iPads in PreK

iPads have come to PreK. Yes, the children are using the new iPad that I got for being a part of an Austin ISD program - Technoscientists. This is my 3rd year in the program and it really helps encourage teachers to get the latest technology into the hands of their children. These little "digital natives" had no problems finding an app that they wanted to work on together... an alphabet and number matching game. There are so many free or almost free applications on iTunes that they have many choices. I have found apps to support children as they learn to write the alphabet letters and numerals, count objects, sort shapes and colors, draw pictures, "write" their own tunes, talk to a talking Tom Cat, who will echo their words, listen to ladybug songs, complete puzzles, listen to animal sounds, and so much more. During center time, the iPad and the iPod Touches are always a favorite choice, as well as the classroom computers which have starfall.com on them. Next Tuesday, the children will go to our new Mac computer lab. This is a wonderful time for technology in education.

Technology in the PreK Classroom

Using technology in our classroom might include using the classroom desktop computers or the computers in our school computer lab, iPod Touches, iPods, digital microscopes, digital cameras, flip video cameras, a Mimio Interactive System, or the Innovation Station shown here. Over the year, students will become more and more proficient using these tools. They are very fortunate that I participate in several technology/science collaborative groups which encourage and support technology in the pre-k classroom. Since I am not going to post pictures with student photos on this blog, I have used picnik.com to "hide" the face of a student using the computer on the Innovation Station. The student is clicking and dragging objects to a counting frame, following an oral direction on http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=74.