Technology in the Classroom

Recently I talked with some preschool teachers about using technology in the preschool classroom. Sometimes that can be a subject with lots of opinions. I believe that kids having hands-on experiences and playing are the best ways to learn. Technology can be a part of a hands-on playing classroom, too.

Here are a few ideas from around the blogosphere for using technology in the preschool classroom.

QR Code Listening Center (Pre-K Pages)
I love this idea for an updated or different way for kids to listen to reading. I'm familiar with QR codes and have explored them for use with older kids in the classroom. But this is a fun way to use them with preschoolers...and have a listening center with less expense and less hassle. And I found a new online tool - QRStuff.

Shapes Photo Book (Pre-K Pages)
I love to use my camera. And we've made our own books with photos I've taken. But I like this idea of going on a shapes scavenger hunt and taking photos to create your own book. And it's connected to the book So Many Circles, So Many Squares.


Teach Syllables with Children's Photos (Prekinders)
Here's another idea with photos - the children's photos. Sort them according to syllables in their names. Kids' photos make great resources in the classroom...and if you add names printed on the photos you can use them for all kinds of activities.

Building with Blocks and Technology (Hands on As We Grow)
You know I love my kids love using blocks. Photos of block structures on a tablet add some technology to the blocks center and offer challenges and opportunities for problem-solving. Fun!


Make a Music Video with Preschoolers (Handmade Kids Art)
I've never done this but I can see that it would be a fun thing to do with a familiar song. This post has the quick and easy version (probably the way I would do it) and the more involved but better result version. Just may need to put this on my list for our preschool choir activities this year.

And here are a few of my own posts related to technology and the preschool classroom:

Repurposing Old Technology (Pre-K and K Sharing)
My post on this collaborative blog that shows how we've used outdated technology in the classroom.

Exploring Writing in a Different Way
We use an old laptop as part of our writing center.

Using Photos to Build Parent Relationships
Two quick ideas about using photos in parent communications.

To Plug In or Not Plug In?
Part of my reflection on the book What If Everybody Understood Child Development by Rae Pica.

A few years ago I was a part of a blog book study on the book Teaching in the Digital Age by Brian Puerling. Those book study posts are on Preschool Spot.