NeverTooYoung

=Welcome to the Never Too Young Wiki.=


 * Category: Getting Started**
 * Presentation Title:** “Never Too Young” (20:02) **__2 CATNIP HOURS__**
 * Webpage**: http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=274
 * Description:** Teachers of our youngest students are often left behind when trying to implement new technologies into their curriculum. They may receive the “hand-me-down” equipment and issues related to teaching the youngest classrooms are not addressed through in-service. This presentation demonstrates 3 web 2.0 tools that are ideal for transforming learning to students in the early grades: Voicethread, Dipity and Blogging. The presentation consists of a screencast with a supporting wiki for links, examples and extended resources. Authentic student projects will be used in the demonstration and information given on implementation strategies for the teacher.
 * Presenter:** Sharon Betts, Maine, USA

//If you have questions regarding entering information into this Wiki please contact Kim Thomas (kthomas@msd38.org).//

If you are using a VoiceThread for your Summary please post the link in the Summary section. Make sure your VoiceThread is //not// private. If you are submitting an audio response you will need to email that directly to Kim Thomas (kthomas@msd38.org).
 * Essential Questions and Summary.** (Please follow this format.)

1. Your name: Becky Lane Session Title: Never too young Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: Technology surrounds today's kids and they use it everyday, until they get to school. They are natural technology users and feel at home with the technology that is available to them. Technology can also allow them to demonstrate learning that could be hindered in traditional paper/pencil tasks. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: VoiceThread can be used by the students to upload pictures that they have taken and adding recorded messages (or leaving it without). I think that if we just think more about making the technology available to the students rather than "how do I do this lesson with technology" the students will show us how to integrate it into our lessons. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest learners? Summary: Of the three examples that were shown I think that VoiceThread was the most applicable to the youngest students. It was the most friendly to students who are non- or beginning readers. Besides, who doesn't like to take pictures and hear themselves talk. I have no idea how I would use Dipity, it had too much extra stuff for my students to be able to focus on what was important to the task at hand. I think that the blog site (21classes) might be a possibility for my parents but am not sure how it would work for my students do to the amount of text.

2. Your name: Shelley Atchison Session Title: Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: Today technology surrounds everyone. Even very young children have ipods, gaming systems, and cameras. Young children aren't afraid of the technology and are willing to go try almost anything. It 's often the adults that are apprehensive. I have students that enjoy taking a digital camera (or a camera phone) with them everywhere they go to be able to show what they did or saw. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: Web 2.0 tools, such as VoiceThread, that can let students record themselves and upload their photos to create their own online books and other reading experiences can be very beneficial to students. Integrating this type of activity can be used as an extension or a culminating activity for a larger unit or theme. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest learners? Summary: From the examples we looked at VoiceThread seems to be the most applicable for young students. The Dipity site may be a good choice for a little older student needing to focus on a series of events. It can be difficult for younger kids to focus on the pages in the flipbook view since the other pages are still partially visible. The 21classes seems to be more adult-friendly. However, with that kind of in mind, I am going to try to use a 21classes site for an online daily communication book - an alternative to my usual paper/pencil version. It may also give me a few more options for sharing some of my student's work. I will let you know how that goes.

3.

=
Response: All our students are growing up with technology and are more and more comfortable with it. Technology helps them to connect with others, even when they can't use a standard computer keyboard/mouse.======

=
Response: Our youngest students often enjoy using digital cameras. With web 2.0 we can upload pictures for them and then help them to tell their stories. If they can't spell, they will be able to record their own voices. When teachers type what they say, they can read their own words and have many opportunities to practice.======

=
Summary: I think that VoiceThread is more applicable to the youngest learners than Dipidy. I like how individual photos can be displayed one at a time. In Dipidy, even the flipbook mode shows parts of other pages. I like the idea of using the 21Classrooms for sharing information and keeping up to date with parents.======

4. Your name: Teresa Belnap Session Title: Never Too Young

Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: Children are growing up learning how to use technology. Technology is everywhere today. They are sometimes limited only by what we think they are capable of and I have often been surprised to see them surpass my expectations. The more applications they are introduced to the more they are able to use. I have been amazed to see students use technology with ease and frequently they are the ones helping me when I have problems. My youngest son spent time sitting on my lap while I worked on the computer and I didn’t realize how much he learned sitting there until he began using it himself, he seemed to just take to it naturally.

Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: Using voice thread and having students either type or record their responses is a great tool. Having students create their own stories and for them to be able to see them on the computer gives them a great sense of accomplishment. This provides a great resource for all students and especially those who are struggling with reading to see their growth if it is done periodically throughout the year.

Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest learners? Summary: I think that the voice thread is friendlier for the younger learners, but I love the ideas for the teacher incorporating dipity. I loved the idea of the months of the year and to use as a showcase portfolio of student work/reading! Another idea I had would be to create an alphabet book with student created pictures. I think this would especially be useful in a social studies class as a way to help students visualize when things occurred.


 * Bari Candy**
 * Session Title:** **“Never Too Young.”**

The early years are a crucial time for students. These are the years where they are quick to learn and are capable of more than we as adults give them credit for. Introducing technology during these years introduces students to the skills they will build upon for the rest of their lives. These tools can be applied to the business world, family and personal.
 * Essential Question 1:** **Why would you use technology tools with the very young?**


 * Essential Question 2:** **How can you integrate 2.0 with beginning readers?**
 * Integrating 2.o with beginning readers can be done very simply and can be very effective. Teachers can use this tool to post images of student work. Young children may not be able to write stories, but they are very imaginative storytellers on a verbal level. The teacher can discuss images with the students and record their reflections and observations. This is a variation to reading in an expressive manner.**


 * Essential Question 3:** **What tools are applicable to the youngest learners?**
 * Voicethread:** **A teacher can display work online with this tool and record narrative. It can be private or public. It can be used for commentaries that can be shared and as review for past discussions. For example, an artwork can be introduced and displayed for discussion. The teacher can have individual student’s record their observations on this particular image, post it and then use it as a reflection at the end of the lesson/unit. This type of tool can allow for cross-school collaboration and even carried over to other cities and school districts. (I like this tool a lot!).**
 * Dipity:** **This is a great tool for a teacher that aides in the ordering and organization of an activity/unit/art… The teacher can use this tool to enhance a lesson and excite the students in a learning-friendly environment. Dipity can be used to create timelines of events; in art, can be a series of the “steps” that are involved in the art creation process. For example, showing the work, talking about it, creating, criticism, and reflecting to enhance the creations can be displayed through a timeline on Dipity. Pictures can be used for the younger students because they are not fully able to identify the words, but if the pictures and words are visible, the connection can be made. Last, parents can view these schedules to be aware of the progress, steps, etc. Dipity is like a portfolio online. This is a tool that is accessible to parents documenting student progress.**
 * Blogging:** **Expression. Little ones, although not able to spell and so on, can blog one sentence on a particular topic that can be shared. Parents can make comments on this sort of tool. Categories and layouts can aide the navigation of this particular tool. An example of blogging could be “what I learned today!” Each student can add a statement on a daily basis that their families can read. Teachers can use this to help make connections to the ideas/topics being introduced.**


 * Summary: How can I apply this knowledge to my teaching?**
 * I think voice thread would be most effective for the young learner in my classroom. Art is so visual and there is so much verbal observation that is applied, it is ideal for the young students. As stated above, little ones are fantastic storytellers, and using voice thread on art projects can really help to guide different ideas and understandings of the topic. Students, especially young students relate better to their classmate’s personal experiences more that the teachers boring commentaries! I would definitely apply this in the art room with the K-2 students in the future!**

6. Your name: Danielle Robb Session Title: Never Too Young Essential Question 1: **Why would you use technology tools with the very young?** Response: I think it is important to expose children to technolgy as early as possible. My grandparents can barely work a computer because they weren't exposed to the technology until recently. I on the other hand can do many things on a computer because I have been working with them almost my entire life. I think that by giving kids more experiences with technolgy they will be able to learn new technologies in the future easier. This will be important since most jobs today involve some type of technology.

Essential Question 2: ** How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? ** Response: I think the best way to incooporate web 2.0 with beginning readers is to have them record their stories. This allows the child to use their imagination and add as much detail as they want without being deffered by trying to spell words.I find that in kindergarten especially children's stories are often limited because of the lack of spelling/reading capabilities in the beginning months of kindergarten.

Essential Question 3: **What tools are applicable to the youngest learners?** Response: I think that voice thread would be the most applicable to young learners. I think that if the teacher gives them enough exposure to allow them to learn how to work it then the students would create unbelievable products. I think that dipity would work better for the older grades. I love Teresa's idea about creating an alphabet book using student created pictuers! So creative! Watching these video clips really get me excited about the possibilities in my own classroom!!

Summary: I think that the main idea here is that it's never too early to start exposing kids to technology. I have recently seen digital cameras for ages 2-5 at a toy store! AMAZING! I think that it benefits the child so much to expose them to technology early and often. Jobs of the future have SO much to do with technology...it's not going away!

7. Your name: Joella Bever Session Title: **Never Too Young** Essential Question 1: **Why would you use technology tools with the very young?** Response: We now live in a world full of technology. Our children enter the world ready and excited to learn and use all of it. It's many of us adults that are apprehensive and struggle with it. Essential Question 2: ** How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? ** Response: The web 2.0 provides the students with the ability to create their own stories. They can use the digital camera and take pictures and then write or record words to go with it. Students can also draw their own pictures and tell about them. This can then be presented to the class. Essential Question 3: **What tools are applicable to the youngest learners?** Summary: The voice thread is probably the most effective for the young learner. Even as young as kindergarten the students can put words to their favorite stories and songs. They can also share and comment on each others. Summary: I found this video to be so interesting. I am such a non-computer person, (limited knowledge), that I am still in awe of this new technology. The voice thread is a wonderful tool for all students but especially the younger ones. Most all children love to draw/take pictures and with voice thread they can add their pictures and tell their own stories. They can make comments on each others work and share stories. The dipity, as it says would be for the little bit older student. They can make timelines, create events and embed a timeline. They can make digital stories and use the voice thread tool. Students can express themselves with their own work/writing and share around the world. I think it is very important to expose our children to all of this wonderfully, amazing technology as early as possible because it is all around us and increasing every day.

8. Your name: Larisa Hepker Session Title: **Never Too Young** Essential Question 1: **Why would you use technology tools with the very young?** Response: It's very important to introduce children to technology as early as possible. Voice Thread, Dipity, Weblogs and wikis Essential Question 2: ** How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? ** Response: Essential Question 3: **What tools are applicable to the youngest learners?** Summary: 9. Your name:Alec Fick Session Title: **Never Too Young** Essential Question 1: **Why would you use technology tools with the very young?** Response: In today's world children are introduced to technology as young as 1year of age. I remember my daughter being on the computer at that age. Children are like sponges; they grasp the technology and run with it so naturally. My students are introduced to ipods, digital cameras, and iphones at at very young age. So, introducing them to tools of technology that can help with learning is just a step away. Essential Question 2: ** How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? ** Response: By using web 2.0, beginner readers are able to use new technologies like digital cameras and video recorders to create their own stories. They can write captions that explain or describe their photos which can then be presented to the rest of the class. Essential Question 3: **What tools are applicable to the youngest learners?** Response: The youngest learners can use voice threads to learn how to put stories together. They can also use dipity to help them organize their time by making creative and expressive time lines about their class assignments. Finally, they can even blog at at very early age. Just let them type their responses using their own vocabulary and ways of spelling, and not getting hung up on proper grammer until later. It is the process of free thinking that ignites the thought process and developes positive self images. Summary: We as teachers need to think outside the box and let our younger students have access to the wonders of technology. By exposing them to the tools available online, we will get them prepared for a world of gagets that is only going to get more creative and exciting. As a teacher of the higher grades, I certainly feel that blogging and time management are wonderful tools that they can use on a daily basis.

10. Sesssion Title: Never Too Young Your Name: Elysia Levy Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: I believe that kids are very willing to use technology. The more that parents and educators expose young children to technology the more that they will use it once they get into school without hesitation. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: The web 2.0 can allow students to create their own stories. The student can use the digital camera and take pictures, upload pictures from a website or even record their voice to go with it. This can then be presented to the class and used even for assessment when rubrics are created a verbally explained to students. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest readers? Response: I believe that the tools that are most applicable to the youngest students can be voice thread and drawing tools. Students can explore what their voice sounds like be hearning it in the story and they can explore their creative side by drawing pictures that align with the story. Summary: Being a special education teacher forces me to think outside the box. Using hands on technology approach works very well for my students who are just learning how to read. By involving technology student become more interested and sometimes have more confidence reading it off a SmartBoard then out of a book. All these tools taught to students can be applied in the ever growing technology based future.

11. Your name: Anne Schamburek Session Title: Never too young Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: Children are growing up in a world of technology. The use of cell phones, i-pods and laptops are part of their everyday lives. Teaching young children to use technology tools will prepare them for future use. I believe children as young as the preschool level can be exposed to technology. I would use technology tools with young children to introduce new concepts and share electronic stories. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: Voice Thread is a tool that integrates web 2.0 with beginning readers. Students can create stories using the Voice Thread and their voices are recorded to read the words or describe the picture. Students are able to participate in reading the Dipity flip books or creating their own books. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest learners? Response: I think Voice Thread is most applicable to the youngest learners. This program could be used with students at the preschool level. I think the students would enjoy seeing their own work and of course hearing their voice. Summary:I think Voice Thread would be the most appropriate for young children since they can hear their own voice and see their picture. I enjoyed learning about the Dipity program to use as a daily schedule in the flip book form. I also like the idea of introducing the months of the year using this program. I am not sure if I would use the Dipity program with young children. I think there many ways to incorporate technology with young students. I believe it is important to introduce technology at an early age.

12.

Name: Jan Pavella Session Title: Never Too Young Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: Technology is everywhere. The very young are already technology users. Most are more tech. savvy than the adults around them. Showing the very young the correct ways and many ways to use technology opens their world wider than they could on their own. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: I believe that voice thread is a wonderful tool to use with beginning readers. All children like to hear themselves talk. The ability to hear what they sound like may encourage more sounds or words from children struggling with talking. It gives the beginning reader the ability to see that words can be written down and these written words have meanings. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest readers? Response: I think voice thread is more child friendly than dipity and 21 classes. However, children that are more visual learners may benefit from 21 classes. They can see steps in the process of what needs to be done. Another of benefit of 21 classes is the ability to share the student’s work with their family and friends. Summary: Never Too Young is a video that shares 3 tools that can be used with the young student. It also stresses the point that it is never too early to introduce technology to students. Voice thread is a program that allows students to hear them selves talk and share what they say with others. The student can upload pictures, make comments, export pictures and gives them the ability to collaborate with students around the world. Dipity is a program that helps with organizing and putting items in the right order. Dipity allows for using pictures to help children that can’t read or read well to put their task in order. 21 classes is a blog. Here the children can blog with others students not only in their class, school, state but even children in other parts of the world.

13. Your name: Lani Kapanak Session Title:Never Too Young Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: We live in a world of technology and in order to properly and adequately prepare children for this world it is our job as educators to not only introduce various tools but also let them experience the tools. Children are so eager and willing to learn that exposing them to new things will enhance their learning. There are also children whose learning style will be enhanced by the various technology tools. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: Allowing children to not only write their own stories but to present and share them using voice threads will engage them and enhance their learning. It is also a way to have them determine how they want their stories to be presented or read because they will have more involvement. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest readers? Response: All three tools are applicable to young readers. The voice thread tool allows students to share their writing and also interaction with different grade levels. It is never too early to learn how to organize and order events which can be done with the dipity.com tool. With very young readers this tool may be used by the teacher and presented to the children in ways that can enhance their reading skills through words and pictures. Finally, blogging allows students to write their thoughts, read others thoughts and develop connections with others. Summary: These tools are all new for me and I think it will be fun to explore them with my class, all of us learning together. I think I may need some practice with them before I introduce them but because I feel like students embrace and are excited by new technology the tools should be used in the classroom. I really like the idea of using voice threads to have students read their own writings but also the month idea presented in the video using dipity. There are lots of great uses out there to enhance the learning of students in ways that didn't exist when I was growing up.

14. Your name: Erin Campbell Session Title: Never Too Young Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? I would use technology tools with the very young, because it instantly increases the amount of engagement with the students. I've noticed that with my young students their engagement and absorption of knowledge increases whenever I am able to use technology in my classroom. Today's students are surrounded by technology at school and at home and giving them more opportunities to experience it and use it will allow them to be more prepared for today's society. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Voice thread would be a great way to help beginning readers. The class could develop a story and students voices can be used to narrate the story. Having beginning readers take part and see a finished product of a story that can be seen and heard on video will make them excited about the reading process. Dipity could also be used with beginning readers. The idea of taking video recording throughout the year and using the timeline to track them would allow students and parents to see the tremendous progress that young students make over the course of one year. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest learners? I think that voice thread would be the most applicable tool for the youngest learners. Using their own voices to narrate books is a fun and engaging way to practice reading. I also liked the suggestion of having older students narrate a book for younger students. The younger students could then listen and give feedback to the story using voice thread. Being able to communicate between older and younger grades by using voice thread would not only help younger students use critical thinking when responding, but it would also help to develop a sense of community within the school/s. I also think that blogging is another great idea that I wouldn't have thought of using in the primary grades. Having a student write what is being covered in class each day is a great way to encourage technology use both in class and at home with parents. This is also an easy way to increase communication between home and school. Summary: From watching the presentation Never Too Young I have been introduced to some great ideas that I could begin to implement in my room. Teaching in the primary grades I wasn't sure what tools were out there for me to use with my students. The idea behind the presentation, that students are never too young to start using technology, is so true. The amount of things that you could keep track of on dipity, the stories you could create using voice thread and the idea of teaching students to blog in a constructive way at a young age is great. All of the tools that were introduced in this session are great ways to integrate technology into the classroom and I can't wait to get started!

15. Your name: Ashley Guggisberg Session Title: Never Too Young Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? I want to use technology with the very young because I feel that it would be beneficial for them in that it creates activities that are very engaging and meaningful. The three technology tools covered in this video would increase student motivation and engagement. This alone can help students to take part in more meaningful learning experiences and it gets them excited about learning. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? I could easily integrate web 2.0 with my beginning readers in so many ways! I could have student narrate a book they create themselves or we could create a class book. Students could also read a book aloud and then practice reading over and over again. Students could listen to another voice read a book to them, which is a great way for them to practice early reading skills. This would be especially beneficial if the print of the book is there for them to follow along with as well. This will help them to match a written word with the oral sounds it makes. This would definitely get students excited about learning to read! Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest learners? I could easily see how Voice Thread and Dipity could be used with the youngest learners. Voice Thread is great for emergent readers because they are able to practice reading a book over and over again while they can match written words to oral sounds. Dipity would be great to teach young children how the write a sequenced story. This could be done as a class or in a group. Students could create a digital story while focusing on the sequence, which is a primary grade standard. Summary: This video gave me so many amazing ideas to use in classroom with younger children! I can see that the implementation is not too difficult and the possibilities are endless! I think using voice thread is an incredible way to engage them in learning activities. I really want to try using Voice Thread in my small reading groups. This is such an innovative way for emergent readers to practice their reading skills both reading themselves or having them listening to other students read.

16. Your name: Michelle Hebert Session Title: Never too young Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: Technology is a growing part of everyday life. It is important for students to become familiar with and understand the importance of technology. Directly involving students in technology in the classroom can build excitement and enthusiasm. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: Using a blog through 21 classes can give students the opportunity to respond to literature and publish their own thoughts will help to build comprehension. In addition dipity can be usedto retell a story or order events in a read aloud. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest learners? Voicethread gives the teacher and students away to record and share comments about various learning activities in the classroom. Dipity is a way for students to see ordering of events in various applications. The blog is another away that students can be involved in technology and sharpen their technology skills. Summary: All three of these tools can be very useful in the classroom. They each serve a different purpose and be integrated across all content areas. Because technology is such a big part of our lives, it is important for students to interact with various forms through the classroom. As a first grade teacher I see my students excited about technology every day.

Your name: Kelly Hernandez Session Title: Never Too Young Essential Question 1: Why would you use technology tools with the very young? Response: Introducing young students to technology is important because it exposes them early to tools that will be helpful to them throughout their schools years and beyond. Technology can also support reading, writing, and organization tools for young students. Essential Question 2: How can you integrate web 2.0 with beginning readers? Response: You can integrate web 2.0 with young students and beginning readers by using Voicethread for book reviews, showcase student work, and have older students narrate stories. You can also create a class blog and go on other classroom blogs as an outlet for students to express themselves in reading and writing. Essential Question 3: What tools are applicable to the youngest learners? Summary: Dipity is a great tool to make flip books, learn the months of the year, as an organizational tool and a timeline to document progress over the year. A classroom blog would also be beneficial for young students to communicate with others and it also is a good communication tool for parents as well. Voicethread would be a good tool for young students to be able to document students progress on the year as well as a way to make audio books students can listen to in class or at home.