EL3006

Overview

Technology has not only changed the way we live, it has also changed the way we learn and access information. With so many age groups engaged with the ever-evolving climate of technology, as an early childhood professional, it is critical that you provide guidance and support to young children and their families as they navigate the various technology tools and its open seas for age-appropriate and credible material.

For this Performance Task, you will create a website for families of young children from birth through third grade that provides guidance and practical activities on how technology can support early literacy in young children.

Submission Length: One website with six required sections of 1-8 paragraph in length

Instructions

Before submitting your Assessment, carefully review the rubric. This is the same rubric the assessor will use to evaluate your submission and it provides detailed criteria describing how to achieve or master the Competency. Many students find that understanding the requirements of the Assessment and the rubric criteria help them direct their focus and use their time most productively.

Access the following to complete this Assessment:

Creating a Family-Friendly Early Literacy Website

Scenario

The early learning center where you teach is holding a family meeting to talk about using technology to promote early literacy. In advance of the meeting, your director asks for suggestions of different ways to provide ongoing support to families. You enthusiastically suggest creating a family-friendly website with the theme of Technology, Early Literacy & Young Children that can be unveiled at the meeting. Your director and fellow staff members are equally enthusiastic so you volunteer to create the initial website. Together you decide to include relevant research findings, including benefits and cautions in using technology with young children; guidelines for screen time, devices, and media; recommended ideas and activities for using technology to foster early literacy development; and recommended guidelines and apps for early literacy learning. To make the website a go-to for all families in your early learning center, you decide to provide content that addresses children throughout the early childhood years, from birth through third grade.

To complete this Assessment:

Build Your Website Using New Google Sites

• Follow the Guidelines and Resources for Building Your Technology, Early Literacy & Young Children Website for Families document for tips and reminders.
• Access the resource links provided in the document for specific guidance.

Write the Required Content for Your Technology, Early Literacy & Young Children Website

Complete the following six required sections of the website:

• Section 1: Welcome Statement
• Write a brief welcome statement that explains
• The purpose of the website; and
• How early childhood professionals can support families of young children in understanding connections between technology and early literacy development.
• (Required: 1 paragraph)
• Section 2: In Brief: What Research Says
• Analyze research on technology and young children, with an emphasis on how technology can impact early literacy development, for research findings of particular relevance to families of young children; then
• Briefly explain five points from research on using technology with young children to foster early literacy.
• Cite your sources.
• (Required: 23 sentences for each research point)
• Section 3: Keep in Mind …
• Analyze research on technology and young children for benefits and cautions of particular relevance to families of young children; then
• Explain at least one benefit and one caution for families to keep in mind about using technology to support early literacy development.
• Cite your sources.
• (Required: 23 sentences for each benefit/caution)
• Section 4: Technology: How Much? What Kind? Guidelines by Age
• Analyze research and other expert views on recommended screen time and recommended types of devices and media appropriate for young children by age that would be relevant to families of young children; then
• Explain recommended guidelines for screen time, devices, and media appropriate for each group of young children:
• Infants
• Toddlers
• Preschoolers
• Kindergartners
• First/Second/Third Graders
• Cite your sources.
• (Required: 23 sentences each per age)
• Section 5: Technology & Literacy Development: Age-Appropriate Ideas for Children & Families
• Analyze developmentally appropriate practices, strategies, and activities for using technology to foster early literacy development to identify recommended approaches for families to replicate at home; then
• Explain two developmentally appropriate ideas or activities for using technology at home to support early literacy development in each of the following age groups:
• Infants and toddlers
• Preschoolers
• Kindergartner
• First/Second/Third Graders
• (Required: 1 paragraph for each idea; 2 paragraphs per age group)
• Section 6: Great Apps for Young Children
• Explain four guidelines for selecting developmentally appropriate apps for young children (Required: 12 sentences per guideline); and
• Recommend three apps that focus on early literacy, and explain how each can be used to promote early literacy and for what ages
• (Required: 23 sentences per app)

Submit 1 file (EL3006_ firstinitial_lastname) that contains:

• The URL for your website, and
• The text as it appears on your website in a Microsoft Word document. Make sure to include all six sections:
• Welcome Statement
• In Brief: What Research Says
• Keep in Mind
• Technology: Guidelines by Age
• Technology and Literacy Development: Age-Appropriate Ideas
• Great Apps for Young Children

Learning Activity 1: What Research Says About Young Children and Technology

Position Statement: Technology and Interactive Media as Tools In Early Childhood Programs Serving Children From Birth Through Age 8

National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Childrens Media at Saint Vincent College. (2012b). Technology and interactive media as tools in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/topics/PS_technology_WEB.pdf

Time Estimate: 40 min

Web Article: What Does too much Screen Time Do to Children’s Brains?

Cross, J. F. (n.d.). What does too much screen time do to childrens brains? New York Presbyterian Health Matters. https://healthmatters.nyp.org/what-does-too-much-screen-time-do-to-childrens-brains/

Time Estimate: 20 min

Article: Children and Tech Devices: What ARe the Dangers?

Chumari, A. (n.d.). Children and tech devices: What are the dangers? HealthXchange. https://www.healthxchange.sg/children/parenting-tips/children-tech-devices-dangers

Time Estimate: 15 min

Media: Screen Time and Speech Delays in toddlers (4:22)

Gellner, C. (Host). (2023, November 12). Screen time and speech delays in toddlers [Audio podcast episode]. In Healthy Kids Zone. https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/kids-zone/all/2023/11/screen-time-and-speech-delays-toddlers

Making Connections

This video resource features a webcast of three experts on educational media for young children from babies to third graders. These researchers and educators discuss topics such as research on screen time and examples of educational media that support young childrens literacy development. They also offer tips, reminders, and cautions for parents and early childhood educators to ensure childrens exposure to media is age appropriate and maximizes early literacy learning. As you view the video, take notes on guidelines, tips, and early literacy connections for different ages to consider sharing with families on your website for the Competency Assessment.

Video Webcast: Educational Media: Screen Time and Literacy (25:00)

Linebarger, D., Guernsey, L., & Lewis, M. (n.d.). Educational media: Screen time and literacy [Multimedia]. Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/helping-all-readers/voices-experts/webcasts/educational-media-screen-time-and-literacy?trans=yes#part1.

Learning Activity 1: Effective Practice with Technology for Early Literacy Development

Web Resource: Selected Examples of Effective Classroom Practice Involving Technology Tools and Interactive Media

National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Childrens Media at Saint Vincent College. (2012a). Selected examples of effective classroom practice involving technology tools and interactive media. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/topics/PS_technology_Examples.pdf

Time Estimate: 30 min

Article: Why SHould Teachers Use Tech Tools To Sharpen LIteracy SKills?

White, P. (2023, February 14). Why should teachers use tech tools to sharpen literacy skills? eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/why-should-teachers-use-tech-tools-to-sharpen-literacy-skills

Time Estimate: 15 min

Making Connections

Apps for young children are available everywhere, but choosing those that are appropriate requires knowing what qualities to look for and to avoid. For your Competency Assessment website, you will recommend guidelines for families on selecting apps, as well as specific apps for language and literacy learning. Use these resources to identify app guidelines for all ages, as well as recommended apps to consider. Also, note ideas for using tablet computers with very young children that can fill out other sections of your website, such as guidance on technology tools and early literacy activities for those ages.

Web Article: Selecting Apps to Support Childrens Learning

Buckleitner, W. (n.d.-a). Selecting apps to support childrens learning. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/selecting-apps-support-children

Time Estimate: 30 min

Making Connections

This website includes some starter apps for any Early Childhood Education iPad. Browse for guidelines and recommended apps as well as for technology-supported early learning activities that you might adapt for your family-focused website on technology, early literacy, and young children.

Article: Tips on Tablets and Apps for the Early Childhood Classroom

Buckleitner, W. (n.d.). Tips on tablets and apps for the early childhood classroom. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/tips-tablets-and-apps-early-childhood-classroom

Time Estimate: 30 min