Digital Storytelling

by Amber Sullivan

https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2020/02/digital-storytelling-apps-for.htm

The news article I chose discusses digital storytelling apps and how they can be used to engage your students or how students can use the technology to present information. The article provided several tools teachers can use to promote literacy development, but I chose two apps to evaluate further that were highly rated and free. The first app I took a closer look at is called Shadow Puppet Edu which is an app that allows children to create and personalize their own presentation where they can add personalized pictures or audio to present information. The second app I chose to look at was Little Story Maker which encourages students and teachers to create their own stories using their own family’s photos, voices, and familiar adventures.

I think both apps encourage more family time and interaction. Having parents work with children on these apps and create stories together creates a time for bonding and storytelling. The stories can either be made up or parents can even engage with their child with a story from their childhood.

The biggest reason I chose these two tools is because they can be used by both student and teacher. Students can use Shadow Puppet Edu to present a project and display their knowledge on a concept. Teachers can use this app to create lessons that are interactive and engaging to the students. The app Little Story Maker allows teachers to present a topic in a fun way by telling a story or children can use it to write a story using their own experience. By allowing students to write a story using their personal pictures or experiences it creates a great opportunity to include culture and celebrate diversity in the classroom.

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Today’s guest blogger is Ms. Sullivan

“My name is Amber Sullivan and I am an Early Childhood Education Major. I am a recent graduate from CCBC, and this is my first semester here at Towson University.”

Best Edtech for Children Backed by Research

by Megan Doonis

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-02-06-the-best-edtech-for-students-is-backed-by-research-here-s-what-to-look-for

The article that I read about was geared towards any school in the country and what the perks and downfalls are when it comes to using different apps/programs in the classroom. This being said, the article was written from a nonprofit education department center (Center for children and Technology) and their main focus is how education technology can be used to support learning. The second half of this article focuses on what educators can do to better technology in the classroom and the article provides six different steps on how to succeed at this.This article is very helpful for future educators and extremely informative.

This news will affect young children and their families because technology is such a demand now a days, it is vital for families to understand the importance behind this. For example, there are many resources that teachers can use to communicate with students and their families so having the proper tools in place will allow for success. Technology supports early language by creating new opportunities for interaction and engagement.

This news will influence Early Childhood Education because it will give the teachers the ability to dig deep in research and find out what tech devices will provide a more interactive experience for the class. Not to mention, the students now a days are digital natives which allows them to experiment more in the classroom but it also enhances education and makes it more hands on.

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Today’s Guest Blogger is Ms. Doonis

“Hi, I am Megan Doonis an energetic and goal-driven student at Towson University majoring in Early Childhood Education. I graduate in Fall 21’ and cannot wait to move away and teach by a beach somewhere!”

 

 

 

Babies and Screen Time

by Sarah Del Rosario

https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2019/12/babies_twelve_months_screen_time.html

Babies as young as twelve months are exposed to nearly an hour a day of screen time, despite warnings from pediatricians to avoid digital media exposure for children under a year and a half, according to a new analysis released by the National Institutes of Health, the University at Albany, and New York University Lagone Medical Center. It’s not clear what impact this early screen time has on students’ K-12 outcomes. But recently, scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress declined in both fourth grade and eighth grade reading, leading experts to question whether excessive screen time could be having an impact on students’ long-term reading skills. Children whose parents had only a high school diploma were more likely to be exposed to more screen time, as were children of first-time mothers. Twins were also more likely to be in the highest screen time, compared to singleton children. And children in home-based care, whether provided by a baby-sitter, parent, or relative, were more than twice as likely to be in the higher screen time group, compared to kids in center-based care.

According to the article, too much screen time can contribute to developmental delays. Kids aren’t getting the chance to explore their environment. Families will have to spend more time with their kids by limiting their screen time and helping the kids with their homework. This news influences early childhood because if they’re always on the screen, their neurons aren’t being put to use and they can die off. This will also affect teachers helping the children in the classroom because their attention span won’t have the amount of energy to focus on what is being taught in front of them.

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Today’s Guest Blogger is Ms. Del Rosario

“I am a college student currently pursuing a Bachelor’sDegree in Early Childhood Education at Towson University. Always worked with children since high school through a child development course. After high school, I continued my experience through an ESY program in Montgomery County. I went on through college and received my 45-hour certificate for infant and toddler and pursuing to get my 90 hour certificate. Since I have been pursuing volunteering/working with children, I know this is the path I would like to pursue in the present and near future.”

Most children sleep with a mobile phone beside bed

by Brianna Thompson

URL of news article: https://www.bbc.com/news/education-51296197

The article is about the use of cell phones by young children and teenagers. It highlights how children from ages 7-16 spend on average 3 hours and 20 minutes using their phones, whether it be to browse the internet, stream videos, and/or use social media.

This news will affect young children and their families because as time progresses and changes, children are getting their own phones at younger ages and are using the technology with no parental controls or time limits for the use of the phones. Parents will have the choice to either give their children phones at a younger age or to stop the use of cell phones at a younger age, at bedtime specifically, and provide parental controls and restrictions when necessary. As technology advances, it may be harder for parents to find a solution to the use of cell phones in young children and teenagers. Cell phones are the most popular line of communication.

This news will influence Early Childhood Education because educators may want to adjust how often technology is used within the classroom during instruction.The type of technology used within the classroom may need to be changed or evaluated.Educators may also want to take into consideration the type of websites and apps that children and young teens may have access to during the school day and possibly put parental controls or restrictions on certain apps and sites.

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Today’s guest blogger is Brianna Thompson

“My name is Brianna Thompson and I’m currently a student at Towson University. My major is Early Childhood Education.”