Continuing to Share Web Resources

https://www.gettingsmart.com/

I regularly review multiple early childhood websites for new information to improve my knowledge and resource bank as an early childhood special education specialist.  At the beginning of the Walden course Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field, I chose three different early childhood organizational websites to follow: 1. Division of Early Childhood of the Council of Exceptional Children (DEC-SPED), 2. National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).  All three organizations’ websites chocked full of information and resources that benefit educators, administrators, and families.  To me, these sites are like Pinterest, in that I can go looking for one topic or resources and can get lost for hours reading and exploring new topics and resources.

Typically, DEC-SPED and NAEYC share links and resources within their organization.  NIEER, however, shares links and resources from other agencies and organizations.  This past week, I ventured on all three organization’s webpages searching for new information on high-quality early childhood, equity, and inequities.  When I entered the keyword equity in NIEER’s search tool, I found myself on the Getting Smart Services website.  Getting Smart is learning design firm that provides services in advocacy for educational foundations, advisory for educational organizations, and coaching to school districts.  They “partner with education focused foundations, learning organizations, schools and districts to invent the future of learning” (Innovations in Learning, n.d.).  Just this statement on their website was enough to hook me.  The following articles can be located on their website: “Inequity in Education is Your (and My) Responsibility” (February 2018), “Why True Equity in Learning Depends on Proactive, not Reactive, Design” (February 2018), “Quality Early Learning Makes Tulsa a Great Place to Grow Up” (May 2018), “Early Childhood: What We Know, and What’s Possible” (January 2018), and “Why Early Childhood Education Matters Now More than Ever” (January 2017).

Even though I am not a big advocate of technology devices, such as iPads, touch screen devices, et.al., being a key element in early childhood classrooms, Tammy Kwan’s article about using AI-powered technology can be beneficial to young learners.  In her article, she shared a quote from a White House report on AI and the U.S. economy.  “All children [need to] get off to the right start with access to high-quality early education. In a world of AI-driven skill-biased technological change, people with low levels of even basic skill such as reading and math are at higher risk of displacement” (Kwan, 2017). She continued to explain that digital media can be a tool used to close the language gap for children by using video chat, screen media, and video trainings.  As today’s society is becoming more and more technology based, evidence-based digital programs and apps are being developed and are more accessible for educators and parents.  While I will continue to advocate for hands-on, interactive learning experiences in early childhood education programs, I do understand that technology can be a tool used in the classroom to supplement the learning experiences for children who are English language learners or identified with a physical or intellectual disability.

Emily Liebtag and Janice Walton wrote an article that shared information obtained through research referencing early learning experiences and existing and emerging practices in early childhood programs.  They identified five findings about early learning that correlate with what we have been learning and discussing throughout this course: “ECCE promotes brain development and has positive long-term economic benefits. Developing 21st Century Skills in early learners helps prepare them for success in school and life. ECCE can make a positive difference in the lives of young children. Age-appropriate use of technology can enhance learning. Uneven access.” (Liebtag & Walton, 2018).  In this article, they shared the video from Dr. Patricia Kuhl and Dr. Andrew Meltzoff’s presentation the Education Nation Summit describing how a child's first years impact their academic achievement.  Below is the 22-minute video.

 https://youtu.be/pWJ_Z1Qwhnk

I could continue to break down what I learned from each article, but I might run out of space on my blog.  I highly encourage you to explore the Getting Smart website and read the articles that I have mentioned throughout this blog post.  Check out the article about Tulsa, Oklahoma's early childhood programs.  In Oklahoma passed a law in 1998 that provides free access to prekindergarten, and Tulsa is has programs that supported by different foundations to increase the potential of high-quality early childhood programs supporting families and children.  Two summers ago, I had the opportunity to tour one of the early childhood programs located in Tulsa.  I was overwhelmed by the structures established throughout the classrooms and overall building that nurtured family-child-school relationships, the social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive develop of the children.  I have included these articles in the reference section.

Resources:

Fisher, J.F. & Parsi, A. (2018, February 14). Why True Equity in Learning Depends on Proactive, not Reactive, Design. Retrieved December 8, 2018 from https://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/02/why-true-equity-in-learning-depends-on-proactive-not-reactive-design/.

Gerson, K. (2018, February 26). Inequity in Education is Your (and My) Responsibility. Retrieved December 8, 2018 from https://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/02/inequity-in-education-is-your-and-my-responsibility/?platform=hootsuite.

Innovations in Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2018 from https://www.gettingsmart.com/

Kwan, T. (2017, January 20). Why Early Education Matters Now More than Ever. Retrieved December 8, 2018 from https://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/01/why-early-childhood-education-matters-now-more-than-ever/.

Liebtag, E. (2018, January 30). Early Childhood: What We Know, and What's Possible. Retrieved December 8, 2018 from https://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/01/early-learning-what-we-know-and-where-we-are-headed/.

Saorín, J. L. (2015, September 25). Dr. Patricia Kuhl and Dr. Andrew Meltzoff on Brain Power: Why Early Learning Matters. Retrieved December 8, 2018 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=93&v=pWJ_Z1Qwhnk.

Staff, G. S. (2018, May 11). Quality Early Learning Makes Tulsa a Great Place to Grow Up. Retrieved December 8, 2018 from https://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/05/quality-early-learning-makes-tulsa-a-great-place-to-grow-up/.