Ashley Consiglio Edu 505

Benjamin Jepson School Founded in 1989 Multi-age Elementary School classroom format Teachers and parents worked together to gain multi- age school Began as a k-2 multi-age, multi-cultural, teacher-run school Now a Pre-k-8 School

Benjamin Jepson School Cont. Vision: Create and sustain a diverse, multicultural community of life-long learners while supporting and practicing mutual respect through our teaching and learning tools Tier 1 school: Very successful in serving the children and families

What is Futuring? Looking at the Past Events in history to predict for the future Turns uncertainties into opportunities Bringing the future into better focus Identifies possibilities of how cumulative trends and events may work out in the years ahead Uses scanning to create or build a scenario

Futuring Cont. Scenarios Scanning Write scenarios using data when change is likely to occur Should be very detailed Identify changes and make a specific, brief list Observe social, economical, political, environmental, and technological changes Data should be easy-to- understand as well as research based Should be ongoing and monitored

Futuring Techniques Pick topic related to organization Begin the scanning process Create Categories to organize scanned information Write scenarios for later analysis Implement scenario

Trends in Education and Technology Increased Parental Encouragement of Their Primary Age Children’s Educational Use of Computers in the Home Young People’s Incorporation of Web 2.0 Technologies Into Their Lives There is an indication that parents of primary-school-age children spending more time with their children using their computers to support educational development (University of Oxford, Learning Sciences Research Institute, 2008) “Web 2.0 tools provide particular opportunities for the personalization of learning, because they enable activities such as the decoupling of applications and their recombination according to individual preference (University of Oxford, Learning Sciences Research Institute, 2008). When students incorporate Web 2.0 technologies into their lives, they are familiarizing themselves with individualized learning.

Trends in Public Policy, Economics, and demographics “kindergarten assessments should be as rich and multi-faceted as state early learning guidelines and should also be aligned with common core state standards for kindergarten students” (NAEYC, 2011) Because of budget deficits, many states face funding and policy problems. One of the biggest trends was a decrease in the amount of funds for pre-k programs. The United States Population continues to grow, there is question to how it will affect technology in the classroom

Incorporating Computers and Tablets into Early Childhood Classrooms Opportunities Challenges These technology tools better familiarize children with growing use of technology Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively to build social skills Chance of a more individualized learning experience Children have the ability to notice differences and similarities of the real world and virtual activities Offers virtual field trips around the world Appropriate budget and funding Teachers will need appropriate training on how to utilize these tools in the classroom. May be a lack of school to home connection if parents do not have computers Changing the school districts curriculum to implement more computers and tablets into the classroom Additional IT professionals may need to be hired

Preparation and Implementation Personal research on the benefits of adding technology into the early childhood classroom District meeting involving administrators, teachers, parents, and policy makers regarding budget and funding for tablets and computers Teacher training

References National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2011). Moving Forward With Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Efforts. National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2012). State Early Care and Education Public Policy Developments: Fiscal Year Project Tomorrow, (2009). Learning in the 21 st Century: 2009 Trends Update. University of Oxford, Learning Sciences Research Institute. (2008). Analysis of emerging trends affecting the use of technology in education. Strategic foresighting associates. (2009). What is it all about? In strategic foresighting associates. Retrieved from Sobrero, P. (2004, June). The Steps for Futuring. Journal of Extension, 42. Retrieved from