Web Resource for Integrating Technology
with Early Childhood Development

Research | Standards | Integration Activities | Assistive Technology | Training

Integrate Technology with Preschoolers
(with and without special needs)

Remember: all technology activities should be social events!
Try to have at least two children at the computer at the same time.

Research

A summary of recent research has been provided to help with understanding the importance of integrating technology at the preschool level. The supporting research listed here is only a small example of the research available in the field. Technology integration with young children is encouraged in many areas; the ones mentioned here include cognitive development, communication, socialization  and writing development.

Standards

Arizona Early Childhood Educational Standards(ECE), Arizona Functional Standards and the National Educational Technology Student Standards (NETS) have all been utilized in creating the Technology Integration Activities within this web resource. Activities and standards have been cross referenced with links.

Technology Integration Activities

This section will continue to grow as more activities are added to the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring themes. Technology activities that relate to the theme are provided. Many activity may take a week to accomplish. When working with children with special needs it is especially good to read the same book for at least one week, sometimes more, this helps them to get familiar with the book and be able to start predicting. We also use the same technology activities for at least one week, and often more. Some activities are very simple in order to help children with learning mouse skills. These skills can sometimes be difficult to learn for young children with special needs. They have to learn cause and effect between the mouse and screen which requires visual attention to one area, the screen,  and tactile attention to another area, the mouse.

Assistive Technology

I plan to continue working on the assistive technology (AT) section of this web site. This section will include mouse adaptations, table or area modifications and screen considerations.

Training

Training is very important and it should be part of any technology resource. Guidelines should be followed when integrating technology at the preschool level in order to stay within a developmentally appropriate philosophy. In the future this web resource will provide information for integrating technology, providing direct support and continued support.