EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

"Finding the Educationin

Educational Technology with
Early Learners"
AUTHORS: LILLA DALE McMANIS & SUSAN B. GUNNEWIG
General Assumptions:
- Modern children are very exposed to technology early on in their lives.
- Technology can be positively beneficial to children's academic learning
and development in new and more engaging ways!
- Technology on its own without the intentional integration with educative
elements is not as effective. Both elements must be fully employed.
- Adults should supervise and help create an interactive learning
environment. They will be successful at this if they are in close proximity
and encourage collaborative "peer to peer" learning.
Three factors crucial to Technological success:
1) Developmental suitability/relevance,(individual needs/interests &
social/cultural contexts) 2) Usability from teacher perspectives via proper
supporting tools, 3) Classroom/curriculum integration
Main discussion points: 3 Factor theory mentioned above,

implementation plan, evaluation tool for use and general implementation of

edu. tech.
- Research is a valid reason for edu.tech.
- Where finances are tied to technological accessibility and usage, it has
adverse effect on the nature, and overall results or value gained because
budgetary constraints negatively affect attitudes and ability to deliver on the
path of teachers.
PBS (Public Broadcasting Service & Grunwald Associates 2009; 2011)

Conducted two studies that reflects that more K-12 teachers welcomed and
implemented technology/digital resources than their Preschool teacher
counterparts.
Less access to the Internet and the digital resources themselves appears to
be the cause.
Hatch Early Learning created The Early Childhood Educational Technol- ogy
Evaluation Toolkit (McManis & Parks 2011)