# data[].attributes.body
Well that 5 minutes went by fast!

# data[].attributes.body
What I don't love about AI

# data[].attributes.body
Yay! Go Team!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When we think about the future, we think of flying cars, cities on the moon, robots to take care of household chores and virtual assistants who manage everything for us. This shows the in our lives. We all want a Jarvis after all, don't we? To achieve this we need to understand the importance of AI advantages of AI for children, how AI can be used in education and the importance of AI in today's world.

While these realities seemed distant at one point in time, they are now closer than ever. All credit for this goes to futuristic concepts like AI, robotics, programming and ML which has provided the technology industry with unlimited scope to expand. The possibilities truly are limitless.

To prepare for a future like that, where machines listen, talk, act and more importantly understand the things around them, it is important to get familiar with AI concepts. Let's begin with a basic intro to these.

Future Technologies

Many concepts fit into the category of future technologies. While robotics and programming are well-established industries, AI, IoT and automation are catching up quickly. However, the most crucial of them all is AI.

Advantages of Learning AI for Kids

Here are a few ways in which learning about AI can be beneficial for children -

The STEM industry has completely revolutionised the way the world functions in the past couple of decades. Everything is now easier, faster and a lot more efficient than it ever was. All credit goes to STEM!

Engineering, medical and research methodologies have advanced a lot to provide scope for unlimited development. Not just adults but even children find themselves drawn to such new concepts out of curiosity and the endless opportunities in such fields.

There are so many children we hear about who made their own apps, helped tech giants catch a glitch in their system or just developed some software to solve a problem. Such instances prove that there is no age limit when it comes to this industry. Everyone is welcome; the only prerequisite is interest.

Introduce your kids to concepts like AI, robotics, programming and IoT with our carefully curated courses for younger age groups. To know more about them check out the offered AI courses on our website. For a more hands-on approach, we strongly suggest you check out the Quarky AI kit coming soon and sign up today!

Teaching students about AI and other technologies, which can be applied practically, is essential. Hands-on experience will help them develop their skills and provide clarity to the theoretical concepts. Exposure to these revolutionary technologies will prepare them to survive and excel in a world ruled by computers and machines. The is evident. For this very reason, it is essential to let them explore these concepts with the help of importance of artificial intelligence in education AI kits like Quarky, which is releasing soon!

AI, programming, IoT and robotics do not have pre-defined boundaries which can hold beginners in place. Instead, these technologies give free rein to one and all who take a step towards exploring them. The truly limitless possibilities that are available in these fields allow everyone to constantly innovate and develop their mental capabilities.

Apart from intellectual benefits, AI can also provide emotional health benefits to children. As part of a research project, patients at a children's hospital spent time with an AI-enabled robot, made especially for them. The observations showed a 26% increase in joyfulness and a 34% decrease in the stress levels of children.

Kids can be eased into challenging concepts like big data analysis by starting off with more engaging topics like AI. AI education's impact on children is perfect to help them develop an interest in more specific industrial technologies like big data.

Sticking with these concepts long enough to figure them out not only allows children to develop intellectually but also gives rise to holistic development. It teaches them patience, persistence and the importance of thinking outside the box to solve problems. Working on AI group projects helps them realize the significance of teamwork and why hard work is the key to success.

Getting acquainted with advanced technological concepts like AI, IoT, automation, robotics and programming at a young age helps children to understand the functioning of the world around them at a deeper and more profound level. They start understanding the kinds of problems faced on a day-to-day basis and look for solutions because it's not just challenging, it is also very exciting.

Teaching kids about these concepts helps them give back to society not necessarily as adults but even as kids. Developing prototypes of better health systems, apps to make booking slots for vaccination easier, AI governance portals offering more transparency, etc., are all examples of how society benefits from these technologies. Children are often the ones who come up with such innovative ideas and reap the . Let your child explore these concepts in a hands-on manner using benefits of AI AI kits like Quarky! It is releasing very soon but you can sign up today!

Acquiring AI skills and sufficient knowledge can help children find better career opportunities in the future. These concepts have merged with every other industry out there to provide hybrid working conditions. Learning about AI and related technologies can help children adapt to such advanced work environments later on in life. Undoubtedly, being familiar with such essential skills and exhibiting confidence in new working environments will help them get better professional opportunities than their counterparts.

Open for all educators from across the world, we were able to train 700+ educators through this free program. The participants got access to free classroom resources, certificates and learnt about AI concepts like Face Detection, Object Detection, Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. In case you missed out, here is a compiled of the 5-day webinar series!

To help your child gain AI skills, which are in huge demand, from home, check out our wide range of STEM products that can kickstart their tinkering experience.

In a Nutshell

The AI industry is revolutionizing the world one code at a time. Robotics, automation and programming have become an essential part of our everyday lives. We cannot imagine living without virtual assistants, apps and mechanised industries which provide us with everything we need to survive and thrive. The advantages of AI for children and the importance of AI in today's world is indisputable.

The impact of these technologies in the present only emphasizes the importance they are going to have in the future. To prepare our children for a technologically advanced world it is vital that we introduce them to AI and related concepts at an early age so they can evolve along with these technologies. Check out the Quarky AI kits coming soon and sign up today!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Importance of AI in Early Education for Kids - STEMpedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When we think about the future, we think of flying cars, cities on the moon, robots to take care of household chores and virtual assistants who manage everything for us. This shows the in our lives. We all want a Jarvis after all, don't we?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
AI and Early Learning

Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

Early Childhood Education is one of the most important chapters of a child's life. It builds the foundation of the journey ahead. In an era of artificial intelligence, it's important to find out ways we can use AI to provide better Early Childhood Education experiences to the young generation.

Using chatbots or talking robots to...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Applications of AI in Early Childhood Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
AI and Early Learning Early Childhood Education is one of the most important chapters of a child's life. It builds the foundation of the journey ahead. In an era of artificial intelligence, it's important to find out ways we can use AI to provide better Early Childhood Education experiences to the young generation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
YouTube will start using AI to automatically add age restrictions to videos "over the coming months," the company announced on Tuesday.

The site currently relies on content reviewers to flag videos that aren't appropriate for viewers under 18, but will soon start using machine learning to detect content for review. Uploaders will be able to appeal the system's decisions.

In addition, viewers who try to evade the restrictions by watching videos embedded on third-party websites will be redirected to YouTube, where they'll have to sign-in to show they're over 18.

"This will help ensure that, no matter where a video is discovered, it will only be viewable by the appropriate audience," the company said in a blogpost.
[Read: Are EVs too expensive? Here are 5 common myths, debunked]
The new restrictions are YouTube's latest response to concerns over the protections it provides to young users. The site has been engulfed by a series of scandals involving videos of child abuse, and last year was fined $170m for collecting kid's personal data without their parents' consent.

Last August, the company launched a web version of the YouTube Kids mobile app for children under 13, which offers curated content, parental control features, and filtering of videos.

The new automated restrictions will detect content on the main platform deemed inappropriate for anyone under 18.

As a reminder, YouTube Kids is for anyone under the age of 13 - you can watch https://t.co/jwh4vtYeIq if you're over 13, but some content is only appropriate for people over 18 - this is where age-restrictions come in.

See what may cause age-restrictions: https://t.co/CaX7aMdscj

- TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) September 22, 2020

YouTube's recent experiments with content moderation suggest that the automated system will lead to far more videos being age-restricted.

In the second quarter of this year, YouTube took down a record number of videos after increasing the role of AI in its content review efforts. Neal Mohan, the company's chief product officer, told the Financial Times this week that the site recently returned to using more human moderators. But for age restrictions, the company clearly feels that more AI is required.
So you're interested in AI? Then join our online event, TNW2020 , where you'll hear how artificial intelligence is transforming industries and businesses.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
YouTube's new AI will block videos that are inappropriate for kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
YouTube will start using AI to automatically add age restrictions to videos "over the coming months," the company announced on Tuesday. The site currently relies on content reviewers to flag videos that aren't appropriate for viewers under 18, but will soon start using machine learning to detect content for review.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
But the app contains dark corners, too, as videos that are disturbing for children slip past its filters, either by mistake or because bad actors have found ways to fool the YouTube Kids algorithms.

In recent months, parents like Ms. Burns have complained that their children have been shown videos with well-known characters in violent or lewd situations and other clips with disturbing imagery, sometimes set to nursery rhymes. Many have taken to Facebook to warn others, and share video screenshots showing moments ranging from a Claymation Spider-Man urinating on Elsa of "Frozen" to Nick Jr. characters in a strip club.

Malik Ducard, YouTube's global head of family and learning content, said that the inappropriate videos were "the extreme needle in the haystack," but that "making the app family friendly is of the utmost importance to us."

While the offending videos are a tiny fraction of YouTube Kids' universe, they are another example of the potential for abuse on digital media platforms that rely on computer algorithms, rather than humans, to police the content that appears in front of people - in this case, very young people.

And they show, at a time when Congress is closely scrutinizing technology giants, how rules that govern at least some of the content on children's television fail to extend to the digital world.

When videos are uploaded to YouTube, algorithms determine whether or not they are appropriate for YouTube Kids. The videos are continually monitored after that, Mr. Ducard said, a process that is "multilayered and uses a lot of machine learning." Several parents said they expected the app to be safer because it asked during setup whether their child was in preschool or older.

Mr. Ducard said that while YouTube Kids may highlight some content, like Halloween videos in October, "it isn't a curated experience." Instead, "parents are in the driver's seat," he said, pointing to the ability to block channels, set usage timers and disable search results.

Parents are also encouraged to report inappropriate videos, which someone at YouTube then manually reviews, he said. He noted that in the past 30 days, "less than .005 percent" of the millions of videos viewed in the app were removed for being inappropriate.

"We strive," he added, "to make that fraction even lower."

Holly Hart of Gray, Tenn., said she was recently reading while her 3-year-old daughter was in the room when she noticed that Disney Junior characters in the video her daughter was watching started "turning into monsters and trying to feed each other to alligators." An image previewing a recommended video showed the characters in a provocative pose.

"It was an eye-opener for me," said Ms. Hart, who had downloaded the app because it was being used at the local elementary school.

Not all of the inappropriate videos feature cartoons. Alisa Clark Wilcken of Vernal, Utah, said her 4-year-old son had recently seen a video of a family playing roughly with a young girl, including a scene in which her forehead is shaved, causing her to wail and appear to bleed.

Most of the videos flagged by parents were uploaded to YouTube in recent months by anonymous users with names like Kids Channel TV and Super Moon TV. The videos' titles and descriptions feature popular character names and terms like "education" and "learn colors."

They are independently animated, presumably to avoid copyright violations and detection. Some clips uploaded as recently as August have millions of views on the main YouTube site and run automatically placed ads, suggesting they are financially lucrative for the makers as well as YouTube, which shares in ad revenue. It is not clear how many of those views came on YouTube Kids.

One video on YouTube Kids from the account Subin TV shows the "PAW Patrol" characters in a strip club. One of them then visits a doctor and asks for her cartoon legs to be replaced with long, provocative human legs in stilettos. The account's description says, "Video created with the purpose of learning and development of children!"

The account that posted the video seen by Ms. Burns's son is named Super Ares TV and has a Facebook page called PAW Patrol Awesome TV. Questions sent there were mostly ignored, though the account did reply: "That's a Cute character and video is a funny story, take it easy, that's it."

The Super Ares TV account seems to be linked to a number of other channels targeting children with cartoon imitations, based on their similar channel fonts, animation style and Greek mythology-inspired names, from Super Hermes TV and Super Apollo TV to Super Hera TV.

A Super Zeus TV account included a link to a shopping site called SuperKidsShop.com, which is registered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A call to the phone number listed in that site's registration records was answered by a man who declined to identify himself. He said that his partners were responsible for the videos and that a team of about 100 people worked on them. He said he would forward email requests for comment to them. Those emails went unanswered.

Dr. Michael Rich, a pediatrics professor at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Center on Media and Child Health, said such videos brought up a host of issues for children. "It's just made that much more upsetting by the fact that characters they thought they knew and trusted are behaving in these ways," he said.

Josh Golin, executive director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, argued that inappropriate videos on YouTube Kids showed hazards of today's media reality.

"Algorithms are not a substitute for human intervention, and when it comes to creating a safe environment for children, you need humans," Mr. Golin said. His group and the Center for Digital Democracy filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission in 2015 accusing YouTube Kids of deceptive marketing to parents based on inappropriate videos.

Using automation for online advertising has turned Google into a behemoth worth more than half a trillion dollars. The company has faced a new wave of criticism in the past year for lacking human oversight after its systems inadvertently funded fake news sites and hateful YouTube videos and most likely sold election-related ads to accounts affiliated with the Russian government.

Google has largely defended its errors by pointing to the enormous amount of content it hosts, including more than 400 hours of content uploaded to YouTube every minute.

Disney and Nickelodeon, mainstays of children's programming, work with YouTube Kids to introduce children to their characters. But they are also aware that their content can be mixed in with disturbing knockoffs.

"Nickelodeon creates its characters and shows to entertain kids, so we share the same concern as parents about the unsuitable nature of some of the videos being served to them," said David Bittler, a spokesman for the Viacom-owned network.

A Disney spokesman said YouTube Kids had assured the company that it was "working on ways to more effectively and proactively prevent this type of situation from occurring."

Some parents have taken to deleting the app. Others, like Ms. Burns, still allow its use, just on a more limited, supervised basis.

"This is a children's application - it's targeted to children," said Crissi Gilreath, a mother of two in Oklahoma, "and I just can't believe that with such a big company they don't have people whose job it is to filter and flag."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
video recordings  downloads and streaming

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
On YouTube Kids, Startling Videos Slip Past Filters

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
But the app contains dark corners, too, as videos that are disturbing for children slip past its filters, either by mistake or because bad actors have found ways to fool the YouTube Kids algorithms. In recent months, parents like Ms. Burns have complained that their children have been shown videos with well-known characters in violent or lewd situations and other clips with disturbing imagery, sometimes set to nursery rhymes.

# data[].attributes.body
I will say for our kids 4-6, I think more hands on activities that do not include tons of technology is sometimes better, having them also be able to navigate google classroom has been a lifesaver!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This post may contain affiliate links.

Growing up in a digital world, coding for preschoolers is just as important as it is for them to learn to read and learn math. Preschool coding activities can set down the foundation for helping kids start to think like a computer programmer.

Anyone (and I mean anyone!) can learn to code. Coding is basically giving your computer instructions using a language it understands, that can then produce a specific result. Many seem to think it is just for adults (or nerdy computer programmers!), but that's not the case. Coding can also be for children as young as preschoolers. Yes, really!

Why should we teach preschoolers how to code?

Teaching children how to code has numerous benefits and advantages that go well beyond programming a computer. Read our 8 reasons why you should teach children to code to understand everything that coding offers your child. Coding teaches skills such as learning to problem solve efficiently, and helping to develop persistence, resilience, and determination which are all highly sought-after skills in the workforce, and in life in general.

How can we introduce coding for preschoolers?

At a preschool level, we need to first lay down the foundations for children to think like a computer programmer. You don't even need a computer for our unplugged preschool coding activities.

Coding for preschoolers is generally best to introduce through fun hands-on games and activities that make kids think like a computer programmer. So, activities that promote logical thinking, and have a problem to solve are a perfect choice.

Children learn best when they are having fun. Through fun and engaging activities, they won't even realize they are learning the skills needed to code.

Here are some ideas for preschool coding activities that will get kids thinking like a computer programmer. We've also included our popular preschool coding worksheets to help reinforce the basic concepts of coding.

7 Super Fun Preschool Coding Activities

Go on a Treasure Hunt

A treasure hunt requires many of the skills that computer programmers use when coding. By creating a treasure hunt with instructions and directions, children can follow to find their treasure. This teaches children about algorithms, a set of instructions to help a computer perform a specific task.

There is no prep required for this activity! Simply place "treasures" all around the room or garden, then draw a map with instructions. A simple example could be: 2 big steps forward, 3 big steps right, Climb under the table, 4 big steps left, and so on.

If they make a mistake they must go back and start again ( debug the code!) until they find where the treasure is hidden.

Check out our treasure hunt coding activity for more details.

Solve a Maze

Following a maze is a great coding activity for preschoolers because it helps them to develop resilience. If they find they are going in the wrong direction, they need to go back and try again until they find another path to follow.

To add some extra fun make a blindfolded maze! Have one child act as the 'computer' and one as the 'programmer'. The programmer has to give instructions ( algorithm!) to help the blindfolded computer through the maze! See the full instructions for this blindfolded coding activity in this post!

Wanting to get some fresh air? We have some easy outdoor coding activities that use similar concepts outside instead.

Story Sequence

Telling stories is a great way to help preschoolers develop coding skills. Break up the story into pieces, perhaps by picture, mix them up and have the kids put the story in the right order.

Kids will have to study each piece and think logically in order to work out which piece of the story goes first and put each piece in the correct order to be able to read the story from start to finish. This teaches the important skills of sequencing, which is a vital part of understanding how to code.

All kids love a good story, so why not break it down for them.

Puzzles

Problem-solving is one of the things computer programmers need to be good at. Puzzles can help pre-schoolers with this type of skill because essentially you are giving them a problem to solve. Kids need to look at what the puzzle looks like, and examine the pieces to eventually put them all together to finish the puzzle. Breaking a big picture into small steps is the foundation of coding!

Our recommendations:

Building blocks

Building blocks are perfect for encouraging future engineers and programmers. Children can get creative and build something they can be proud of.

Building something out of blocks takes patience, persistence, and determination; all skills needed in computer programming!

Logical thinking is also important. Children need to think about how and if the blocks can balance and where to put them in order to do so.

To add a twist, you can make a chain reaction with blocks and dominoes! Chain reactions help children understand cause-and-effect, and, they are a whole lot of fun! We love this chain reaction set from Learning Resources.

Follow a LEGO set

Coding is essentially giving a computer a step-by-step guide in order to produce a desired result. Lego is the perfect way to demonstrate this process to pre-schoolers.

There are many different Lego sets for all ages and skill levels, and kids can move up as they get better at it. You might be surprised that even pre-readers can follow instructions for a LEGO set.

Once they have finished their Lego piece, they can practice writing their own instructions for you to make it. Having them "teach" you how to do something will teach them how to build their own instructions. Building instructions is a foundational coding concept.

If you are unable to create the Lego piece with the instructions given, they will realize that there is something wrong with the instructions, and need to go back and amend them in order for you to achieve the desired result. This is the concept of debugging!

Games that use math

Pretty much any game or activity that uses mathematics skills is a useful coding activity for pre-schoolers. There are lots of easy and fun number sense games that help teach preschoolers to understand numbers. It could be a board game, a made-up sports game, or a maze or treasure hunt giving clues in the form of maths.

One way to get preschoolers counting is by using a grid maze. Kids have to be able to count the spaces in the grid to give their 'computer' the right instructions. We created a super simple grid maze with chalk in this outdoor screen-free coding activity that is perfect for preschoolers. The best part? The 'reward' for completing the activity is getting to squirt your parents with a water squirter!

Anything that gets pre-schoolers using their math skills will help them to develop computer programming skills.

Preschool Coding Worksheets

Grab our preschool coding worksheets for your home or classroom! These simple coding worksheets review the 5 basic concepts of coding outlined above.

What's included in your coding worksheet package:

2-page teachers guide explaining the basic concepts of coding

5 themed printable coding worksheets perfect for preschoolers

Each set is unique with different answers for each theme

Each printable covers a different coding concept including: algorithms, loops, sequencing, decomposition, and branching.

Buy all 4 for the best value at $4.99!

Frequently Asked Questions about Coding for Preschoolers

Coding for Preschoolers

We know that kids learn best when having fun. Play is the best form of education a young child can have. Many of the preschool coding activities mentioned above are activities that children can easily take part in, in their day to day lives whether they are at home or at school.

Coding for preschoolers doesn't have to be complicated, it is just incorporating the skills used in computer programming in kids activities in a natural and fun way and there are many ways to do this.

Do you know any other preschool coding activities that can develop coding skills for kids? Let us know, we would love to hear from you!

Pin for later!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Super Easy Ways to Introduce Coding to Preschoolers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Growing up in a digital world, coding for preschoolers is just as important as it is for them to learn to read and learn math. Preschool coding activities can set down the foundation for helping

# data[].attributes.body
This is a great blog on how to introduce coding to Kindergarten students. It mixes the hands on concept with some beginning apps and computer programs. This is something my students have done first hand and now students are able to create coding with spheros and they LOVE it. The bee bot was new to me and something I am interested in learning more about!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Kindergarten Coding: Learn tips and tricks to teach your kindergarten students valuable coding skills. You will find out why, what, when and how to teach your class how to code.

One of my most favourite topics to teach kindergarten students is coding! In this blog post, I am going to do a run down of how I teach coding to our students, and give you some tricks so that you can too!

Why Teach Coding in Kindergarten?

Kids love learning anything to do with technology - they soak it up like a sponge. Coding skills are going to be so vital for them in the future; I think it's better to start them up early so they can take as much in as they can!

What is Coding?

Before you teach your students how to code, you should probably know what it is. I'm going to tell you what coding is, just like how I explain it to my students:
"In order to tell a computer or robot how to do something, you have to speak the same language. Coding is the language that you can both use so that you understand each other. All websites, games, robots (or anything that uses technology)- uses a coding language."
There are a number of different coding languages that are used today. For the purposes of kindergarten though, I focus on two: directional coding and block coding.

Directional coding is just what it sounds like. It's giving simple directions (usually with arrows) that has to be followed.

Block coding involves putting together a series of blocks to give directions. Each block has a specific command attached to it.

When to Teach Kindergarten Coding?

I don't usually introduce coding at the beginning of the year. We are trying to get our students used to new routines and schedules. We don't need to be throwing a whole other language in there. I usually start teaching more advanced coding skills in November.

You can start with simple directional coding sooner though (I will get to that soon!), and you can introduce some simple robots (more about that soon too).

How to Teach Coding?

There are SO MANY different ways you can teach coding to your students. It really depends on your comfort level, the tech you have available and how interested your students are. I'm going to go through the different ways that I have introduced coding to my students, and hopefully it will help can figure out what works best for you and your class!

Computerless Coding
Complete the Code Boom Cards
It's just what it sounds like- coding without any tech. This is a great way to get started with coding, or a way to include coding in your program if you don't have access to technology.

Directional Coding with Boom Cards

Introduction to Block Coding

To introduce the basics of block coding, we have used the website code.org. It's free to use, and it is AMAZING at getting students started on their block coding journey.

It starts with some really simple drag and drop activities so that students can get used to using a mouse, then it progressively gets harder. It is so great at slowly introducing new concepts, so students never get overwhelmed.

If you have access to computers, this is a great website to start with!

Block Coding with an App

As your students get more comfortable with block coding, they can start exploring the Scratch JR app. It is a great place for students to practice their coding skills.

If they have used the code.org site and know a bit about coding, they won't need much instruction on how to use this app.

If they have never done block coding, this would be a great opportunity to do a lesson about it before having students start using it.

Robots!

Some of the most fun that I have had with teaching students is when we have used robots. There are so many different types to choose from.

Check to see if your district or school board has any available to you (with our school board there is a tech library, and I was able to borrow the Dash and Dot from it).

If you are getting a budget and you are going to be purchasing some for your school, make sure you research them before getting one. They all serve different purposes.

Starter Robots

If you have really young kids, or you want a robot for the beginning of the school year, a Code-a-Pillar is a really simple robot. It is just direction blocks that click together, then the robot follows the directions. I could see kindergarten students getting bored of it quickly, but if you have access to one, this would be perfect for the beginning of the school year.

Another simple robot, but one that could be used to build on skills is the Dash & Dot. I have used these with our kinder students (this is the one that is available to us in our tech library), and they love it. You use a number of different apps to control the robot, and you can buy a number of different accessories to go with it. There is a xylophone that can be added to the Dash that I think would be a lot of fun for music teachers to explore (coding music?!?) If you are purchasing this robot, I would opt just to get the Dash. I'm not really sure what the purpose of the Dot is, but it doesn't add much value to the experience.

Final Thoughts

Coding can be such a fun skill to teach in kindergarten. No matter how you approach it, the skills you are teaching are invaluable. There are many Easy Offline Coding Activities that you can start off with.
Have you taught coding to your students? How do you teach it? What are your favorite activities? Let me know in the comments! Need more daily inspiration for your classroom? Make sure you are following me here, on Facebook and on Instagram!
Subscribe to my newsletter to get weekly ideas for your classroom:
My one suggestion- play around with whatever activity you are going to give your students first. You want to be comfortable using it so that you are able to coach and direct. I'm all for letting students figure it out and problem solve, but you also need to be able to help them if they are stuck!

If you need more ideas to incorporate coding into your classroom, I have more ideas in my STEM Night blog post, and I made a STEM Name Coding activity that you can take a look at. You could also try combining coding and creative writing with My Coding Story.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coding in Kindergarten - Why, What, When & How - Creative Kindergarten

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kindergarten Coding: Learn tips and tricks to teach your kindergarten students valuable coding skills. You will find out why, what, when and how to teach your class how to code. One of my most favourite topics to teach kindergarten students is coding!

# data[].attributes.body
Virtual Classroom Environments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
UWGLive Simulations is an innovative way of assisting educators, school leaders, counselors, and other professionals in challenges they may have in their profession. UWGLive uses state of the art technology to create immersive mixed-reality environments for participants to practice and master certain skills in their ever-changing workplace.

For educational purposes, UWGLive Simulations include several different virtual classroom environments - an upper elementary classroom and a middle school classroom with five students each, and an inclusion classroom that features a student with learning and/or behavior disabilities. Adult environments are also available wherein the participant can interact with a parent, teacher, principal, or other professional. Each student and adult has their own distinct personality. Each session is unique and personal because the students and adults do not remember past sessions.

For non-educational purposes, UWGLive Simulations is versatile that adjustments can be made to meet the needs of other professionals practicing to master their job-specific skills by offering other professional environments such as office spaces, conference rooms, and service settings.

If you would like to review the research that supports the use of the lab, you may view it here.
Please contact us for pricing details
Take a look inside the UWGLive Simulation Lab.

For information regarding the Clery Act or campus safety and security topics such as the daily crime log, the Annual Security Report, and campus alerts click here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
UWGLive Simulations is an innovative way of assisting educators, school leaders, counselors, and other professionals in challenges they may have in their profession. UWGLive uses state of the art technology to create immersive mixed-reality environments for participants to practice and master certain skills in their ever-changing workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
by Julie Lineback

Meet Ethan. He's in middle school and enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics.

"I saw Shaun White get the gold for the U.S. of A.," he said when asked about the event. "I watched the finals, and he did two tricks in a row. It was sick!"

Ethan's classmate, Dev, agreed and said it's really cool how snowboarders like White are able defy gravity.

"The aerodynamics behind it are interesting to me," he said.

Along with their friends Savannah, Ava and Jasmine, Ethan and Dev hold their classes in a simulation lab via . They interact with budding educators at the University of West Georgia's . But they are not your average middle schoolers.

They're avatars.

UWGLive uses state-of-the-art technology to create immersive mixed-reality environments for participants to practice and master certain skills in their ever-changing workplaces. UWGLive is an innovative way of assisting educators, school leaders and counselors in challenges they may face in their professions.

"UWGLive is a unique experience that allows teacher candidates - and many other majors - to be put into highly controlled situations in which they can 'practice' their newly acquired skills," said Dr. Mary Beth Slone, associate professor of educational psychology in the Department of Educational Technology and Foundations . "Our students spend time in the schools at several points in the program, so this gives them the added benefit of being more prepared."

With 10 upper elementary and middle school students and three special needs students, each avatar has his or her own distinct personality as well as background. It is the participant's responsibility to get to know and learn about the students because the avatars don't remember past sessions and each meeting is personal.

"UWGLive is a great supplement to what our candidates are learning in the classroom," Slone continued. "They can immediately put into practice what they are being taught, as well as receive immediate feedback on their performance-all without the worry of making mistakes in a very public domain."

Slone said another important aspect that is often overlooked is that students can "observe" lessons being taught by Master Teachers.

"This allows for them to model behavior and to ask questions about lesson delivery in real time," she said.

Adult environments are also available in which the participants can interact with parents or administrators. Terrie Ponder, director of UWGLive, described this as one scenario where the program branches outside of UWG and allows COE to partner with local schools.

"Last year we did a parent-teacher conference simulation with the new teachers of Carrollton City Schools ," Ponder described. "We were able to do some coaching and modeling with the parents acting a certain way."

Ponder said there are more than 50 scenarios, and not all of them are limited to the classroom or school. Other adult environments include doctor offices and hospitality settings, and there are also various office spaces and conference rooms that allow for practice in interview and salary negotiation skills.

The program began in 2013 as part of the University of Central Florida's TeachLivE project with , which provided the avatars and virtual training environments. In 2017, UWG purchased a site license from Mursion and became UWGLive. Ponder explained that while Mursion still provides the service, UWG now controls scheduling and scenarios and even employs its own simulation specialists.

UWG is the only independent authorized simulation service providers in the state of Georgia and one of 10 in the country.

School scenarios are currently the main avenue UWGLive takes, but Ponder said the new independence allows UWG to offer services to businesses along the east coast.

"It goes beyond teaching in the classroom," she concluded. "The capabilities are endless."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
university of west georgia college of education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
university of west georgia simulation lab

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Experience via Avatars: COE lab uses new tech to train future teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Along with their friends Savannah, Ava and Jasmine, Ethan and Dev hold their classes in a simulation lab via UWGLive. They interact with budding educators at the University of West Georgia's College of Education. But they are not your average middle schoolers. They're avatars.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mursion Simulations for Education Services--Preparing teachers and students for success.

Every child deserves to have an excellent education. The impact of today's teachers

0:00

1:22

0:00 / 1:22•Watch full video

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mursion Simulations for Education Services--Preparing teachers and students for success.

# data[].attributes.body
My thoughts on experiencing UWG Live in person

# data[].attributes.headline
AR brings worksheets or flashcards to life. 

# data[].attributes.subject
AR brings worksheets or flashcards to life. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By: Katrina Youdale
Over the last decade, the education sector has experienced enormous change. Amidst this, one of the most contended areas of discussion has been around the introduction of technology to children as young as 3. The adoption of STEM education across the globe has quickly filtered down to our littlest learners.

Don't worry kids will still come home with sand in their pockets.

Early childhood is a critical time for the development of core skills that establish lifelong foundations. Despite all the conflicting device advice, fine motor, writing and reading remain essential skills with early childhood organizations also reiterating the importance of social skills at this age.

The introduction of STEM to Early Childhood Education (ECE) may sound daunting but the principles of STEM center around solving real-world problems through collaboration and hands-on inquiry. There's no one right answer and failure is important. If you've ever tried a craft with 3-year-old boys this sounds perfect!

Of the core STEM subject areas, technology is the new kid on the block. With that comes challenges for teachers and parents. There is a lack of quality content, it can be expensive to invest in technology tools and there is limited time and support in the classroom to install, integrate, support and get up to speed.

There is also a stigma attached with technology use at this age, that it is isolating and comes at the cost of other essential things like climbing trees, collecting flowers and building robots from tissue boxes. Children are being born into a digital society and the assumption needs to be made that kindergarten children are in an environment of care and are guided by qualified teachers with respect as to how and when they use technology.

AR presents opportunities to the Early Childhood that can't be ignored.

For those of you that think it all sounds a bit George Jetson, no you don't need headgear or goggles or a jetpack for that matter. Don't confuse it with VR. AR and VR are like non-identical twins. They are always mentioned together, they are often mistaken for other yet considered the same but are fundamentally quite different.

Virtual Reality (VR) to date has had a greater profile, gained its popularity through gaming and you need to invest in headsets and supporting hardware. 94% of UK teachers think that VR will be beneficial in the classroom, shown by a Lenovo report. 42% predict that it will be commonplace within 5 years. VR is not aimed at ECE with major manufacturers of VR headsets marketing them as being appropriate for children over 13 years of age.

Augmented Reality (AR) can take static images off a page and bring them to life. There are a few different ways AR can be activated but most simply, with an AR app, you open and hold your device over a page, the camera screen will open and view your surrounds, the AR activates and a 3D image appears on your screen, superimposed over your surrounds. You can move the screen around to see the object from all angles. It feels like you can touch it. For example, it could be an image of the letter 'T' and in AR it animates into a tiger that roars.

VR / AR market size and growth predictions range considerably with Goldman Sachs predicting by 2025, XR (VR, AR and mixed reality) will generate over $100 billion in sales. Goldman Sachs also predict $300 million in educational software revenue in 2020 increased to $700 million in 2025.

Academic studies show that several benefits of AR are already being enjoyed in kindergarten classrooms.

AR brings worksheets or flashcards to life. It can illustrate static images in a magical way while simplifying and visualizing complex concepts, making them easier to understand. For example, a flower bud on a printed page could slowly bloom in AR.

The 3D nature of AR encourages children to work together in groups, it creates genuine cooperation and improves communication. The overlay of reality and fantasy also gets children thinking critically as to how it works and where the augmented object really is. It is easy to use which empowers children and gives them the satisfaction that they are in control of their learning, at home or school. This self-directed learning increases their focus and information retention. It motivates and engages children of all abilities to learn.

It's beneficial for teachers too. They can quickly create a fun learning environment at a relatively low cost. AR is easily implemented, easily learned and easy to update as new and improved content becomes available.

AR is the ultimate fun, play-based activity and holds enormous potential for ECE.

As a popular parenting expert Maggie Dent, often says, "Children's needs have not changed. The world around them has."

AR puts kids in the driver's seat. The fundamental lesson that kids need to learn is that they are the creators. Technology is just an enabler.

For more, see:
Stay in-the-know with innovations in learning by Katrina Youdale is the Strategy Director at Plympton Labs. You can follow her on Twitter at @KatrinaYoudale. signing up for the weekly Smart Update

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By: Katrina Youdale Over the last decade, the education sector has experienced enormous change. Amidst this, one of the most contended areas of discussion has been around the introduction of technology to children as young as 3. The adoption of STEM education across the globe has quickly filtered down to our littlest learners.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Augmented reality (AR) applications have been something almost unimaginable until a few decades ago. However, thanks to developers, augmented reality Apps have found their use in learning, gaming, and everyday life, becoming easily accessible for smartphone users.

Today, augmented reality Apps are one of the hottest trends in online learning and gaming. Various educational augmented reality Apps have gained popularity among children of all ages and their families lately.

What Does Augmentative Communication Mean?

Augmentative communication systems were initially used to aid people who either have limited speaking ability or cannot be understood. Augmentative communication models have since been used to support or complement words that the person can say verbally. Augmentative communication differs from alternative communication, which helps people with no speech and entirely relies on other methods to convey their thoughts, ideas, needs, or emotions.

The 21st-century technologies have brought various electronic communication devices and systems that make augmentative communication possible.

What is AR Effect App?

Augmented reality effect Apps allow users to add effects to their messages, pictures, and documents, from taking photographs with virtual lenses and characters to video calling apps that let users create a preferred experience such as different backgrounds.

Which App is Used for Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality covers all App genres, from games and entertainment to utility, education, and lifestyle. Lately, however, educational AR applications are the ones that have mainly grown popular among app users. Educational Apps for augmented reality make learning content more interactive, engaging, and interesting, allowing children to develop and learn while having fun.

Do You Need an App for Augmented Reality?

Yes. Even though there is a discussion in hi-tech and scientific circles about augmented reality moving beyond the app, you still need to download the app to enjoy the benefits of augmented reality.

How Does Augmented Reality Work?

Augmented reality involves an interactive experience that uses multiple sensory modalities to enhance a real-world environment.

Augmented reality Apps use a combination of words, 3D presentation of objects (real or virtual), and real-time interaction, enhancing the real-world objects by computer-generated perceptual information. In other words, in AR, virtual 3D objects are integrated into a 3D real environment in real-time.

What are the Best Augmentative and Alternative Communication Apps?

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) involves the communication methods and strategies that replace or supplement speech or writing for people with complex communication skills (impaired speech or spoken and written language comprehension).

AAC Apps or Communication Apps can be an excellent tool to help children with impaired speech and language comprehension learn to communicate and share ideas. Children who have difficulty using speech to express their thoughts will find augmentative and alternative communication Apps a powerful instrument to communicate with their family, teachers, and peers.

ACC applications are designed to read aloud words that a child inputs into an AAC device using symbols and predictive keyboards. AAC Apps help improve a child’s skills essential for interaction and communication with others. This is essential in the learning process, as communication is at the core of all learning.

Also, AAC Apps help parents and caregivers understand the child’s needs and emotions.

Some of the best augmentative and alternative communication Apps include:

Prologuo2go (iOs)

Prologuo2go is an AAC and text-to-speech application designed for various visual and fine-motor skills. It contains pre-programmed vocabulary sets, allowing users to talk using symbols or text.

iCommunicate (Ios, Android)

This visual and text AAC app allows users to create pictures, schedules, flashcards, and record audio in any language.

Quick Talk ACC (iOs, Android)

Quick Talk is an AAC and text-to-speech app based on categories of pairs with 100 words, 11,000 images, and symbols that allows you to communicate with non-verbal individuals through symbols, pictures, and profiles.

TouchChat (iOS)

This symbol and text-based AAC app allows non-verbal users to create words and phrases using digitalized speech.

SonoFlex (iOS)

SonoFlex is an AAC app that turns symbols into speech, offering language to nonverbal users.

What is the Benefit of Using Augmented Reality Apps for Kids?

Integrating AR Apps in your child’s day-to-day life and learning experience has many benefits. Our kids live in a digital age in which technology has become the mainstay of communication. The everyday use of augmented reality Apps can instill a love for learning and help children develop essential skills.

AR Apps make learning more engaging and fun, providing a better learning experience. It is an interactive way of learning that engages all senses, helping them develop self-learning skills and new interests. Augmented reality allows kids to engage with a realistic and lifelike environment, promoting first-hand learning experiences.

Augmented reality apps for children improve attention spans, enhancing a child’s engagement and focus.

AR Apps for kids work on laptops, iPad, PCs, or smartphones, not requiring any additional equipment.

The most popular augmented reality kids’ Apps include:

Alphabet learning AR Apps

Language AR Apps

Storytelling AR Apps

Math AR Apps

What Are the Best MyFirstApp Augmented Reality Apps?

Here at MyFirstApp, we know that kids learn best through first-hand experiences and when all their senses are engaged. That’s why we want to make learning interactive and fun. Here are our best children augmented reality Apps:

Creature Busters AR for Kids (iPad and iPhone)

This interactive AR game is intended for kids six years of age and older. It is designed to keep children in motion as they are hitting floating creatures.

Math Skills Subtraction and Addition AR Games (iPad and iPhone)

Math Skills Subtraction and Addition AR Games can be played by kids four years of age and older, encouraging them to practice and learn math skills. Besides, this interactive game helps develop coordination, fine motor skills, and spatial perception.

Multiplication Table AR Game (iPad and iPhone)

Multiplication Table AR Game is intended for four-year-olds and older children, allowing them to learn multiplication in a creative and fun way. Also, Multiplication Table AR Game boost fine motor skills, coordination, and spatial perception in young learners.

Balloons Burst AR (iPad and iPhone)

This interactive and fun AR game is intended for kids three years of age and older, improving their coordination, fine motor skills, persistence, and spatial perception.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Augmented Reality Apps For Preschool And Kindergarten Kids | Myfirstapp

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Augmented Reality Apps are changing how kids learn today. By providing visual representations AR, the student can acquire, process, and remember information

# data[].attributes.headline
I'm a real big fan of AR for the littles

# data[].attributes.subject
I'm a real big fan of AR for the littles

# data[].attributes.body
AR App

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One of the most important skills we can give children is the ability to visualize and pretend. The mind is a powerful thing, but too much of the wrong kind of screen time can kill imagination. An endless stream of videos and typical games can do a lot more harm than good. However, digital devices now have the capability to help turn this trend around. Cutting-edge technology puts information at kids' fingertips in full color and animation, and it opens up whole new worlds of fun. Give imaginations a boost with these augmented reality apps that will really fire up kids' minds!

Augmented Reality for Augmented Learning

Waypoint EDU

Magnate Interactive Ltd. - Free with in-app purchases

Teachers and parents alike will praise Waypoint EDU for lots of reasons. This app takes geocaching and scavenger hunts to a whole new level. Kids use devices to navigate to pre-planned destinations, or waypoints, and find the augmented reality treasure when they arrive. The app allows for quizzing on the spot before the players can move on to the next goal.

Waypoint Edu comes with two sample hunts. One is themed around ancient wonders of the world, and the other is about ground-breaking inventions in history. Adult mentors "hide" each of the caches around the play area, which can be indoors or outdoors. Kids follow the trail and learn at each stop.

Agents of Discovery

Agents of Discovery, Inc. - Free

Capture kids' minds and imaginations with this augmented reality learning app. This one comes with "missions" preprogrammed into the app that will help kids find answers to burning questions like "Why are bumblebees fuzzy?" and "What is metamorphosis?" And it's simple to use! Just download the app and choose a mission that is based near your location. After that, no internet connection will be required while you play- just GPS and Location.

The biggest complaint about the app on the listed comments is that missions seem to be too far from home. Missions are created in conjunction with state, local, and national parks, as well as other sites, and the developers say that more are being created as they go. There are currently missions in nearly every state in the United States, as well as in many other countries. You can get a complete list (and map) of mission sites at www.agentsofdiscovery.com/play/missions to help you decide if there are missions near you. Plus, it makes a great vacation app!

Quiver - 3D Coloring App

QuiverVision, Limited - Free with in-app purchases

This unique app allows users to download and print free coloring pages from the developers' website, then uses augmented reality to make the images spring into 3-dimensional life in living color. Kids can interact with the 3D images by touching the screen, viewing them from all angles and unlocking games and other activities as they play.

Adults download and print coloring pages in packs, a few of which are free to try. Other packs are available for $2.99 each. You must print the sheets to make Quiver work- it only works with Quiver coloring sheets, though.

Blippar - The AR Browser

Blippar.com - Free

Imagine a world where information and fun facts just sort of jump out at you when you look at everyday objects. Blippar brings us one step closer to that world. Point your device at a wide array of everyday items, such as dogs, bananas, landmarks, and flowers, and augmented reality provides a wealth of information and facts, right on your screen. It even works for celebrities and some magazine articles (marked with a special logo).

Developers at Blippar have partnered with various companies to add Blippar information to a host of products. They are continually adding to the system, so more and more items will be in the database. This is certainly an app to watch as it grows.

Augmented Reality for Augmented Fun

Reality Pool - 3D Augmented Reality Pool

Engine Creative - Free with in-app purchases

Stuck inside on a rainy day? Got a kid who just hides from sunshine? Check this out! Reality Pool turns any teensy rectangular space into a working pool table! You can use a rug, table top, or even a piece of paper to get the fun rolling. There are four unique pool games to choose from, and you can have single-player or two-player action.

The controls are straight forward and simple, and there are two modes, a 2-D mode for practicing and learning your shots, and 3-D mode for getting fancy. Additional games are available as in-app purchases of ninety-nine cents.

Ingress Prime

Niantic, Inc. - Free with in-app purchases

A whole universe, complete with its own geopolitical and structural details, awaits within Ingress Prime. Players must be of legal age to consent to share personal information (16 in many areas), so the game is not for younger kids. Two factions are at war for control, and you can choose which group you want to fight for. It's fantasy fun at its finest with an engaging storyline. Just scan around your current locale with your device's camera and find out what awaits you.

The app is free to download. It is a player v. player game, so keep that in mind when choosing to allow youngsters access to it. There are in-app purchases, primarily for in-game currency, ranging from ninety-nine cents to $99.99.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Niantic, Inc. - Free with in-app purchases

Harry Potter fans will love this new and unique way to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World. The magic of augmented reality lets them interact with familiar characters, magical creatures, and more as the totally new story unrolls. Real points of interest in the Everyday World, like parks and museums, are transformed into magical inns, greenhouses, and fortresses. It's much like stepping into a movie!

Learn spells in training sessions sponsored by the Ministry of Magic, and then stand with other wizards against evil. This game does include capability of doing real-time, multi-player interactions and battles, so parents will want to monitor its use. In-app purchases of gold, artifacts, and more are available for prices ranging from ninety-nine cents to $99.99.

ARrrrrgh!

Warpin Media - Free

This app will fire up kids' imaginations for hours as they play at being real-life pirates. The game has elements of hide-and-seek and scavenger hunt, all meshed together with outstanding AR effects to allow them to dig for buried treasure in the living room floor or search the house for other scallywags. It's hard to go wrong with a treasure map and a helpful parrot sidekick!

One person can hide, or bury, the treasure and another can find it. The app is simple enough for even preschoolers to use, too, so it's perfect augmented reality for the youngest players.

And search out even more AR fun for kids! Check out the full reviews of ARcheology- Dig into History and AR-Kid: Space.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Awesome Augmented Reality Apps for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One of the most important skills we can give children is the ability to visualize and pretend. The mind is a powerful thing, but too much of the wrong kind of screen time can kill imagination. An endless stream of videos and typical games can do a lot more harm than good.

# data[].attributes.body
Seesaw is a great tech resource that allows students to create with drawing, videos, voice recordings, and more and share so that not only teachers see their work but also parents. Seesaw can be used for reading, math, writing, and even social emotional learning. There is even a seesaw activity lirbary already loaded with tons of activities for students. It's a great way for students to create and keep portfolios of their work

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elementary Learning Experience Platform | Seesaw

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Seesaw is a Learning Experience Platform with 25M+ users, enhancing elementary education, engagement, and school culture while improving academic success.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a lesson from the library where teachers can pick and choose what parts to assign to students-or is a student in struggling with a certain concept or idea, you can just assign that part of the lesson.

# data[].attributes.body
This is where the student prepares to make their response to the lesson.

# data[].attributes.body
What the students see-some of the choices they have for this assignment to respond to the prompt. Not only are teachers able to give immediate feedback based on student work, but parents can also see what their child produces.

# data[].attributes.body
I am responding to Debbi Waller's post about do ink green screen by doink. This is probably the most user friendly (for younger students) green screen app I've seen. We have a student led morning news show that the teachers do most of the technical work for but this app would absolutely allow students to work on producing a few shows themselves. I love that it is similar to imovie but provides a simpler way to crop, move, adjust, record, and produce some quality videos. There is a second part of the app which allows animation and drawing which would also be

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Some ways that we can get teacher buy in

# data[].attributes.body
This is a big one when it comes to tech resrouces since a lot of teachers already spend so much of their money in their classrooms. This article also mentions several other great ideas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How to get teachers to adopt modern technology

March 2, 2020

*Updated May 12, 2021

Modern technology has the potential to transform classrooms. We saw first hand how rapidly the classroom environment can change and how crucial having the ability to pivot quickly became for learning continuity. The possibilities of an increasingly digital and connected world are nearly endless: Technology can save schools time and money, allow for more individualized learning, and increase engagement at all levels—just to name a few.

However, like any tool, technology is only useful if it’s actually being used. That means that to get the benefits, you have to get the ones who will be using it on board.

School districts across the country know that teachers can be hard sells when it comes to adopting new technologies. They’re often already working at capacity, or over, and throwing another thing on their plate without making some room first is a surefire recipe for frustration. Especially after the year they have had! Putting a new classroom tool in place without a plan can actually cause disruption in the classroom.

Fortunately, with a little research, planning, and communication, it’s possible to get teachers on board. It’s all about seeing it from their point of view, and meeting them where they are.

Here are 8 specific strategies to warm the teachers in your district up to modern technology.

Assess their wants and needs

There’s no point in getting teachers technology they don’t need. Wondering how to figure out what that might be? Ask.

Discussing tech decisions with teachers helps ensure that your edtech spend is being leveraged to its fullest potential. It can also make teachers more open to adopting the tech, because they’ve been involved in choosing it.

When surveying teachers, try to include questions such as what tools they’re already using, what their major sources of frustration are, and whether there are any technologies they wish they had. A survey is also a great place to integrate a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, which can give you a well-rounded picture of where your teachers are in terms of their tech skills.

Start small

Teachers may be more open to adopting modern technologies if you start small. There’s no point in completely remaking classrooms and giving every student a tablet if the teachers and students aren’t ready for it.

Rather than rushing into trying every new technology, try one or two at a time and allow teachers to get comfortable with them before adding more.

Opt for user-friendly tech

Just like their students, teachers have different learning styles. Pair that with busy schedules and a wide range of technological know-how depending on factors that can include age, education, and interests (just to name a few), and you’ll find that the best technologies for teachers are the ones that are user-friendly.

Being user-friendly includes being relatively quick and easy to learn, not having bugs, and having “drag and drop” as well as other intuitive features.

Clearly communicate benefits (and myths)

Teachers tend to make their decisions based on evidence. If you introduce new technologies without a clear reason why you’re doing it, it’s unlikely you’ll get a large adoption.

One of the primary goals of any teacher is to meet the core national standards-based learning objectives. If you can show them how modern technologies will help them accomplish this and other goals, teachers will be more likely to adopt the new technology.

Other benefits that modern classroom tech can offer are time savings—which is huge to teachers—and increased student engagement—which benefits everyone.

Cover myths, too. Many teachers fear that allowing more technology into their classrooms will just increase the number of distractions. However, the classroom is the perfect place to teach students how to use technology responsibly. Consider investing in tools like screen monitoring software to help teachers keep their students on task.

Offer training

Almost everyone rides with training wheels before they learn how to ride a bike; throwing someone into a situation where they have to use a new tool or skill without proper training is liable to fail.

Sometimes the creators of a new tech will offer or be able to suggest a training program to use, otherwise there’s a wealth of professional development websites for teachers that you can direct them to, and use yourself.

Make sure to create time before, during, and after the introduction of any new technology to allow teachers to be prepared, use it properly, and stay up to date on its functions.

Create a community

Consider creating things like discussion forums and community boards for teachers to share resources that have helped them. Creating a space for troubleshooting and questions can help smooth the learning curve and lead to higher usage.

Another adoption-helping tactic is to hire or assign a tech-savvy teacher to help other teachers learn the ropes. Like most people, teachers respond well to their peers, and are often well-suited to helping each other out. Research suggests every school needs at least one technology coach if they want to succeed.

Don’t make them pay

The past decade has been a tough one when it comes to school funding. Some districts haven’t fully recovered from the cuts that happened around 2008. It has resulted in teachers getting stuck with the bill if they want their students to succeed. Some teachers are spending hundreds of dollars a year out of their own pockets.

Any new technology that requires them to spend more of their own money isn’t going to improve the situation, and could contribute to even more frustration and resentment.

If your district is struggling with funding, explore the hundreds of free or low-cost tech tools teachers can use in their classrooms.

Plan classrooms accordingly

It’s not very helpful giving students laptops if there aren’t enough outlets to charge them all, or if the sun is streaming in and washing out their screens.

When you’re introducing more modern tech into your school, you’ll have to think about everything from the layout to building materials. Some important things to consider are WiFi connectivity throughout the school, USB charging stations, safe storage for expensive devices and tech, glare-reducing windows, and more open-concept classrooms that facilitate more modern styles of learning.

Creating the space for modern technology to exist within the classrooms is just one of the practical ways to encourage teachers to adopt it. At the end of the day, teachers want their students to succeed, and if you’re able to show them how modern technologies can help them do that, they’re more likely to welcome—and actually use—them.

Topics: Content Filtering, Classroom management, Professional Development

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Get Teachers to Adopt Modern Technology | Linewize

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Modern technology has the potential to transform classrooms. Linewize shares eight specific strategies to warm the teachers in your district up to it.

# data[].attributes.body
This video, while dated, brings up a good point that when technology is used correctly, it can provide the teacher with more one-on-one time with students and meeting their needs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
0:00 / 2:01•Watch full video

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Case Study: Technology and the Changing Roles of Teachers

# data[].attributes.body
Wasted funding on technology? This is why I think it is so important to let your teachers help guide decisions for the school and district on what technology is purchased and used. I would probably be shocked to see the funding going to technology resources in my district that aren't being utilized.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Imagine you're about to give a big presentation to a large audience. Just before you go on stage, your boss hands you a new gadget and tells you to use it. You've never seen the gadget before, you have no idea what it does, and you've never received any training on how to use it. Your boss assures you that it will make your presentation better, and just before you can respond, the curtain goes up.

If the thought of using the gadget for the first time in front of a large audience gives you any level of anxiety, you now know why many teachers never use the technology their districts provide.

According to EdNews Daily, the projection for educational technology spending in the United States will reach an astounding $38.2 billion this year. And while it may seem as though students will reap all the benefits of having innovative technology so close at hand, there is a giant hurdle that stands directly in their way of accessing it - their teachers.

But placing the blame on teachers being lazy or stuck in the past couldn't be further than the truth. In fact, 95% of teachers nowadays report that they use technology regularly in their classrooms. From using video streaming services to presentation tools, digital curriculum, and assistive technologies, teachers are incorporating technology into their classrooms now more than ever.

So it's obvious that teachers are using some of the technology they're being provided, but what about the rest of it?

According to Glimpse K-12, $2 million was wasted on education technology that was not being used in the 275 school districts they looked at. And one can only imagine how much was wasted by all the districts in the country.

But again, while it's easy to place blame on the teachers, there's certainly more to the story.

During its latest nationwide survey of teachers, Common Sense Media found that 31% of respondents said the problem is the lack of adequate training while 63% said their districts did not effectively communicate which technology programs were even available to them.

So obviously, the first step toward not wasting money is for districts to effectively communicate to all of their teachers what technology is currently available. And the second step is to provide adequate training.

Because even when technology is designed to assist teachers in the classroom, simply purchasing it isn't enough.

Teachers are already overwhelmed by everything they have to accomplish in a day, a week, a month, and the whole school year. So adding just one more thing to their plate doesn't always feel like help. In fact, it often feels like a huge burden.

But when teachers receive effective training on the technology available, it reduces their stress level and improves both their teaching skills and their student's outcomes. Plus, they can then use the technology to its fullest capability and become more efficient educators in the process. And that's how you get teachers to buy into using new technology in their classrooms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Wasted Technology: Why Many Teachers Don't Use the Programs Their Districts Provide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Imagine you're about to give a big presentation to a large audience. Just before you go on stage, your boss hands you a new gadget and tells you to use it. You've never seen the gadget before, you have no idea what it does, and you've never received any training on how to use it.

# data[].attributes.body
Find those teachers in your school who have a lot of power and once they buy in to the technology being used that will encourage others to do the same!

# data[].attributes.body
Coding is already a big deal but I believe it will soon be part of our curriculums. Exposure to coding at young ages with either hands on activities that were featured in my previous padlet post or using simple coding sites that teach students how to code and advance as the student advances.

# data[].attributes.body
Coding is something I knew very little about prior to this class but through our padlets and my group project it is absolutely something I want to continue my understanding of and teach my students to use. This video was part of my group project but gives a small glimpse of how coding can very much be part of the classroom beginning in prek and kindergarten

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Approve

Reject

View Details

Request a review

Learn more

Code.org.mp4

Code.org.mp4

Sign In