October 2003 — Features
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Wireless Tots
Integration Into Daily Lessons
Integration within Balanced Learn-ing works during both the teacher-directed activities and the child-initiated explorations. During small group time, there are usually no more than eight children per teacher, and each child has his or her own laptop. The teachers walk their students through the basic steps each day: turning on the computer, getting to the Internet and connecting to the preselected Web site. Next, the teacher guides the children through the initial part of the site as an orientation - making suggestions for items to explore and guiding the discussion with questions about what they see. This interactive technology makes it easier to create an environment in which children learn by doing and sharing.
One of the first lessons for the 4-year-olds at Bentwater focused on a unit of learning about air transportation. Specifically, the students wanted to learn about hot-air balloons. What happened next was a fun, engaging and cross-curricular activity as the group visited the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Web site (www.aibf.org). The site helped the children learn about early math skills by describing the balloon shapes and counting the balloons on pages they selected. It also let them plan what type of balloon they would make later as an art project, and allowed the students to view the inside of a balloon as the teacher explained how hot-air balloons work.
The entire lesson lasted about 20 minutes - just enough time to keep the attention of the active 4-year-olds. At the end of the lesson, the children shut down the laptops, returned them to the cart and prepared to create their own balloons with art supplies such as brightly colored construction paper and tissue paper, string and crayons.
The other integration element is for children to use software on the laptops for creative activities. During the child-initiated choice time, several laptops are set up in a learning center area. The children interested in using the computers can use software such as Inspiration Software's Kidspiration and APTE's Digital Photo Activity Kit to create and save their own projects. Teachers are on hand during this time to help the students where they need assistance.
Each laptop has Primrose-approved software for use during playtime and instructional activities. The software is selected based on several criteria, including it must:
- Allow for active learning with the children making choices and selections;
- Provide for creativity and self-expression;
- Invite further exploration and build upon what the children already know;
- Elicit excitement and conversation; and
- Apply to real-life connections.
In addition, the laptop solution allows several children to explore programs together, while each has his or her own creative results to share.
Along with enriching the Balanced Learning curriculum, the wireless format allows teachers to use their time more efficiently and productively. During the children's nap times, for example, having a laptop allows the teacher to plan lessons, preselect and prescreen Web sites, download new activities from the Primrose curriculum and, most importantly, send messages to parents about their child's day. This makes for a greater focus on the children, better planned activities and improved parental communications.
