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ways that technology can be used to demonstrate performance assessments

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ways that technology can be used to demonstrate performance assessments

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Date: 04-17-2021
Each Year as an AEA employee we develop personal learning plans and every three years we complete a portfolio with artifacts that we are meeting Central Rivers AEA Standards.  This year the AEA revised the PD form.  The  AEA employee and the regional administrator meet three times a year (beginning, middle, and end).  For each conference time the AEA employee adds three artifacts linking to the CRAEA standards, then by the 3 year evaluation year, the employee has all their artifacts collected.  I like the new system of collecting a few artifacts throughout the year and accumulating for the three year evaluation, versus trying to collect all the artifacts in the third year.

Link to my current Development Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EB8meH5E4Ybc4ArsTYsLv3TSIRHaHUF-NivLk8IxioI/edit

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Date: 04-10-2021
Central Rivers AEA  Assistive Technology Team has developed AT Learning Boards  for a variety of topics and keeps adding boards throughout the year.  The AT Team encourages you to share these boards with the LEA staff.  The boards linked below have several technology resources to meet diverse learning needs of students.

AT Learning Boards : General Knowledge

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18wlVK0_aUImZRI8j1y7INKzrThNPbNPHiksa1BGg9fg/edit

AT Learning Boards: Writing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10OJqaKQAyfF30uAaFdDMpedLhnlV6wGOYrK3i4c1l_8/edit

AT Learning Boards: Math

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ahe-_hGCCYXNA2uN5_OSVe8Q69E0go17cC8_xdVRmXM/edit

Preschool Teachers and staff: What technology do you use to differentiate instruction and meet the diverse learning needs of students?

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Date: 04-03-2021
I use a wide variety of technology to make my job more effective and efficient.  Most forms of technology that I use are for organization, planning, data collection, and sharing information.  One presentation tool that I have utilized more this year than in the past is PowerPoint.  Maloy et al.( 2017), outline advantages and disadvantages of using PowerPoint.  In my role, I capitalize on the advantage that PowerPoint provides short summaries of key points.  As an ECSE consultant my primary role is to conduct special education evaluations, determine eligibility for special education services and support, and develop Individual Education Plans (IEPs).  The official paperwork/forms are not parent friendly for following along during meetings, especially this year as more meetings have been virtual (zoom) due to Covid 19.  I have been using a PowerPoint presentation as a meeting agenda for both in person and virtual meetings.  I have received positive feedback on the use of the PowerPoint agendas during meetings from parents, district staff, co-workers, and administration.  Of course I continue to give parents and other team members official copies of the legal forms, but the PowerPoint agenda helps guide discussions during the meetings and highlights the important information that needs to be shared and/or discussed during the meeting.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-zxrrmIxDAvex6MxmwNc_WGUOOQk3R7_GaKYIMIccio/edit?usp=sharing

Preschool Teachers and staff:  How do the students in your class use multimedia to demonstrate learning?

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Social Media in your classroom or a professional social networking site

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Social Media in your classroom or a professional social networking site

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Date: 03-27-2021
As an AEA Early Childhood consultant I have attended training, workshops, and virtual classes presented by Kristie Pretti-Frontczak.  I follow Kristie’s facebook page.  Kristie teaches educators and non-profit professionals how to create inclusive classrooms and how to harness the power of play for children.

http://kristiepf.com/

Preschool Teachers and staff: Who or what professional social media network sites do you follow and why?

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Help teachers to evaluate the available educational software, websites, and apps that are currently available.

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Help teachers to evaluate the available educational software, websites, and apps that are currently available.

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Date: 03-20-2021
From the Common Sense Education Top Picks I choose to review HOMER Learn and grow app.  I chose this app because it also targeted early reading skills and had mathematical activities.

Starfall Educational website was originally designed to support and teach early reading skills.  The games have expanded to include language arts and mathematics.  The games are grouped into two age categories; Pk-Kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.  Students with various learning abilities can use Starfall at their own pace.  There are videos that introduce letters and letter sounds and progress up to early independent reading skills.  Teachers can also project onto a smartboard for large group instruction.  Common Sense Education reviewed Starfish in April 2019.  Common Sense Education gave Starfall an overall rating three of five stars; three stars for engagement, four stars for pedagogy, and three stars for support.  Parent and consumer ratings are high earning several five stars.

HOMER learn and grow is an educational app program that can be accessible from multiple devices.  It is a self-guided app that progresses from phonics experiences to pre and early reading skills.  In app lessons are scaffolded based on student responses.  HOMER develops memory, matching, and sequencing skills.  Common Sense Education reviewed October 2020, receiving an overall rating of four of five stars.  Five stars for engagement, four stars for pedagogy, and four stars for support.  Parent reviews of the app on google play are very low, one star.  Parents are disappointed that they cannot adjust for student skill levels, in app errors, and in app charges.

Evaluating games for learning (Maloy et al., 2017 p. 178)

Common sense education. (2018). Common Sense Education | Digital Citizenship Curriculum & EdTech Reviews. https://www.commonsense.org/education/

HOMER Learn & grow: The learning & education app kids love. (n.d.). HOMER. Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://learnwithhomer.com/learn-and-grow

Preschool Teachers and staff: What educational software do you use in your classroom?  How did you evaluate and determine what to use or not to use?

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Date: 03-13-2021
We all know that field trips are not always budget friendly or easy to do with young children.  This year with COVID 19  field trips seem like they can not happen.  What if there was a way to get your class excited and curious about a need study unit?  Teachers can use virtual field trips to introduce new study units!  Here are some resources to get you started on virtual field trips.

Mrs. Jump’s Class: 18 Virtual Field Trip Ideas for Early Learners 18 virtual field trip ideas for kindergarten and first-grade students. This collection of ideas consists of videos and interactive virtual tours.

https://deannajump.com/virtual-field-trip-ideas/

WideOpenSchool: Virtual Field Trips

Visit real animals, go to a fire station, and explore faraway places when you take these virtual field trips. Grouped by grades preschool through 12th grade.

https://wideopenschool.org/student-activities/field-trips/preschool/#all/

42 Virtual Field Trips for Kids to Get Them Learning About the World: Museums, Farms, Landmarks, Zoos and Aquariums, and more.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/a32403098/virtual-field-trips-for-kids/

Preschool Teachers and staff: Have you used virtual field trips in your class?  What virtual field trips do you use?

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Intervention Lesson Plan for teacher and Early Childhood Consultant

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Intervention Lesson Plan for teacher and Early Childhood Consultant

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Date: 02-27-2021
When developing a targeted intervention, I include many of the same aspects of a lesson plan.  The intervention plan may not have all elements written or outlined, but they are part of the thought process and brainstorming with the classroom teachers.  When teachers and I are developing an intervention plan we discuss the following questions to support the development of the intervention plan

1. What are the areas of concern for the student?

2. What Iowa Early Learning Standards are they discrepant from peers or expectations?

3. What is the priority skill that the student needs to learn?

4. How are you going to teach the student the skill?

5. How will you know if they are making progress?

These guiding questions for setting up an intervention seem to align with Student Learning Objectives – what is the intended or planned outcome of the lesson or in this case the intervention (Maloy et al., 2019).  The first three questions could also be the process for Understanding by Design as they identify a desired result, question five would be stage 2 of UbD, acceptable evidence or assessment and questions four would be final or stage 3 of UbD, planning instructions and methods (Maloy et al., 2019).

Sample Intervention Planning for a student

1.Concerns: Behaviors – running away from teachers, eloping from the classroom, hitting the teacher, scratching teachers,and collapsing his body to the floor.

2. Iowa Early Learning Standards: Area 1: Social and Emotional Development -Self-Regulation Standard 1.2.PS: Children show increasing ability to regulate their behavior and express their emotions in appropriate ways.

3. The student needs to learn to gain adult attention in appropriate ways and manage emotions.

4. The student will be taught how to tap on the teacher’s shoulder and say Ms. S in order to gain teacher attention.  During the initial teaching phase, the teacher will attend to the student every time he appropriately uses the strategy to gain her attention. He will also be able to color a “super learner” star each time increment that is completed with appropriate classroom behaviors (timer is set for 15mins, if no behaviors list above, then he is able to color a star).  For every 2 stars he colors he is able to go show the building principal to show that he is a “super learning” (positive adult attention).

5. Teacher will use a daily schedule scatterplot and tally the number of behavior incidents per day, and will know that the student  is making progress with appropriate classroom behaviors when the number of behaviors per day decreases

Many of the preschool programs use Teaching Strategies GOLD for  child assessment of development and learning objectives. Teaching strategies teacher website offers a lesson planning section.  Teachers can use the observational data that they have collected for the students and class and develop weekly lesson plans based on the class and student needs.

https://teachingstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MyTeachingStrategies-How-To-Guide-for-Teachers_Teach.pdf

Preschool Teachers and staff - Do you use the teaching strategies GOLD lesson template?  What other lesson planning tools do you use?

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What communication tools have you used to help facilitate communication with students and parents?

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What communication tools have you used to help facilitate communication with students and parents?

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Date: 02-20-21
The first word or mode of communication that comes to mind when I read that question is text messaging.  Almost everyone has a mobile device and has access to text messaging 24/7.  As an Early Childhood consultant I have parents that will not answer phone calls, but if I text a message to them introducing myself  they will either call or text me back.  Families also like to receive short text messages or text pictures regarding their child and what achievements they have accomplished.  Families also have access to email.  Once I have received consent for electronic communication I will email families progress updates, schedule meetings, and share paperwork via email.  I also send them a text message alerting them that I have sent an email, as I understand that although families have access to email, many do not access their emails as frequently as I do.

I support four school districts with 15 preschool programs and I do not have a set office location, so my communication with district staff has to be accessible in a variety of settings.  I provide my cell phone number to all the programs I support for them to contact me via phone call or text message.  They also have access to my email address and my email is accessible on my laptop, phone, and IPad.  Co-workers have access to my electronic calendar and when I schedule meetings with districts and/or parents I use my electronic calendar to send them invites including ZOOM meeting links if necessary.  Each week I also share a google doc with my districts regarding my schedule for the week.  This is an effective way to let district staff know what day(s) I plan to be in their district.

Preschool teachers and staff - What have you found to be an effective tool to communicate with families?

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Attitude toward the use of technology in the classroom

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Attitude toward the use of technology in the classroom

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Date: 02-13-2021

As I am currently taking an Instructional Technology course, I have been reflecting on my views of using technology in the preschool classrooms. Preschool years are the fundamental time for building social interaction and play skills that will be the foundation for learning in elementary grades.

I do not see technology used often in the preschool settings I visit.  Many times the technology used seems to decrease engagement of students.  When teachers put music or storybook readings videos on the smartboard students seem engaged at first, but the novelty wears off.  When teachers sing, dance, and read books with their students, the students are more interactive and engaged with the teacher then with the screens.

As I have been reflecting and researching, many of the Early Childhood professional organizations support the use of technology in the preschool setting.  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The Fred Rogers center for Early Learning and Children’s Media support the use of technology as preparing even young students for 21st century employment.

As young children explore, create and are curious about the world around them, technology provides them another platform to demonstrate their creativity and learning (https://www.naeyc.org).  Linked is a joint position statement issued by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media at Saint Vincent College: Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs from Birth Through Age 8.

https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/topics/PS_technology_WEB.pdf

Preschool teachers and staff - What are your thoughts of using technology in the preschool classrooms?  What technology do you use in your classrooms?