« Back to News

March 27, 2014

Duck, Duck…Tablet? Using Technology to Learn and Play

Our 2014 Doodle Bugs! Conference, “Engaged!,” gave me an opportunity to collaborate with a

very talented preschool teacher, Sara Barham from our Cheektowaga location, to build a presentation that shared lots of fun ideas for incorporating our new technology into many different areas of the classroom.

For those of you that requested resources from our interactive classroom and for those who were not able to join us, we’ve shared a folder titled “Duck, Duck, Tablet” via Google Drive and also posted it to the cloud. Here’s a quick recap of our session:

• We shared a quick movie showcasing some classrooms using the tablets to play.
• We stated our goals; Share ideas of how to purposefully plan and facilitate experiences using the tablets to promote “learning through play” and, to collaborate and brainstorm more ways to use technology in all areas of the classroom.
• Collected some background information about how tablets are currently being used using the Socrative App.
• Introduced our centers that align with upcoming April Curriculum and invited our ‘students’ to explore; Circle Time – Duck, Duck, Tablet Center, Dramatic Play – Weather Forecasting Center, Math – Patterning Center, Gross Motor – Yoga & Frog Hopping Center, Sensory – Garden Bin “What’s Missing? Game Center, Blocks – Building at the Pond Center, and School Age – Moma Art Lab Center.
• We enjoyed many great conversations about the ideas presented, ways to put new twists on them, and collaborated about brand new concepts that we can all work to develop.
• During our debrief, we collected some of those ideas using the Socrative App again, which we were able to save and share now.

You may view our video presentation, here.

Being first time presenters, it was an incredible and slightly terrifying experience and we both grew a lot in the process. We wanted to thank all of you who attended, participated, helped us set up, tear down, and supported us doing our prep work and encouraged us through our stage of anxiety! 🙂

Please keep sending us your ideas! jennifer.horner@doodlebugs.com

_______________________________

Contributed by Jennifer Horner, Education Specialist