5 Technology Tools for Early Educators

May 2, 2016

technology childrenThe amount of websites devoted to the early education field is vast, but it is just a matter of finding the ones and using them as technology tools to enhance your child care program in a productive manner. These modern tools can also have a positive and collaborative effect on your program. Finding a balance between your early educator teaching methods and the usage of technology tools can positively change the overall learning experience for you, your co-workers and the children in your child care program. As early educators, you will find it useful to have a list of resources that can assist in anything from organizing your day-to-day schedule as a professional, to inspirational ideas for your classroom and even parent engagement.

Below are five helpful technology tools and additional options to accommodate diverse preferences:

1.  Trello –   Need help getting organized? Trello can help you keep track of daily tasks, make checklists, and create groups for co-workers’ activities and inspirational boards for your current and future projects. You can also use: Google DocsEdmodo, and Symbaloo.

2. WordPress –  Being creative in the workplace is far from difficult with WordPress. Get inspired by creating a child care blog where you can post short articles about your program, including announcements, activities and videos to be shared with parents. You can also use: Wikispaces, and Skype.

3. Teaching Channel –  Keep up with education trends around the country and learn more about various education topics through Teaching Channel. This site mainly features videos from an online community of educators, who wish to share their knowledge through educational videos on a wide range of topics such as “Listening and Speaking: Formative Assessment,” “Using Guided Relaxation in the Classroom,” and “Meeting Students’ Needs Through Leadership Teams.” You can also use: Coursera and Edutopia.

4. Seussville –   It doesn’t get more fun than learning from “The Cat in the Hat,” “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and other Dr. Seuss stories through fun activities and games. Seussville provides a page dedicated to educators where useful features like Dr. Seuss printables and activities, lesson plans, and “Educator’s Timeline,” a monthly calendar of activities according to Dr. Seuss inspired holidays and other events can be found.   You can also use: ScholasticStarfall, and ABCya!

5. Crayola–   This site has great resources that will inspire you to create new crafts and activities in your daily classroom plan. Crayola for Educators has art techniques, provides weekly activities, and printable coloring pages, among other features. You can also use: Smithsonian EducationDiscovery Education, and MoMA Learning.

By keeping up with technology and learning, you have the ability to grow as an early educator and inspire children under your care to follow your lead as they learn from your educational techniques. Consider that as early educators you have the power to be constantly creative and inspire young minds to use the variety of modern tools available to us. Additionally by using them, you show families that you are open to different learning and engagement approaches as an early childhood professional.  If you have other educator resources to share with us, please tag us on our social media pages below.

Facebook:  CDA Council for Professional Recognition

Twitter:  @CDAcouncil

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