229 – Tech for Tikes

It’s education week on the WELSTech Podcast as Jason Schmidt joins Martin and Sallie to talk about technology for early learners.

The discussion:

Tech in early childhood – Martin and Sallie are joined by Jason Schmidt (jasonschmidt123 on Twitter) from Bennington Public Schools, our semi-regular technology correspondent, and today’s discussion focuses on the graphically rich edtech resources that are useful in pre-school and early elementary settings.

• LeapPad
• Apple Configurator
• Recommended sites and software:
  • Starfall
  • Between the Lions
  • Tux Paint
  • ABCya.com
  • Brain Pop Jr.
  • Kerpoof
  • This is Daniel Cook
  • This is Emily Yeung
• Apple iBooks Author

The interview:

(17:45) iPads in Preschool – Preschool Director Becky Huebner from Christ the King in Palm Coast, FL talks with Martin and Sallie about their use of iPads and other technology in their growing childcare, pre-school and elementary setting.

• BabyConnect
• JupiterGrades
• BookSource Classroom Organizer

Picks of the week:

• (35:10) TES iboard
• PBS KIDS
  • PBS KIDS Mobile Downloads
  • PBS Teachers
  • PBS KIDS in the Classroom (for teachers)
• Google Hangouts – Learn More

Community feedback:

• (44:16) Links shared in the WELSTech Diigo group this week include …
  • Why Your Church Needs Mobile Apps
  • Using Google Docs to Create Digital Kits for Student Projects
  • Copy Matters: Writing for the Web
  • TEDEducation
• Nathan Block, Outreach Coordinator at New Hope in Melbourne, FL, shared a link to a new promo video they created using Roxio’s Video Lab HD – Spring and Summer Events.  Also check out the interactive Scale of the Universe site.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(56:11) Episode 230 – Martin and Sallie share their latest “7 Best” list, this month highlighting the 7 Best E-mail Productivity Tips and Tools. (Release date – 04/04/12)

The featured artist:

(57:21) We close the podcast with the music of  Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Amazing Grace from his CD titled “Climb the Mountain”

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