LIBE 477 Final Vision Blog Post 2: Learner and Audience Considerations

 

Final Vision Blog Post 2: Learner Considerations

My final vision project is a curation of digital tools, apps, and teacher resource websites that can be used to help teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. I have chosen to specifically focus on the kindergarten grade, because while there is a great deal of information online about this topic, not much of it is focused on the kindergarten level.

This grade requires some special considerations because the students can’t read yet. These considerations would also accommodate esl student needs. Kindergarten learning is very fast paced and busy, given that the attention span of these students is shorter than more mature students. Much of the learning at the kindergarten level is play based, so this needs to be considered as well.


My target audience for this project is kindergarten teachers, and perhaps grade one teachers, as there is some overlap in their curriculums. Although given that Covid has sent students into home learning previously, this resource could also be useful to parents who find themselves in the position of supporting home teacher, should home learning become necessary again.



The ways that technology can best be used in a kindergarten classroom are through the smartboard, and possibly iPads depending on what is available at each school. An article from EdTech Magazine, on ways to use digital tools in kindergarten has some great ideas I will explore, such as incorporating “buddy learning”. The tools and resources I’d like to curate need to address the smartboard and iPad mode of sharing the technology with the students, so the resources should be visual, engaging, and geared towards a young student audience. There should also be options for full class use and individual use depending on if the smartboard or iPad is used. The greater the versatility of the resource, the more kindergarten teachers will be able to find a use for it. My goal is to share this curation of digital resources with other kindergarten teachers in my district, and possible grade 1 teachers, and encourage them to share it with any other teachers or parents they know who might find it useful.

 

Works Cited

1. Ox, Kimberley. (2018). Home School Kindergarten Schedule- image. Retrieved from https://www.theoxmama.com/2018/09/homeschool-kindergarten-schedule/

 

2.   2. Teaching Strategies. (2020). The Power of Play: Why Play Matters for Kindergarten Students. Retrieved from https://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrWq7nKYy5iOzMArgcWFQx.;_ylu=c2VjA3NlYXJjaAR2dGlkAw--;_ylc=X1MDMjExNDcyMTA0NgRfcgMyBGFjdG4DY2xrBGNzcmNwdmlkAzN2UnJ3ekV3TGpLYklEUzVYeGpCandBbk1qWXdOQUFBQUFCYU1udi4EZnIDbWNhZmVlBGZyMgNzYS1ncARncHJpZANQd2FuaFRadlRjcVE3ZDVlZ2ZidTVBBG5fcnNsdAM2MARuX3N1Z2cDMARvcmlnaW4DY2EudmlkZW8uc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAwRxc3RybAMzMARxdWVyeQNraW5kZXJnYXJ0ZW4lMjBwZWRhZ29neSUyMHBsYXkEdF9zdG1wAzE2NDcyMDczOTI-?p=kindergarten+pedagogy+play&ei=UTF-8&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av%2Cm%3Asa&fr=mcafee&type=E210CA885G91650#id=3&vid=71c493a4267d532b79e72b66597fd58d&action=view

 

3.   3. EdTech. (2021). Playing With EdTech: Using Digital Tools in Kindergarten Classrooms. Retrieved from https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2021/12/playing-ed-tech-using-digital-tools-kindergarten-classrooms

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Hi Charmagne,
    Your list of technology tools for K-1 will definitely be very practical moving forward. I'm not sure how familiar you are with coding, but it can be great for younger students as well - fits into the play aspect for sure. Scratch Jr. is an awesome app and depending on funding, mini robots like Code & Go Robot Mouse, would be super fun as well. Looking forward to seeing your end result!

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  2. This post outlines some strong considerations for your target audience. I appreciate your intentionality and focus. The resource you are creating will be a valuable support for the K-1 teachers in your division.

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