The natural inclination of a child is to take pleasure in the use of the mind no less than of the body. The child's primary business is learning. It is also the primary entertainment. To retain that orientation into adulthood, so that consciousness is not a burden but a joy, is the mark of the successfully developed human being.
- Nathaniel Branden

Participation in Workshops

This site provides online workshops which focus on the use of technology as a tool to assist young children with disabilities in achieving developmental goals. The Interactive Technology Literacy Curriculum is a service for families and early childhood professionals sponsored by the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education at Western Illinois University.

There is no charge for use of this site. This site is funded as part on a research project through the US Department of Education. Registration and login are required for access to these workshops.

Available Workshops

The Literacy Foundations workshop provides an overview of literacy development in young children including oral language, emergent reading development, and stages in early writing.

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The Literacy Environments workshop has helpful guidelines for designing a literacy-rich environment with a reading, writing, art, and technology center are the focus of this workshop. Factors to consider for arranging and managing the center are addressed.

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The Children's Software workshop contains techniques to evaluate software with special attention to levels of interactivity and modifications to meet individual needs are included in this workshop. An evaluation guide and recommendations for software are provided.

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The Technology Integration workshop provides strategies and activities for integrating technology into the curriculum to promote emergent literacy. An integration plan format and sample curriculum activities are included.

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The Authoring Software workshop focuses on software which gives children, educators, and families the ability to create books, customized activities and overlays. Application ideas and sample products are provided.

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The Literacy Assessment use of technology as a tool for documenting children's learning is addressed in this workshop. Software, equipment, and activities for creating electronic portfolios and computer products are included.

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