Discussions

School or Organization Name:  Penn Consulting

Language in Which You Will Present:  English

Target Audience(s):                  Early Childhood Educators Pre-K through 2^nd grade

Short Session Description (one line): 

Using Technology to Promote Global Awareness in the Early Childhood Classroom PreK-2

Full Session Description (as long as you would like): 

This session equips the digital early educator with tools that will enable them to create a learning environment in the classroom that provides the opportunity for students to develop both academic skills and 21st century skills. The digital classroom offers learning experiences which expand the classroom beyond the four walls into the global community.  Technology tools enhance a child’s passion for learning by engaging all learning styles and develop globally competent citizens, workers, and leaders by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for success in a progressively more interconnected world.

Jonassen (1995) has determined that for meaningful learning to occur in the classroom, educators must employ five teaching strategies: active, constructive, collaborative, authentic, and intentional or reflective learning. Early educators will gain tools and resources that will encourage their students to investigate the world, recognize, understand and appreciate differing perspectives.  Hands on projects, such as digital storytelling may require students to learn to communicate ideas with diverse audiences.  Zemelman (1998) expanded upon this concept to develop standards for best practices that include student-centered, experiential, holistic, authentic, expressive, reflective, social, collaborative, democratic, cognitive, developmental, constructive, and challenging. Interpersonal communications, web based research, collaborative projects, and virtual fieldtrips encourage global awareness through dialogue, data collection and analysis, critical thinking, and problem solving.  Multimedia presentations of content provide the student with the opportunity to better understand and process the material as they are engaged in the learning process.  In earth science, this may entail students using technology to review the earth’s systems and identify how their local experience impacts the rest of the world.  This workshop encourages the integration of technology in meaningful and authentic learning experiences in order to foster global competence and understanding of the interconnectedness or people globally.  Technology empowers teachers like never before to support their personal mission of providing the best possible education to their students. (Duncan, 2010)

Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:

http://reg.accelacomm.com/servlet/Frs.frs?Context=LOGENTRY&Source=source&Source_BC=104&Script=/LP/51311352/reg

http://en.wordpress.com/features/

http://sciencespot.net/Pages/kdztech.html

http://www.4kids.org/games/

http://www.brainpop.com/

http://curiosityintheclassroom.com/

http://www.simplek12.com/virtualfieldtrips

http://www.symbalooedu.com/wp-content/uploads/Symbaloo-user-guide.pdf

http://www.betterstorytelling.net/blog/0-thebasics/what-makes-a-great-hero.html

http://www.storyjumper.com/

http://www.studentreasures.com/

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/3200/preview/

http://playingwithmedia.com/

http://livebinders.com/create/bookmark?type=bookmark

http://mightybook.com/

http://www.starfall.com/

http://www.sacanet.com/Digital_Learning_Environment.html

http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/home