This book shows how information and communications technology (ICT) can contribute to children's learning, how it can be integrated into a play based curriculum and how it relates to key areas of learning such as collaboration, communication, exploration and socio-dramatic play. It outlines the ICT requirements in the UK Foundation Stage Curriculum Guidance, and it examines the international relevance and implications of ICT for young children. [Back cover].
Mark O'Hara demonstrates how ICT can be used to motivate, excite and enthuse young children in their learning, while at the same time addressing the more common concerns voiced by early years practitioners. This book provides guidance on all aspects of teaching using ICT.
Helps readers understand how very young children (from birth to six) develop an early awareness, and subsequently develop their knowledge, skills and understandings of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This book is useful for students, parents, carers, teachers, and other professionals.
"This thought-provoking book demonstrates that the application of technology in the delivery of the curriculum is so much more than this and should give early year’s educators confidence and encouragement to develop their own ideas in using ICT in innovative and imaginative ways." Lynn Kennington, Early Education newsletter How can computers and other ICT applications be most effectively used to support learning in early years settings? Why is it important that young children use ICT in ways which are playful, creative and explorative? What research has been carried out about young children using computers and ICT, and what does this tell us? ICT in the Early Years carefully considers the potential of ICT to provide opportunities for young children to learn through playful and creative activities, examining research and practice in relation to the educational uses of ICT with young children. The book raises important issues about teaching in the early years using ICT, such as giving pupils control, co-operative working, access and assessment. In addition, it: Recounts recent research evidence Provides practical ideas for early years teachers Provokes debate about the future of ICT in early years education The book’s focus is on research outcomes, viewed through discussion of practical classroom approaches, with the pupil viewed as a competent learner and assessor. Emphasis is placed on creative and playful aspects of ICT, with the child as an active agent authoring, experimenting, and creating, rather than passively receiving. ICT in the Early Years is essential reading for teachers and teachers in training, and is also of use to other associated professionals, such as classroom assistants, home educators and nursery teachers. Parents with an interest in the use of technology in education will also find the book of genuine interest.
Practitioners and students wishing to know how very young children develop an awareness of ICT will find this text invaluable. ICT has arguably one of the biggest impacts on every-day 21st century life, so its inclusion in the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum reflects the need to encourage forward-looking practice in classrooms and nurseries. This book enables you to help young children develop their knowledge, understanding and skill in the use of ICT, with chapters from contributors with a wide range of practical experience. Full of ideas and new thinking, this practical guide shows you how to: promote independence in children's use of ICT through resources like digital cameras and role-play toys. explore the nature of creativity through ICT, using it to support the more traditional areas of art, music, dance and writing use ICT to enhance the physical and sensory aspects of outdoor learning experiences. harness the potential of ICT in reaching children with a variety of different learning needs, particularly those with profound and multiple learning difficulties, or autistic spectrum disorders. value children's home experiences of ICT and build on what they already know, and how to work with parents in developing their child's ICT capability. ICT can underpin all areas of learning for young children; this highly practical, inspirational and informative text is therefore relevant to all practitioners and students training in Early Years education.
This book provides a range of insights into pupils’ learning relevant to the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in primary science. The contributors, who are all experts in their field, draw on practical and theoretical perspectives and: Provide specific examples of software and hardware use in the classroom Consider innovative and creative uses of technology for pupils engaged in science activity in the primary and early years Indicate future possibilities for the use of computer-based technologies Key themes running through the book include: setting the use of ICT in primary science within theoretical perspectives on learning and on pedagogy; the importance of using ICT in developing talking and listening opportunities in the science classroom; and the potential of learning through ICT enhanced science investigations. Contemporary issues such as inclusion, creativity and collaborative learning are also examined, making Teaching and Learning Primary Science with ICT essential reading for students in science education, and for teachers who want to use new technology to improve learning in their science classrooms.
′[T]his second edition book is a welcome contribution to the early years literature base, providing much needed information and a somewhat innovative response concerning how effectively to translate the Early Years Foundation Stage into practice′ - Early Years `This second edition of Learning in the Early Years has been fully updated to bring it in line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage...The presentation and style...is very readable and accessible and as such the book provides an excellent resource for students and experienced early years practitioners alike′ - Early Years Update Praise for the First Edition: `It was a joy to read this book... This book provides a wealth of ideas for reflection, as well as guidance to promote knowledge and skills essential in early years teaching.′ Dario Pellegrini, Educational Psychologist `I found it hard to put it down. I particularly liked the way it followed through into Key Stage 1′ - Who Minds `An important contribution to difficult work′ - Elizabeth Quintero, The Steinhardt School of Education, New York University This fully updated Second Edition of ′Learning in the Early Years 3-7′ has been written to support early years practitioners understand and implement the new curriculum guidance document ′The Early Years Foundation Stage′ (DfES, 2007). In this book, Jeni Riley clearly explains how to meet the requirements of the EYFS document and how this relates to the National Curriculum and the Primary National Strategy: Framework for teaching for literacy and mathematics. Offering informative and inspirational guidance on planning learning and teaching opportunities across the curriculum, this book will help you to promote social, intellectual, aesthetic, spiritual and physical development in your setting. Topics covered include: - appropriate and lively ways of working with young children - developing subject knowledge - supporting children for whom English is an additional language - the role of adults when interacting with children to support learning - the place of information and communications technology - the transition between the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. The book also draws on recent research on child development, on how babies think and on effective learning and teaching for children aged 3-7. All early years students and practitioners will want to have this book to hand to guide them through the new guidance and to support them daily to implement successful practice. Jeni Riley, Reader in Literacy in Primary Education, Institute of Education, University of London.
Your Guide to Outstanding Early Childhood Practice in ICT provides relevant information and best practice guidance on digital learning in the early years. It is an ideal resource for practitioners, training teachings as well as parents, carers and students alike. The user-friendly and the completely accessible text provides pedagogical clarity.
Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.
`In its third edition...the author has included the latest research evidence relating to children aged from nought to eight. Her writing embraces the value of play, relationships, bilingualism and multilingualism in creating a rich language and literacy environment. Developing Language and Literacy with Young Children will appeal to a wide range of readers - practitioners, students, and their tutors, as well as parents and carers′ - Early Years Update ′Highly readable... Anybody working with babies and young children needs to have the knowledge that Whitehead clearly explains here′ - SureStart ′One of the many excellent features of this book is the way it tackles the issue of bilingualism in early childhood′ - Early Years Educator (eye) Praise for previous editions: `Marian Whitehead forces the reader to attend to the "voice of the child against the encroachment of inappropriate curriculum demands. Her total fascination for children′s language development captures the reader in an enthusiastic and informed voyage through "the most exciting and important aspect of human development - language in the early years′ - Early Years `This is an excellent read for all parents and workers with young children. The style of the book is friendly and accessible, with beautifully produced of photographs of children and indeed of their own work. Marian Whitehead is not ashamed to draw on her experiences as a grandparent, as well as highly competent theoretical researcher; she does both with competence and humour. This will prove an excellent source book for those involved in course design from childminders to university lecturers′ - Child Language Teaching and Therapy Looking at the most exciting and important aspect of human development - communication and language in the early years - this accessible book gives carers, parents, teachers and other professionals who work and play with young children a confident understanding of children′s communication and language development in the years from birth to age eight. The book examines the wide range of elements that are typical of all our communication and language activities: thinking, feeling, imagining, talking, listening, drawing, writing and reading. The author emphasizes the importance of children′s relationships and communications with the people who care about them, spend time with them and share in the excitement of their developing languages and their investigations of literacy. Taking a holistic approach, she covers: o early communication and language o the achievements of young bilinguals o the significance of stories, narrative and language play o the emergence of literacy in homes, early years settings and classrooms. ′This highly readable guide discusses how to help babies become competent communicators...Anybody working with babies and young children needs to have the knowledge that Whitehead clearly explains here′ - SureStart
