Technology Connections

Early Connections provides resources and information on the appropriate and effective use of technology with young children.

Why Early Connections? Early Connections provides a basic understanding of young children’s learning development, then connects technology to those essential learning skills. The primary focus is on how and when technology best fits into the learning of young children.

Children learn through social interaction with adults and other children. Their learning reflects a recurring cycle that begins in awareness and moves to exploration, inquiry, and finally utilization. Children learn through play. Children's interests and "need to know" motivate learning.

Human development and learning are characterized by individual variation. Each child has a unique range of abilities and needs, and the variety of developmental stages in any group of children is likely to be broad. When considering what is appropriate in a particular situation, keep in mind this range and use the children themselves as guides to what will be successful and effective.

The Early Connections site is organized according to the settings where educators and care providers work with young children. Parents are invited to explore areas of interest to their families.

Child care—is a unique mixture of ages, developmental stages, schedules, and settings

Preschool—offers children a variety of learning experiences to choose from

Kindergarten—deals with the whole child in the first year of "real school"

Primary grades—children in grades 1 - 3 are moving toward independence

Before/after-school program—includes children of many ages with a wide range of skill levels

Within each of the above areas, subtopics provide information relevant to that group:

Learning & Technology connects technology with the learning needs of children at this stage

Technology & Curriculum ties effective uses of technology to the curriculum

Classroom Arrangement defines elements for successful placement of computers and other technology in the classroom

Software Selection provides guidance on how to select and evaluate software, as well as links to evaluation and review resources

Health & Safety offers ergonomic and Internet guidelines for physical and online safety

Hardware contains information on many different types of technology that can be used with young children, and things to consider when planning for technology

Resources provides links to useful sources of information and research on technology use with young children