The majority of Sub-Saharan African countries are facing a very negative teacher-learner ratio: one teacher for over 120 learners. In order to support the learner training, we propose optimizing search engines for learning contexts, to enable learners to take optimal advantage of the vast reservoir of Open Educational Resources (OER) available on…

Societal change and prescriptions in curricula demand a change in educational practice. This can create conflicts between practitioners' usual practices (norms) and those prescribed by curricula. One example is the introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into preschool practice. Hence, our aim is to analyse how norms are…

PictoPal is the name of a technology-rich curriculum with a focus on emergent literacy of Dutch kindergarteners. A case study design was used to examine teacher technology integration within PictoPal along with their perceptions about teaching/learning, technology and technology-based innovations. Observations were undertaken on pupils' engagement…

As computers become an increasingly ubiquitous part of young children's lives there is a need to examine how best to harness digital technologies to promote learning in early childhood education contexts. The development of emergent literacy skills is 1 domain for which numerous software programs are available for young learners. In this study, we…

Multimedia augmented with tangible objects is an area that has not been explored. Current multimedia systems lack the natural elements that allow young children to learn tangibly and intuitively. In view of this, we propose a research to merge tangible objects with multimedia for preschoolers, and propose to term it as "tangible…

Describes ways in which current software for the early childhood classrooms can be enhanced to better match the developmental abilities of children and the playful ways in which they naturally learn. Offers six suggestions for improving future software options, including decreasing the need for adult instruction and interaction, and designing…

Reviews problems with the use of the computer for science instruction in preschool and primary school classrooms. Describes efforts by educators enrolled in the Iowa Chautauqua Program to adapt appropriate materials for early childhood science instruction. Describes and evaluates specific computer programs which coincide with current goals for…

Presents a list of educational computer software rated developmentally appropriate and without social bias for young children in two age groups: 3-7 and 8-12 years old. Presents overviews of the best software in each category, and includes contact numbers and World Wide Web addresses for the publishers. (JPB)

Investigated the effects of developmental and nondevelopmental computer software on four- and five-year-old children's intelligence, creativity, and self-esteem. Also assessed the effect of supplementing developmental software with related activities. Children exposed to developmental software supplemented with activities had gains in more areas…

Discusses theoretical and practical issues in teaching LOGO computer programming to young children from preschool to grade 5. Examines the program's adherence to developmentally appropriate practices, educational theories (particularly those of Piaget), and the Reggio Emilia approach. Considers implications of the program for curriculum design,…

This book addresses the issues of appropriate use of computers with young children and how children and early childhood educators interact with the computer in early childhood settings. Part 1, "Young Children as Active Learners," contains chapter 1: "Listen to the Children: Observing Young Children's Discoveries with the…

Describes preschoolers' collaboration during free play in a computer lab, focusing on the computer's contribution to active, peer-mediated learning. Discusses these observations in terms of Parten's insights on children's social play and Vygotsky's socio-cultural learning theory, noting that the children scaffolded each other's growing computer…

Examines role of teacher observation in children's free play at classroom computers. Considers Piaget's theory of interaction and Vygotsky's theory of zone of proximal development as groundwork for discussing the benefits of teacher observation to a developmentally appropriate classroom, including promoting confidence, selecting software, working…

The purpose of this study was to train and empower computer teacher facilitators through enabling them to introduce technology to children, instruct peers in use of computers for early childhood education, and improve family literacy and computer literacy through parent education. Found significant differences and implications for empowered roles…

This synthesis of the research literature on early intervention for young children with disabilities focuses on factors that contribute to quality, and then reviews what is known about two types of tools for young children with disabilities: toys and technology. It begins by examining current perspectives on quality education for all children,…