all areas of education. Therefor,
the following resources have been collected to help early childhood professionals
as they go through the process of integrating information and instructional
technology tools within their organizations.
NAEYC Technology Position Statement
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/position_statements/position_statement1.htm
Describes how early childhood educators have a responsibility to critically
examine the impact of technology on children and be
prepared to use technology to benefit children.
NAEYC Technology & Young Children Special Interest Forum
http://techandyoungchildren.org/index.shtml
NAEYC Technology SIF website whose mission is to lead discussions,
share research and information and demonstrate best
practices regarding technology so it can be used to benefit children
aged birth through eight years
Technology Planning Guide
http://www.apple.com/education/planning/
This tool helps you create a vision of technology integration.
-
Understand the resources, strengths, and weaknesses in your current program.
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Establish measurable milestones and goals for achievement.
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Develop an implementation plan that includes placing milestones on a time
line and evaluating the resources required to achieve the goals.
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Put that plan into action.
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Structure the evaluation of your program’s success.
National Educational Technology Standards for Students
http://cnets.iste.org/students/
The NETS Project developed standards to guide educational leaders in
recognizing and addressing the essential conditions for
effective use of technology to support Pre K-12 education. This
website includes performance indicators, lesson examples and
scenarios which will help guide the use of technology as a tool for
learning.
National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers
http://cnets.iste.org/teachers/index.shtml
NETS for Teachers established performance-based standards and assessments
for improving technology competence in preservice
education. The project provides models for teacher preparation
programs to use in incorporating technology in the teacher
preparation process.
The CEO Forum’s Interactive Teacher Preparation School
Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart
http://star.aacte.org/
This is a self-assessment tool designed to enable schools, colleges,
and departments of education assess their level of readiness in preparing
tomorrow's teachers to use technology.
CEO Forum's Reports
http://www.ceoforum.org/reports.cfm
Here you will find reports that share research and best practices with
regards to connections to the Internet; availability and accessibility
of hardware; adequate professional training and development; and
appropriate educational content (software and other applications).
enGauge
http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/
This site is designed to help districts and schools plan and evaluate
the system wide use of educational technology.
Apple Learning Interchange
http://ali.apple.com/
An online educational environment to facilitate the interchange of
ideas among teachers, education leaders, visionaries, and innovators. The
Learning Interchange provides the vehicle for reflective discussion of
contemporary education practices through a network of organizations dedicated
to improvement. A museum of online exhibits created by educators for educators
showcases authentic teaching practices, leadership practices, virtual
field trips, and educational events, all with media-based resources.
HeadsUP!
http://www.heads-up.org/headsup/htdocs/
HeadsUp! The Network Connection to Staff Training allows the
National Head Start Association to provide early childhood
education training to educators, parents and administrators around
the country.
The Journal of Computing in Higher Education
http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~carolm/jche/
The Journal of Computing in Higher Education publishes
peer-reviewed essays, reviews, reports, and research articles that contribute
to our understanding of the issues, problems, and research associated with
instructional technology and educational management information systems.
SREB Educational Technology Cooperative
http://www.sreb.org/programs/EdTech/edtechindex.asp
The SREB Educational Technology Cooperative comprises
38 state higher education and K-12 coordinating and governing boards. The
cooperative focuses on ways to help state leaders create and expand effective
uses of technology in schools and colleges.
The Technology Source
http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/
The Technology Source is a free bimonthly webzine
to inform faculty and educational leaders as to how they can use technology
tools to enhance teaching, learning, and effective administration. Participation
is welcomed and encouraged.
The Teaching, Learning, and Technology Affiliate
of the American Association for Higher Education
http://www.tltgroup.org
Higher education has begun an irreversible transformation,
and information technology is part of it. New technology options arrive
at an accelerating and confusing pace. It's easy, but not necessary, to
waste time and money. The TLT Group helps higher education institutions
understand realistic options, develop effective strategies, and regain
confidence and control.
EDUCAUSE
http://www.educause.edu/about.html
The mission of EDUCAUSE is to help shape and enable
transformational change in higher education through the introduction, use,
and management of information resources and technologies in teaching, learning,
scholarship, research, and institutional management.
IMPLEMENTING THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES: Technology as
Lever
http://www.tltgroup.org/programs/seven.html
This essay describes some of the most cost-effective
and appropriate ways to use computers, video, and telecommunications technologies
to advance the Seven Principles for good practice in education. Approaches
to Integrating Computers in Teaching and Teacher Education
NcRel
http://www.ncrel.org/
A comprehensive listing of professional development
resources. Reports, Articles, Bibliographies, Tools for Teachers, Professional
Development Organizations and Other Resources.
From Now On Educational Technology Journal
http://www.fno.org/
Super articles on Educational Technology for Engaged Learning &
Educational Technology for Literacy
Creating Learning Cultures with Just-in-Time Support
The National Teaching & Learning Forum on-line
http://www.ntlf.com/
The National Teaching & Learning Forum on-line
edition--like the printed version offers subscribers stimulating insight
from colleagues eager to share new ways of helping students reach the highest
levels of learning.
An Educator's Guide to Evaluating The Use of Technology
in Schools and Classrooms
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdTechGuide/
This guide was developed for the U.S. Department
of Education by the American Institutes for Research in conjunction with
its formative evaluation of the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund. The
guide represents a joint effort among the Office of Educational Research
and Improvement, the Office of Educational Technology, and the Office of
Elementary and Secondary Education. The guide should be viewed as a tool
for individuals who have little or no formal training in research or evaluation.
Its intended informal style and accompanying worksheets provide the basic
principles of evaluation and are designed to help district and school personnel
gain an overview of and ideas for evaluating local technology initiatives.
The guide is not meant to be the key to conducting a perfect evaluation.
There is no such thing as a perfect program and no such thing as a perfect
evaluation. Rather, the goal of this handbook is to provide educators a
resource with which to jump into the evaluation process, learning as they
go.
Created by Dara Feldman for the NAEYCAnnual Policy
& Leadership Forum
March 5-8, 2003 - Washington, D.C.
dara_feldman@fc.mcpc.k12.md.us