Using Luhmann's communication theory and affordance theories, we develop a framework to examine how kindergarten-grade 2 students interact with tablet computers. We assessed whether cognitive ability and device configuration influence how successfully children use tablet computers. We found that children's limited ability to direct their cognitive…

iPads are increasingly being put in the hands of children in schools and educational contexts, yet there continues to be larger questions about how they fit into the fabric of daily classroom life and what new stories will emerge (de Certeau, 1984, 1984/2000). In this article, we feature vignettes of data from a 2-year government-funded research…

Young children are naturally inquisitive, and teachers often invite them to question, challenge, and create to expand their ever growing knowledge base. This article describes an inspiration one kindergarten teacher had when she overheard two children in her class discussing their recent experiences at an airport. The students were sharing some of…

This article identifies instructional strategies, curricula, and organizational structures in the research literature that have been successful in encouraging girls' participation and achievement in science: science instruction in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, relevant curricula that address girls' interests and provide…

A virtual field trip (VFT) is a technology-based experience that allows children to take an educational journey without leaving the classroom. These multimedia presentations bring the sights, sounds, and descriptions of distant places to learners. Virtual field trips vary in complexity. They can range from a single PowerPoint or video presentation…

In this article, the authors describe a project that integrated computer technology skills with art history, photography, and layout/design. Approximately 160 fourth graders became photographers and created books on the following concepts: position words, numbers, colors, alphabet, shapes, and patterns. The books were professionally bound and…

Because many kindergarten activities do not require paper and pencils, digital photography gave one class in Bronx, New York, a quick, easy method of saving special moments and documenting experiences. The children quickly learned to use the camera, download pictures to the computer, and use software to crop and alter their pictures, sometimes…

Describes the access to and use of computers in homes, schools, and classrooms by kindergarten children and first graders. Includes examination of data by selected characteristics of children, teachers, and classrooms. Data are from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999. (SLD)

Describes the enthusiastic support of parents and early childhood educators for including computer activities in programs for young children in Hong Kong. Describes the current status of computer environments in Hong Kong kindergartens, noting the lack of curriculum guidelines for integrating computers into classrooms, the lack of resources to…

In the European context the continuing training of early childhood educators in terms of information and communications technology (ICT) remains limited and is in need of development. The KINDERET project has been funded through the European Commission's "Leonardo da Vinci" programme aimed to identify and understand the theoretical and…

Describes the experience of a bilingual kindergarten teacher who, in an effort to improve students' writing, used color-coded symbols familiar to students on specific key functions of the computer keyboard. Familiarity with the keyboard functions facilitated the children's understanding and consequent use of software, and allowed the children to…

Describes examples of use of technology in the implementation and documentation of long-term projects conducted as a part of the Reggio Emilia preschool curriculum. Considers use of digital camera, videotapes, and video prints; documentation of graphics with the computer scanner; use of computer software as a tool for representing ideas; and use…

Describes a Web site called EconEdLink that is designed for K-12 instructors and students of economics. Discusses the different sections of the Web site: (1) CyberTeach; (2) NetNewsLine; (3) EconomicsMinute; (4) DataLinks; and (5) WebLinks. Explains that EconEdLink hosts two sections that feature online economics lessons (NetNewsLine and…

In San Antonio, four schools are using the kindergarten level of the computer-based Waterford Early Reading Program to determine whether well-designed educational technology can bridge the gap between successful and disadvantaged schools. New technology and an old-fashioned buddy system are infusing classrooms with effective, dynamic teaching…

Describes two civics lessons for elementary school students that use the World Wide Web: (1) kindergarten and first-grade students research the White House as a means to understanding the office of the presidency; and (2) fourth and fifth graders examine viewpoints about public issues discussed by presidential candidates. (CMK)