[IAEP] Observations and feature requests based on watching a preK class use a computer lab

[Tony Anderson]

Hi,

Check out http://voicethread.com. I think that is the next level you 
were refering to.

Tony

Caroline wrote:
> Today I visited a computer lab at a school in Boston where 3-5 year olds
> (the PreK class) were using the computers in the computer lab.
> 
> The teacher tried to get them to use Kidspirations to look at and stamp bugs
> but they rebelled. All they wanted to do was use KidPix.
> 
> We need a paint program that is as cool as KidPix or we will suffer the same
> fate. They will turn off Sugar and go back to Windows to use KidPix!
> 
> In Kidpix the students learned that they need to use the mouse and not the
> keyboard. By the time I left all students had managed to learn to use the
> mouse to make something on the screen.  I saw some kids make the connection
> that they had done something with the mouse and it had appeared on the
> screen.  Some were painting with colors, others were stamping with images.
> Some kids had learned how to erase the screen and start over.
> 
> Clearly learning was going on.  I thought to myself, "what would take this
> lesson to the next level for these students".  I think, based on the
> interactions the teachers were having as they spent individual time with the
> students, that it would be valuable to these students to begin to tell
> stories about their pictures.  It would be cool if the kids could record a
> voice note when they saved a picture in the journal.  This could help the
> teachers move them towards telling stories about thier pictures. I think
> that would in turn motivate them to want to control what they did with the
> picture more.
> 
> Our goal with the journal is to get kids to reflect on thier work.  For many
> of the students in the age range we serve typing that reflection is going to
> be a challenge and we might well get more thoughtful reflection if they
> could speak it.
>