My Perspective on using Educational Technology in My Classroom

As most of you know.  I am a preschool teacher of four and five year olds.  We have one computer in the room that we let the children on.  We have a teacher computer that the children do no touch.  We let the children work in groups of two on the computer playing on www.starfall.com. 

Since I have learned how to make QR codes, the children in my class have learned a great deal about QR codes.  They have enjoyed going around the room scanning codes with an old android phone.  Our preschool is part of the STEM school.  We have a teacher come in and teach Robotics.  The kids have been learning about what a Robot is, what it does, and all about algorithms.  We have Keebo's that the children have been using.  They scan the blocks and let the Robot go to work.
 

We watch movies in our classroom daily, sometimes while we wait on lunch, other times we are waiting for the Robotics teacher.  It is wonderful in transition times as we wait on another individual.  I would love to have a computer for every child in the room, but financially that is unrealistic.  With my age group, sometimes parents do not feel comfortable with their young child using their computer.  Other parents give their child tablets and old cellphones. 

As far as something I can do in the classroom now, with the limited funds we have, I would like to order a new computer mouse where one side is green and the other is red, so I could explain left and right click better to the children.  

We use technology at least three hours everyday, sometimes more.  We also use the computer to watch videos on YouTube about our current theme.  We have watched videos on the life cycle of a butterfly, letter videos, and Graduation songs.       

Sometimes children in our class bring in leap pads.  One year one of the girls put on buzz buzz and the class danced to it for an hour or two.

The children that bring in their Leap Pads are willing to share with their friends.  

The biggest challenge in using technology in the classroom is other adults.  One year, I had a child who listened well on the computer.  I taught him how to push the space bar and the PowerPoint slide went to the next one.  I was able to present during chapel and he was able to participate in chapel.  He did a great job and listened great.  Another adult walked by and declared he was unfit to help. because he was 5 years old.  It didn't matter that I could see him, that he did a great job, it mattered that another adult who happened to have a more prestigious job in the building dictated that his age made him unsuitable.  Some 5 year olds are unsuitable for that job.  Some adults are unsuitable for that job.  There is no shame learning from a child, or teaching a child to do a job.  I would call that Ageism.  Okay, I am getting off my soap box now.  

 

When using YouTube with children, it is wise to always be present or circling quickly.  YouTube doesn't allow you to block certain kinds of adds.  If you are using it for learning, you might have to make sure the child on the phone or Computer hasn't found a cute Play dough video and is off topic.  I try to use Technology for teaching purposes where the kids don't realize they are learning.   Play dough Princess is not the kind of learning I anticipated. 

Technology has it's place in all classroom, including Preschoolers.  Adults shouldn't stifle children, but encourage them to be their best in everyway. 

Using QR Codes in the Classroom: Tech-Based Supplemental Materials Lesson Plans

We have been talking about QR Codes.

Here is a sample Scavenger Hunt using QR Codes.

In this Scavenger Hunt, we will let the children take turns scanning each QR Code.
Each Code will lead us to a different Code until we are finally back in our classroom.

BH Scavenger Hunt 1 by Anonymous wZERsBdXx on Scribd

We are knee deep in Art Show Preparation.

This year we chose to do the life cycle

of the Butterfly as our theme.

What better way to add it to what we have been learning,

than to turn it into a QR Code.

Here is a fun website geared towards Parents and Teachers for various activities.

http://www.kidscanhavefun.com/qr-codes-for-kids.htm

You can print off  QR Animal Flash Cards.

http://www.kidscanhavefun.com/qr-codes-activities/qr-code-farm-animal-sounds.pdf

Qr Code Farm Animal Sounds by Anonymous wZERsBdXx on Scribd

This Worksheet can be Printed and scanned.

It shows words that have Vowels Aa, Ee, Ii, and Oo.

These are some basic sight words we are 

working on in our classroom.

The goals at the end of our QR Lesson Plans:

1. The Children are able to recognize a QR Code.
2. They are able to scan the QR Code if a QR app is already installed.
3. They know that QR Codes are squares.
4. They are excited about learning.
5. Supplement and reinforce everything else they have learned this year Such as Letters, Numbers, and Basic Words.

Guidelines Met

Domain: Approaches Toward Learning

Strand: Initiative

Topic: Planning, Action and Reflection

Standard Statement:Develop, initiate and carry out simple plans to obtain goal.

Domain: Social and Emotional Development

Strand: Self

Topic: Self-Regulation

Standard Statement: Manage the expression of feelings, thoughts, impulses and behaviors with minimal guidance from adults.

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge

Strand: Cognitive Skills

Topic: Memory

Standard Statement: Communicate about past events and anticipate what comes next during familiar routines and experiences

Domain: Language and Literacy

Strand:Listening and Speaking

Topic:Expressive Language

Standard Statement: Use language to communicate in a variety of ways with others to share observations, ideas and experiences; problem-solve, reason, predict and seek new information.

Domain: Physical Well-Being and Motor Development

Strand: Motor Development

Topic:Small Muscle: Touch, Grasp, Reach, Manipulate

Standard Statement: Coordinate the use of hands fingers and wrists to manipulate objects and preform task requiring precise movements.

My Technology Lesson Plan: QR Code Scavenger Hunt

So let's talk Lesson Plans...again.

Have you ever had the deadline close in on you and you are about to leave work and wonder where the time has gone?

Yes, me too.

So what is a Teacher to do?

There are a few options,

• Prepare the Lesson plans in advance.  It does take forethought and organization. With some practice, it will get easier.
• Use a Lesson Plan from last year (It's the same material right?  You're the same teacher.  Sometimes that works and sometimes
  the class is too different to repeat what you did last year.
  
  I have noticed each group of students have their own vibe.  It's almost like the class as a whole has their own personality. Which means, sometimes an old Lesson plan won't be as effective as something geared towards the students in your class.
• Borrow a template from the web and hope you can tweak it.
• Make 6 week Lesson Plans.
  
  That doesn't work for all
  ages, but honestly you are going get into a routine and the
  Lesson Plans will stay similar for certain times of the year.

When I do Lesson Plans, I try to make them for 6 weeks at a time.  My boss went to a conference and said they were told the kids learn better in 6 week incriminates.  Hey, I am in Preschool.  It makes since, so I have tried out that theory several times and it works.  I feel happier we don't have to reinvent the wheel every week and I get to watch as the information sinks in and the children add their own creative spin on it.  Children always have something to say given the opportunity.

Our Goal in my Classroom is at the end of the school year the children will mostly be able to:

1. Recite Address, Phone Number, Days of the Week, Months of the Year, Parents Name, and Birthday. 
   
2. Recognize Most of Upper and Lower Case Letters in the Alphabet, and know their sounds. 
   
3. Recognize Numbers 0-20 
   
4. Develop Sharing Skills
5. Be able to read words bat, cat, rat, mat, and sat.
   
    
6. Start sounding out simple words.
7. Open their own snack including Juice and packaged items.  
8. Be able to express needs verbally, such as I need....

These can be achieved in a multitude of ways.  My Preschool focuses on Social-Emotional, Language, Cognitive, and Physical Development.  In our lesson plans, my co-teacher and I try to include all four types of learning as often as we can.  

Example: A child is working with a friend to write their letters.  

• Social-Emotional:  Working with a friend 
• Language:  Using words to communicate while doing the project as well as the written Language
• Cognitive:  Thinking through what needs to be done and remembering letters in order to complete the task at hand
• Physical Development:  Using fine motor skills to hold the pencil/marker/crayon and use it properly

Here is a copy of my 

QR Code Scavenger Hunt

Lesson Plan

QR Scavenger Hunt by Anonymous o1N5OI4 on Scribd