iPads, MakerEd and More in Education

Over the last few years coding has exploded in the educational field, and where we once only saw coding occurring during computer science classes for the intermediate grades or high-schools, has now become mainstream with our younger learners.
Coding has been around since the invention of the computer, so what sparked this change?

If there is one piece of advice that is drilled into you as a new parent, it is to limit screen time. Bringing home our first baby, I may have not known how to effectively swaddle or change a diaper, but I did know, “back is best” and “no screen time for children under two.” Yet, screens are something we as parents are constantly interacting with. In those early days of parenting, our parents laughed as we announced that we would not expose our children to screens. Yet screens are such a piece of our world. How could I expect a child not to find interest in the screens and technology that we interact with routinely? Does this abstinence approach to teaching new parents and those who work with our youngest learners do more harm than good? Does coding and computational thinking have a place in early childhood education? Yes, it certainly does.

The list comprises of iPad apps for preschool and kindergarten kids that can help them make..

The article Perfecting with Practice: Project Based Teaching by Suzie Boss, lays a wonderful foundation for those educators looking to make the leap into Project Based Learning. As a Kindergarten teacher, this framework coupled with PYP curriculum and a strong emphasis on play-based learning is the perfect recipe for authentic learning engagements in my classroom.

Suzie Boss writes, that “Inquiry is at the heart of project learning.” As much as I agree with her on that, I’d take one step further with the anatomy analogy and say if that inquiry is the heart than play is the backbone. As an Early Years of working at conceptually based schools, I believe it’s the concoction of inquiry, play, and experimentation that really helps foster critical thinking skills and promote big ideas.

Each day my Kinder students become more and more accustomed to inquiry and big ideas and solving authentic problems. At first, the thought of relinquishing control and transferring more ownership over to the students felt a bit daunting. However, I quickly realized once I got out of the way, that’s when the magic happened. I had embraced the power of letting go and started looking at the learning through the macro lens. By embracing project-based learning as my foundation I helped keep my students tethered to learning but unbounded by their own desires and creativity.

Kindergarten teacher Caitlin Arakawa talks about her first year with iPads in kindergarten. She shares her favorite tools. A DIY soundbooth. Mistakes. more.