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We have used technology in our classroom to enhance the learning process
of toddlers by displaying pictures, showing videos of the children
and discussing, or revisiting, the different lessons the children are involved
with. The children often give more language by revisiting the activity
through pictures than when actually engaged in the activity.
Technology with toddlers looks and sounds different because of the developmental
needs, ages and stages of this group of children. Technology does
assist and greatly enhances my ability as a teacher to discover what the
children are interested in and to create lessons which cause the children
to want to learn, and then they give me language for what has occured.
The technology we use in the classroom assists the children with self esteem,
bridges school and home communication, displays children's interests and
abilities and reflects our classroom curricilum for toddlers.
1.
Technology Operations and Concepts
Teachers
demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts
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Teachers
will demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts
related to technology.
By engaging in the MITTEN PROJECT I have displayed an introductory knowledge,
skills, growth and understnding of technology. I have shown how I
use technology with toddlers and parents through the implementation of
my lesson
plans, creating
classroom webs, checklists,
and displaying documentation panels.
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Teachers
will demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to
stay abreast of current and emerging technologies.
I accomplished this by using new technologies such as the digital camera
and scanner to create documentation panels for the children and parents.
I also used these technologies as well as the video camera for each of
my lesson plans. The children were very interested in seeing themselves
on the monitor as well as looking at their picture on the screen of the
digital camera. I
11.
Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences
Teachers
plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported
by technology.
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Teachers
will design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply
technology enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs
of learners
Planning lesson plans for each day requires knowing the childrens needs
to become engaged. In this process, I use the digital camera and
video camera to learn and display what the children are interested in for
the children to revisit, and for me to be able to extend that ongoing learning
environment. Revisiting similar activities enables the children to explore
more, and enhance their understanding of their world and environment.
IV.
Assessment and Evaluation
Teachers
apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation
strategies.
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Teachers
apply technology in assessing student learning of subject matter using
a variety of assessment techniques.
The developmental checklist assists in observing the strengths and
areas of developmental need. From this we can develop lessons which
provide opportunities for the children to become stronger. This tool
is created on the computer using a spread sheet program such as Microsoft
Excel to evaluate each child twice a year. Each child has a one
page checklist that is broken down into areas such as: gross motor skills,
fine motor skills, cognitive, self-help, language, and social-emotional
skills. The child is then observed in each of these areas through
various activities. After the child has been observed in an activity,
a rating of mastered, developing, or not observed is given.
V.
Productivity and Professional Practice
Teachers
use technology to enhance their productivity and professional practice
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Teachers
use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and
the larger community in order to nurture student learning.
Throughout the semester,
technology was used for communication purposes with parents and peers.
The parent
letter was first created to inform parents about what was going to
be taking place throughout the semester. The checklist was an ongoing
processes which was used to assess each of the children. This was
then used during parent-teacher canferences to show parents how their children
were developing. The digital camera was a technology that was also
used throughout the semester. Pictures were always being sent home
and hung up in the classroom for the children and parents to see.
Documentation
panels which included both pictures and children's language were also
used for parents, children, and staff to see.
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Narratives 