When the right software is paired with a computer and enthusiastic children, the computer can sing or draw; tell stories or write stories; play individual games or operate a robot; and take its place beside books, blocks, toys, paint, and crayons in the lives of young children.
- Patricia Hutinger & Joyce Johanson

Key Terms

alternative input device: computer peripherals such as switches, touch screens, joysticks, paddles, and adaptive keyboards which can be used in place of the regular keyboard, mouse, or joystick.

developmentally appropriate - curriculum, activities, and decisions made based on knowledge about how children develop and learn; individual children's interests, strengths, learning styles, and needs; and social and culture frameworks.

digital camera: a camera that takes pictures without film, storing the pictures as digital files (in .jpg, .tiff, or .png) and can be easily downloaded to a computer or television.

drawmation: allows the user to replay each brush stroke made on a page using the program BuildAbility.

DVD: digital video disc, an optical disk using such a format and containing especially a video recording (as a movie) or computer data.

hardware: hardware refers to the electronic and mechanical components, which make up the computer system. These usually include the computer, monitor, and printer.

input device: any device that enters information into the computer from an external device such as standard or alternate keyboard, mouse, switch, or touch tablet; see also alternative input device.

PDA: "Personal Digital Assistant." A portable device that allows to user to store information such as addresses, data, and notes. Once information is stored on the PDA, it can be downloaded to the computer.

peripheral: a hardware device, which is outside of, but connected to, the computer is called a peripheral. These include input and output devices such as joysticks, paddles, graphics or touch screens, adaptive keyboards, printers, switch input box, and robots.

switch: an input device that allows a user to operate a computer or other electrical device.

switch interface: Allows the user to connect switches to a computers to run switch-enabled software.