April 20, 2013

Using Technology to SupportPre-Readers

Copyright 2013 All rights reserved.

What We’ll Talk About Today

• What defines “new” technology?• How can technology be used in early

childhood classrooms to Support Literacy?• What does current research show about

outcomes for children when using tech?• Common Pitfalls to technology

implementations• Hatch Technology Solutions

Using Educational Technology to Literacy and School Readiness

We know:• Children are eager to learn.• How children learn.• The needed content for school readiness.• The results of three decades of research on

educational technology.

In all cases….young children have to TOUCH the tech!

TouchScreen ComputersKey features of touchscreen computers which fit well with use with early learners:• Reduction of cognitive

burden and frustration that comes from using mouse and keyboard

• Interactivity• Accessibility for all learners• When mobile, lots of

movement

Touchscreen Computer Research• McManis & McManis (2012) found preschool

children made significant and practical gains on literacy and math.

TOPEL: Test of Preschool Literacy & Bracken School Readiness Assessment

Literacy – Research Foundation

• Landmark study produced by NELP. • Used a meta-analyses approach. • Focused on the predictive

relationship between skills measured in preschool or kindergarten and

• Conventional literacy outcomes for children learning to read.

National Early Literacy Panel. (2008). Developing early literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel. Washington, DC: National Institute for Literacy.

NELP Literacy Findings

To be school ready, young children must:• Be able to say most of the alphabet rapidly.• Be able to name objects rapidly.• Be able to write name or letters.• Be able to remember, detect and manipulate

sounds (phonological awareness).

Common Technology Pitfalls• Technology for technology’s sake• Not tied to research findings• Developmentally inappropriate practices• Not adequately supporting teachers• Lack of alignment and integration w/curriculum

& standards-not scaffolded• No or weak evaluation of outcomes• Random apps mean random

learning!