Teaching with Technology

I'm a Grade 1/2 teacher in a small, rural town. For the past couple of years I have been part of a team in my school division which is focussed on promoting the implementation of LICT into our schools and our classrooms. LICT (Literacy with Information and Communication Technology) was developed by Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth. They have defined it as: "choosing and using ICT, responsibly and ethically, to support critical and creative thinking about information and about communication as citizens of the global community." In basic terms, it is the idea that our students are amongst a new group of learners, learners which are immersed in a technological world. Our challenge as educators is to embrace this and incorporate these ever-changing technologies into our teachings. By infusing technology into our lessons, we are inviting students to engage in a meaningful way. We are preparing our students to become successful contributors in a global society. We are opening their minds and increasing their awareness. We are providing them with real opportunities to collaborate with people around the world and to be a part of something they may have otherwise been oblivious to.

I've been challenged recently to put together some useful tips, ideas and resources that might assist other teachers in infusing technology into their early years classrooms. As I have talked with other educators, I realize that there is a vast majority of people who don't see how one might effectively infuse technology in a classroom with young children. I'd like to say to those people; Children are amazingly more equipped to think technologically than we give them credit.

If you are an early years teacher, I hope that you may find this wiki to be useful.