_ NAEYC Technology and Young Children Interest Forum


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Technology Tools for Educators

[ Web-based Tools ] [ Tech Tutorials ]
[ Early Childhood Educators Using Technology ]
[ K-12 and General Technology Sites ] [ Teaching & Learning Online ]
[ Organizations and Resources ] [ Funding Technology ]

The following articles and links are listed here to help early childhood educators learn how to find and use technology to support their work.

Web-based Tools

  • Classroom 2.0
    This is a social network site for educators interested in Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies. Features include a beginners group, discussions by tool, by subject, by area (including elementary, internet safety...) and an interview series.

  • Free Technology Toolkit for UDL in all Classrooms
    This site organizes free tools that can be useful for classrooms, to make learning accessible for all children. It considers principles of "universal design for learning", provides an explanation of this term, and categorizes useful tools under headings such as "graphic organizers", "writing tools", "literacy tools", "multimedia and digital storytelling" and more. The "Additional Free Tools" and "Additional Links" pages lead to many more resources that can help to provide learning supports.
  • Web 2.0 Cool Tools for Schools
    This wiki is a very comprehensive collection of “Web 2.0” web-based tools, organized by type of tool. You can look at an alphabetized list, if you want to quickly locate a specific tool, read the brief descriptions of each tool and in some cases, view a demo.
  • Web 2.0 Tools and Applications
    This comprehensive web applications index is regularly updated with the latest tools. To locate a particular type of tool, use the category list on the right, and the subcategory lists to narrow the search. (For example, selecting "elearning", then kids as a subcategory), or use the search field. Clicking on a tool icon provides information about that tool, as well as comments from Twitter, Blogs, and any ratings for that tool.

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    Technology Tutorials

  • CommonCraft Videos in Plain English
    This website has a variety of short videos under the "Technology" link  that provide simple explanations to deepen understanding of various technology topics. Computer basics titles include hardware, software, and web search, and the social media series includes blogs, wikis, Twitter, and more...
  • Kodak Photo Tips and Projects Center
    This site has links to tips on taking digital pictures and choosing digital cameras.
  • Photography in the Classroom
    This site offers tips and tutorials for using cameras in the classroom.

    Early Childhood Educators Using Technology

  • A Self-Reflection Framework for Technology Use by Classroom Teachers of Young Learners
    Scroll down the page and click on the title to download the article/PDF.
  • ECETECH group on Diigo
    The NAEYC Technology & Young Children Interest Forum set up this group on the social bookmarking site DIIGO, for sharing and commenting on websites related to technology use and early childhood education.
  • ECETECH wiki
    This wiki "sandbox" provides an opportunity to practice with and contribute to a wiki about technology use and early childhood education, a project of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  • Technology Integration & Early Childhood Education
    This page shares handouts developed during an Early Reading First project and articles about the use of technology with young children. Sections on the page include technology integration, digital photography, computer use and Web 2.0.
  • Ten Tips for Involving Families through Internet-based Communication
    Scroll down the page to locate this article which suggests ways to support home-school connections using the Internet.
  • Videatives
    The Videatives site provides digital video-within-text that explains ordinary classroom moments so that early childhood teachers can "see what children know " and thereby better support children's learning and development.
  • Videointheclassroom.com
    Examples of video use in the elementary classroom, tips about creating videos with children, podcasting and more..
  • We're Off to See the Technology Wizard: Child Care Administration 2.0
    Scroll down the page to locate the resources from this webinar by Chip Donohue Ph.D., including recommendations of tech tools and websites for early educators interested in technology use.

K-12 and General Technology Sites

  • Apps for Education
    This list of educational apps includes a section at the end with additional websites and articles about apps use for education.
  • Free Technology for Teachers
    The site includes "resources, ideas and lesson plans for teaching with technology." Various web-based resources are introduced and educational uses discussed, such as social networking, authoring, tutorials, media creation, and many other types of sites including resources on topics such as science, literacy, history, etc. A free newsletter is available with updates on new resources.
  • iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch Apps for (Special) Education
  • Education World: Tech Integration
    This site provides materials and links to many resources for technology integration and professional development, including links to online courses for teachers.
  • The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
    This site defines digital storytelling, provides examples of different types of digital stories, and includes suggestions on how to get started, information about software and web-based tools such as blogs, wikis and their uses for storytelling are shared. The links section includes additional information on topics such as where to find copyright free music, and to “Other Digital Storytelling” (DS) sites.
  • Electronic Portfolios
    Dr. Helen Barrett's website offers links and information on a variety of areas of technology including blogs, wikis, digital storytelling and e-portfolios for children and adults. Her favorite sites offer many examples of electronic portfolios for all ages, including a link on the home page to “Family Involvement in Early Childhood Portfolios.”
  • Free Educational Software
    This list of free (open source) software showcases several programs that can be used in early education settings, shows what platforms the programs will run on, and provides details when you click on the "View More" button.
  • George Lucas Foundation: Technology Integration
    Discusses the term "technology Integration" "why" and "how" to do it. Links to videos, blogs and various resources related to tech integration, such as  "Ten Top Tips For Teaching with New Media" (2009-2010).
  • Kathy Schrock's Technology Sites
    The site offers links to a variety of sites that provide resources and training for educators.
  • K12 Online Conference
    This free online conference is "by educators for educators around the world interested in integrating emerging technologies into classroom practice." Podcasts from past years are archived and available. Links at the top of the page include "Firstimers", to help people get oriented/participate successfully.
  • Teach with Technology
    This site offers free web-based programs (many also in Spanish) to help teachers create a web page, make a poster, write rubrics, and so on.
  • Tech & Learning
    This site provides information on using digital technology in the classroom such as using white boards and more. Many articles are available such as "14 Ways K–12 Librarians Can Teach Social Media" which shares information and links on a variety of topics such as Internet searching, social networking tools such as wikis, blogs, Twitter, VoiceThread, and more. The article also raises important issues related to intellectual property, copyright, and fair use in online resources.

Teaching & Learning Online

Organizations and Resources

  • The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop
    The mission of the Center is "to catalyze and support research, innovation and investment in digital media technologies to advance children's learning." Their publications section contains "papers examining key issues in the field of digital media and learning."
  • Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media
    The mission of the Fred Rogers Center is to“ advance the fields of early learning and children’s media by acting as a catalyst for communication, collaboration, and creative change.”  A variety of resources related to computer and media use are available.
  • Organizations and Resources America Connects Consortium (ACC)
    This web page provides useful information such as literature reviews, reports, guides, tools, and links to technology related topics.
  • Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)
    The organization provides information and resources on the use of computers in the classroom.
  • International Society for Technology in Education
    This organization has many resources and publications on using technology in the classroom, including the National Educational Technology Standards for teachers, students and administrators.
  • MacArthur Building the Field of Digital Media and Learning
    This MacArthur Foundation initiative looks at what is known about how "digital technologies are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize and participate in civic life" and looks to support use of these digital technologies for innovation in education. Deepening understanding of the impact of digital technologies can help educators better meet needs of students now and in the future.
  • National Center for Technology Innovation
    Funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, this center is a catalyst for cutting-edge technology developed by educational technology professionals for students with disabilities, their teachers, and their parents.
  • Office of Educational Technology
    This government site provides links to information on the use of technology in education.
  • Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE)
    A part of the AACE, this organization focuses on training staff and teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. The group has an international research conference every year with early childhood educators as one of their special interest groups.
 

Funding Technology