by Dr. Dale McManis

1. Technology to Support the
Whole Child
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math: Full STEAM Ahead! Conference
September 2012
Lilla Dale McManis, PhD

2. Topics
• What educational technologies
are available to support
developmental domains?
• How can we teach content area
& skills w/technology in ways
supporting the whole child?
• What does a technology-
supported day look like in an
ECE program?

3. Defining Developmental Domains
•Language/Literacy/
Early Writing
•Mathematics
•Science
•Social Studies
•Creative Arts
•Social-Emotional
•Positive Approaches to
Learning

4. Technologies you might see in an
ECE classroom….

5. Physical Domain
• Two areas are particularly relevant to using
technology: gross and fine motor.
• Examples are creative arts such as music
(dancing, singing, and playing music) and art
(such as drawing, sculpting, building).

6. Social-Emotional/Affective Domain
• Cooperation, collaboration, and communication are
some main social skills children are called upon to
exercise when using technology.
• Social studies for example is an area which in early
childhood often makes the social connection for
children on a very personal level.
• Helping children identify emotions
has been found promising using
technology is another example.

7. Cognitive Domain
• Mastery of language and then literacy is one of the
most significant tasks of early childhood & related is
development of symbolic thinking. Technology both
can support the teaching and the eliciting so is an
especially good fit.
• Another example is science and technology which
have always gone hand in hand, particularly the
scientific method.

8. Positive Approaches to Learning
• Curiosity, initiative, flexible thinking, and
persistence are some of the most critical skills
for school and life success.
• They are also some of the most ‘under-taught’.
• Technology is an effective
and engaging way to
support these skills
with children.

9. How can we teach content area & skills
w/technology in ways that support the whole child?
Using Scaffolding means…
purposefully supporting children’s learning, while they
use educational technology, through techniques like:
• asking, answering, and inviting questions;
• encouraging positive feelings about
technology; and
• making use of computer/technological
capabilities.

10. Cognitive Scaffolding
• Teachers use cognitive scaffolding to develop
children’s understanding of concepts, and it
most obviously resembles traditional
scaffolding between adult/teacher and child.
• Activities include
questioning, modeling, and
encouraging collaboration with peers.

11. Technical Scaffolding
• Technical scaffolding uses the features of the
technology to support learning. That is, the
technology itself can facilitate understanding and
problem solving.
• Examples are manipulating shapes, using a word
processor or gallery with pictures to create a story, or
the computer customizing activities for a child.

12. Affective Scaffolding
• Affective scaffolding is used to help keep
children on task and encourage higher levels
of thinking when using technology.
• Examples include teachers (or characters)
being available to help and give
encouragement and it can also be feedback
given from within the computer software.

13. Computers & Skyping…

14. Connecting with characters…

15. IWBs & Content
Often used in
groups but can
be used
individually
Literacy & Math
Activities

16. IWBs
& Art
Through built-in digital
portfolios, children’s artwork
(and any work) can be
saved, retrieved for further
engagement, and shared

17. IWBs get me moving & learning….

18. Dinosaurs eat acorns…

19. Multi-Touch Tables
Encourages and supports opportunities
for peer interactions

20. Multi-touch Table Activity for Science
and
Social
Studies

21. We love ice cream….

22. Let’s go fishing….

23. Tablets
Particularly good for providing learners
autonomy and choice

24. Can be used
individually, with
peers, or
w/teachers

25. Tablets
Lots of content being developed….

26. I take the cake!

27. Examples of use which do NOT support the whole child…

28. Activity Time!
• What does a technology-supported day look
like in an ECE program?

29. Let’s Stay Connected!
• LinkedIn: Early Childhood Technology Network
• Twitter: #ecetechchat Every Weds. night @ 9 EDT
• LinkedIn: Lilla Dale McManis
• Twitter @DrLDMcmanis
• Blog @ http://blog.hatchearlychildhood.com/