Tips for Making Technology Work for You
by Letha Clark and Terry Clare
Dilemmas and questions continue to surface as members of the ECCTS* staff work in classrooms with teachers and young children. Developing the environment in and around the technology center, integrating software and various forms of technology into the curriculum, and using KidDesk to help manage computer use are topics we frequently return to during individual conversations, training workshops, and staff development opportunities. The following provide some "tried and true" suggestions.
Environment:
- Make the computer center comfortable and attractive to children by placing the monitor at their eye level. Ways to accomplish this include:
- set the monitor directly on the table (set printer on the top of CPU or set the printer off to the side and the CPU tower on the floor away from scuffling and scrambling feet),
- lower table height if the legs are adjustable,
- remove the swivel stand from the bottom of the monitor (most are removable),
- lower the surface of the computer cart, and
- put the computer on a child-sized table rather than an adult table or computer cart.
- Provide child-sized seating for at least two children.
- Locate the computer center in a low traffic area that is well lit and near a power supply. Secure any "dangling" wires with tape or cable ties.
- Create easy access to the computer center for all children.
- Position the computer away from direct sunlight. Although it cheers a gloomy room, bright sunlight can produce a glare on the computer monitor making it difficult to view.
- Locate the computer center away from sand, water, rice, birdseed, heat sources, and magnetic fields (fans, phones, magnets).
- Encourage children to experiment with the different input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, a touch screen, or KidDraw, a drawing tablet).
- Label the parts of the computer system to encourage children's familiarity with the written words associated with each component, as well as reinforcing the word-object relationship.
- Place related activities, books, games, or toys near the center to help children reinforce emerging concepts.
Curriculum Integration:
- Have three or four software titles available on KidDesk for children to choose from that are related to the theme or unit, and children's interests. It is best to have a variety of software types: graphic programs, electronic books, activity/games, and/or child-made programs (HyperStudio stacks).
- When reviewing children's software, keep in mind the following:
- The software is open ended and allows children opportunities to explore.
- The software provides opportunities for problem solving.
- The software provides a safe and non-threatening place to learn.
- The children control the process.
- The software allows the children to be successful.
- The software makes good use of animation, graphics, sound, and color.
- The software stimulates the children's interest.
- The software encourages active involvement.
- The content of the software reflects a diverse society.
- The content is developmentally appropriate.
- Feedback is effective and non-threatening.
- Exiting the program is not difficult and is safe.
- The program is easy to navigate.
- The program operates at an acceptable speed.
- Hardware and software are compatible.
- If necessary to refer to them, the instructions are clear and easy to follow.
- Guide to general topics in children's software titles:
ANIMALS
- Amazing Animals
- ArtSpace
- Circletime Tales Deluxe
- Five Frogs
- Fisher-Price Little People Pet Shop
- Let's Explore the Farm with Buzzy
- My First Incredible, Amazing Dictionary
- Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
- Ruff's Bone
- Stellaluna
- The Backyard
- The Tortoise and the Hare
- Preschool Success Starter: Maggie's Farmyard Adventure
- Putt Putt Saves the Zoo
ART
- ArtSpace
- Crayola Make a Masterpiece
- Crayola Print Factory
- Disney's Magic Artist
- Disney Magic Artist 3-D
- EA Kids Art
- Elmo's Art Workshop
- Kid Pix Studio
CAUSE AND EFFECT
- JumpStart Toddler
- Circletime Tales Deluxe
- Fisher-Price Toddler
- Five Frogs
- New Frog and Fly
- Storytime Tales
COMMUNITY
- The Backyard
- Big Job
- Blue's Treasure Hunt: A Learning Adventure
- Fisher-Price Ranger Trail
- Just Grandma and Me
- Just Me and My Mom
- Let's Explore the Airport with Buzzy
- Let's Explore the Farm with Buzzy
- Little Monster at School
- Playskool Puzzles
- Richard Scarry's How Things Work in Busytown
- Stanley's Sticker Stories
- Tonka Construction 2
- Tonka Garage
- Tonka Workshop
CONSTRUCTION
- Big Dirt Movers o Big Job
- Construction Zone
- Fun With Architecture
- Richard Scarry's How Things Work in Busytown
- Tonka Construction 2
- Tonka Garage
- Tonka Search and Rescue
- Tonka Workshop
FAMILIES
- Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight
- Berenstain Bears in the Dark
- The Cat in the Hat
- Fisher-Price My Very First Little People Play House
- Just Grandma and Me
- Just Grandpa and Me
- Just Me and My Dad
- Just Me and My Mom
- Stellaluna
- Storytime Tales Deluxe
FARM (AGRICULTURE)
- Just Grandpa and Me
- Richard Scarry's How Things Work in Busytown
- Let's Explore the Farm with Buzzy
- Preschool Success Starter: Maggie's Farmyard Adventure
FEELINGS
- The Backyard
- Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight
- Berenstain Bears in the Dark
- The Cat in the Hat
- Green Eggs and Ham
- Harry and the Haunted House
FOOD
- ArtSpace
- Easy Bake Kitchen
- Green Eggs and Ham
- Pippi
FRIENDS
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
- Harry and the Haunted House
- Little Monster at School
- Pippi
- Stanley's Sticker Stories
- Stellaluna
IMAGINATION
- Berenstain Bears in the Dark
- Harry and the Haunted House
- I Spy
- I Spy Junior
- I Spy Junior Puppet Playhouse
- I Spy Spooky Mansion
- I Spy School Days
- Thinkin' Things Collection I
- Toony the Loon's Lagoon
MATH CONCEPTS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
- Blue's Treasure Hunt: A Learning Adventure
- Five Frogs
- Freddi Fish: The Missing Kelp Seeds
- How Many Bugs in a Box?
- I Spy
- I Spy Junior
- I Spy Junior Puppet Playhouse
- I Spy Spooky Mansion
- I Spy School Days
- KidDesk
- Millie's Math House
- Playskool Puzzles
- Thinkin' Things Collection I
- Toony the Loon's Lagoon
MUSIC
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
- Magic School Bus: In Concert
- Monkeys Jumping on a Bed
- Pippi
- Preschool Success Starter: Maggie's Farmyard Adventure
- Stellaluna
- Thinkin' Things
SOCIAL STUDIES
- Arthur's Camping Adventure
- Castles: Great Adventures by Fisher-Price
- Richard Scarry's How Things Work in Busytown
- My First Amazing World Explorer
- Ruff's Bone
REPETITIVE STORIES, POEMS, AND SONGS
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
- Circletime Tales Deluxe
- Five Frogs
- Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
SCIENCE AND NATURE
- Bug Adventure
- Dinosaur Hunter
- Five Frogs
- How Many Bugs in a Box?
- I Spy Junior
- Let's Explore the Farm with Buzzy
- Let's Explore the Jungle with Buzzy
- Magic School Bus: Explores with Bugs
- My Amazing Human Body
- New Frog and Fly
- Richard Scarry's How Things Work in Busytown
- Q3 Computer Microscope
- Stellaluna
- Sammy's Science House
SWITCH PROGRAMS
- Circletime Tales Deluxe
- Five Frogs
- New Frog and Fly
- Storytime Tales
- Switch Intro
- Workshop
TALL TALES AND FUNNY STORIES
- The Cat in the Hat
- Green Eggs and Ham
- Pippi
- Stanley's Sticker Stories
- Stone Soup
- The Tortoise and the Hare
- Workshop
TRANSPORTATION
- Big Dirt Movers
- Big Job
- Construction Zone
- Richard Scarry's How Things Work in Busytown
- Let's Explore the Airport with Buzzy
- My First Amazing World Explorer
- Tonka Construction 2
- Tonka Garage
- Tonka Workshop
Organizing children's software on the Windows98 desktop:
Make a new folder on the desktop by right clicking on the mouse. A popup menu box appears, choose "New" and then "Folder." Right click on the new folder, choose "Rename" in the popup menu and type "Children's Software" (or some other title).
Install children's software. Follow the auto install or open the "Control Panels" and access "Add/Remove Programs." Go to the "Start" menu and find the software publishing company folder under program files. Highlight the software application and right click. Choose "Create a Shortcut" from the pop-up menu. The shortcut will appear under the original application. Click and drag the shortcut to your "children's software" folder. Or choose another method to create a shortcut. Double click on "My Computer," "c: drive," "program files," and then the software company folder. Locate the software application (.exe file) and right click to open a pop-up menu. Select "Create a Shortcut." Move the shortcut (click and drag) to the "Children's Software" folder.
Helpful Hint: Locate the original program folder by right clicking on the shortcut icon and choosing "Properties" from the menu. In the "Properties" box, choose "Find Target" to find the folder in which the application is located.
KidDesk:
Add a kid:
- In the "Adult Section" of KidDesk, click the "Kids" tab to see the "kids card," then choose "Add Kid" from the "Kid" menu.
- Type the child's name in the "First Name" box. Use the tab key to advance to the next blank box or click in the blank box.
- Click "Change" and select a new icon from the choices offered. To acquire a photo image of the child, click on the "Import Image" button. Locate photo file (i.e. floppy disk, hard drive, desktop, or zip cartridge). Use picture files that have been formatted as .bmp. Before importing an image, "run" it through a graphic program such as PhotoStudio, PhotoDeluxe, or Print Shop to crop or resize it to appropriately 60 x 60 pixels, and then save it as a bmp file.
- To leave a welcome message, locate the "Welcome Message" box and click "Record" to record a message for a child or group of children.
- A "Kid Password" can be added for each child's desktop but this can be problematic, particularly if a child is unlikely to remember the password.
After setting up a child's desk, click "OK" to complete the process.
Add applications using shortcuts:
- Install and review software first. Place software shortcuts in a folder on your desktop (see above instructions for organizing children's software on the desktop).
- Click the "Applications" tab to bring the card to the front for viewing. By adding an application, an icon is created for the software program on each child's desk. And by clicking one time on the icon a child will launch that software program.
- Choose "Add Applications" from the "Application" menu. A dialog box containing "Instructions for Adding an Application" may appear. It will contain two items: "Help" and "Continue." To disable the dialog box, and keep it from appearing in the future, click in the check box at the bottom. After marking the box, click "Continue."
- In the "Add Application" dialog box, select the desktop where the software shortcuts to be added are located and find the shortcut representing that application. KidDesk automatically opens the "Programs" folder. Locate your desktop and then the childrenõs software folder. Select the desired shortcut. Once the application shortcut has been found, click on the shortcut icon and then click "OK."
HyperStudio:
- Save, save, and save! While creating a stack, try to save it every 5 minutes or after each change (i.e. animations, buttons, text boxes, drawings, and graphics). To save the stack, choose "Save" from the "File" menu.
- Before using photographs in a HyperStudio stack, change the color settings so the photos wonõt look "sick." This needs to be done before starting to add images to the stack! To change the HyperStudio color settings, choose "Objects" in the main menu, select "About this Stack" then locate the "Change # of colors box." Find the "Pick how many colors" option and select the highest color (true color 32 bit). If the only choice is 256 colors, change the monitor settings. To do this, minimize HyperStudio, and go to the control panels. Choose "Display" and then click on the "Settings" tab. Locate the colors box in the bottom right of the settings box. Click on the "Colors" box and choose the highest color setting (usually will be true color 32 bit). Return to HyperStudio, if the stack appearance is changed, exit HyperStudio and open again. Repeat the steps listed above to change the stack color settings.
- Save a backup copy (HyperStudio 3.3 has incompatibility issues) on another storage medium (floppy, zip, or burn it to a CD). Use "Save As" to save the stack to another location. Remember to "Save As" again to find and return to the original stack saved on the hard drive. When work on the stack has reached a stopping point, the final step is to save to the hard drive and also make a backup. Once again use the "Save As" command and save the stack to the backup location.
*Note: Project ECCTS (Early Childhood Comprehensive Technology System), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, provides training and technical support to early childhood programs who wish to establish an on-site Technology Team. More information can be found at http://scott.mprojects.wiu.edu/~eccts/.
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