2.  Good evening and welcome my name is Sunny Vilkhu and I am a FDK (Full day Kindergarten) DECE (Designated Early Childhood Educator) with the peel board and have been for the past 3 years  To start off the night I would like to share a quote I feel best describes not only my topic but also the different mentalities attached to it.

3. Found at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins125368.html#xoY6aDmzU2zq02aR.99

4. Introduction and brief explanation of my topic (why I chose topic, what about it spiked my interest) Brainstorming/Mind map of topic My research/inquiry question and brief explanation of my research question The research process/steps taken to help refine research and inquiry question Description of findings Pro’s of using tech with children Con’s of using tech with children Analysis of finding/new emerging theories Impact of findings upon my thinking and teaching Questions

5. The topic I have chosen to address and research about it the idea of “Preparing and arranging for a tech friendly early years environment”. The concept of incorporating and using new technologies within a classrooms everyday functions and play. The reason I felt this topic “struck a chord” within me is because as an educator in a 21rst century classroom, I feel that we must understand and develop our own thoughts and ideas about technology and its uses within the classroom before we facilitate those tools and information to our children. I also believe that we as educators have a responsibility to always take into consideration what effects the introduction of new ideas or resources would have on children’s development, psychically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively Finally I feel the most predominant reason I was drawn to the concept of a “tech friendly classroom” was to further my own knowledge and understanding on the subject in hopes of “preparing and arranging for a tech friendly environment” within my own classroom

8. Upon completing, analyzing, and reflecting upon my “mind map” I found myself constantly thinking “what effect does technology have on children’s development” along with “what benefits and downsides of incorporating and facilitating technology within a early years setting” With these thoughts firmly in place I felt that the question which would yield the most promise would be “What effect does technology have on children’s development”

9. As discussed in the University of Georgia Libraries “A good research topic asks a clear, concise question instead of simply stating a broad issue” Having confidence that my research question “What effect does technology have on children’s development” was indeed a rich sustaining inquiry question with no immediate answer to, I began to consider what my inquiry or research question truly entailed.

10.  To sum up what my inquiry question entails and my aims of research, I believe that the opening statement to the article “Technology in Schools: Weighing the Pros and Cons” by Huffington Post represents the true scope of my research  “As Google, Verizon, Microsoft and the Department of Education pour millions into providing schools across the nation with technology's newest gadgets – from laptops to IPads-- the question of what technology actually achieves for our students is still up in the air.”

11.  It is for questions such as these that I felt when researching the question of “what effect does technology have on children’s development” one must consider the following;  What are are the positive aspects or outcomes of using technology in the classroom  What are the negative aspects or outcomes from using technology  How will it change not only the dynamic of the classroom but the how will it effect children and their development in all areas of learning

13.  With my questions firmly placed within my mind to help guild my thinking, I began to look at sources found not only within text but also the world wide web  Initially I found the process of web searching to be frustrating and time consuming, but through such revised questions as “what are the pros and cons of technology within the classroom” or “does technology have a positive or negative effect on development”

14.  Utilizing these new “refined” and specific search titles, I began to focus my attention on the credibility and usefulness of each new piece of information  With the overwhelming amount of information presented to me through simple internet searches, I felt the best course of action would be to only search or look for sources that had not only academic notoriety, but also a background or involvement with education at some level i.e.. A teacher or pediatrician  With clear and specific guidelines and expectations I began to search sites I felt were both well known whilst holding their credibility

16.  Upon collecting, analyzing, and utilizing all of my compiled information. I found a quote that I feel can not only set the tone for the uniqueness of my issue but also the vast uncertainty that so many feel towards the subject of technology as a learning tool  “There is also little doubt that all of the new technologies, led by the Internet, are shaping the way we think in ways obvious and subtle, deliberate and unintentional, and advantageous and detrimental The uncertain reality is that, with this new technological frontier in its infancy and developments emerging at a rapid pace, we have neither the benefit of historical hindsight nor the time to ponder or examine the value and cost of these advancements in terms of how it influences our children’s ability to think.” is the opening statement made by Dr. Jim Taylor in a article titled “How technology is changing the way children think and focus

17.  Despite our clear lack of knowledge to the long term effects of technology, many countries around the world including Canada are spending large amounts of money to supply children and schools with new technologies in hopes of enriching children's education “Since 2006, the Harper Government has provided more than $9 billion in new funding for initiatives to support science, technology and the growth of innovative firms” and it shows  “Vicky Rideout, has shown that media use among children and teenagers ages 8 to 18 has grown so fast that they on average spend twice as much time with screens each year as they spend in school”  “More than half of all children ages 8 and younger have access to a mobile device at home, either a smartphone (41 percent), a video iPod (21 percent), or an iPad or other tablet (8 percent), according to a recent study by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding and educating families about media and technology”  “There is mounting indirect evidence that constant use of technology can affect behavior, particularly in developing brains, because of heavy stimulation and rapid shifts in attention. But nearly 90 percent said that digital technologies were creating “an easily distracted generation with short attention spans.”

18.  As noted before, the introduction of new technologies does indeed effect the brain and children’s ability to pay attention “Moreover, this influence isn’t just affecting children on the surface of their thinking. Rather, because their brains are still developing and malleable, frequent exposure by so-called digital natives to technology is actually wiring the brain in ways very different than in previous generations” highlighting that with this rewiring children must be taught differently.

20.  As discussed above when used correctly and appropriately technology can indeed help not only with teacher’s role as an educator but also with children in not only teaching new skills or learning through such mediums as a smart board or narrative software but also help their research and computing skills which are becoming more and more important each day.  “In the Pew survey, which was done in conjunction with the College Board and the National Writing Project, roughly 75 percent of 2,462 teachers surveyed said that the Internet and search engines had a “mostly positive” impact on student research skills. And they said such tools had made students more self-sufficient researchers”.  Within my research another positive outcome of the introduction and utilization of technology is found within special needs “Howard Shane, Ph.D., professor of speech-language pathology and director of the Autism Language Program at Children's Hospital Boston, said the iPad is a critical component of his program's clinical practice with disabled children, particularly those on the spectrum’

21.  Some more notable positives can be found on Ehow.com article on “Pros and Cons Technology in the Classroom” which states;  By incorporating technology into lessons, students will become more engaged in and excited about the subject at hand.  Teachers can use the technology to keep student records, plan lessons and communicate with parents  Computers allow students to learn through exploring the internet and doing research. The act of looking up information and researching papers with such an extensive resource can keep students engaged in a project and learning far longer than they would with a set of encyclopedias.  Training required for teachers and students using technology in the classroom will keep the users computer literate and allow both teachers and students to use their training in part-time jobs and future careers.

23.  Along with the many positive attributes of using technology, there are also a alarming number of negative outcomes of using technology within the classroom  “students who were allowed Internet access during class didn’t recall the lecture nor did they perform as well on a test of the material as those who weren’t “wired” during class”. I believe highlights how the internet is directly affecting children’s attention  Another alarming negative found in my research is “the ubiquitous use of Internet search engines is causing children to become less adept at remembering things and more skilled at remembering where to find things”.  “Then the Internet was invented and children were thrust into a vastly different environment in which, because distraction is the norm, consistent attention is impossible, imagination is unnecessary, and memory is inhibited”.

24.  Some more notable negatives found on Ehow.com article on “Pros and Cons Technology in the Classroom” state that;  Finding the right materials online to integrate into a lesson is not always easy. This means teachers may spend a lot more time planning lessons and become overwhelmed and frustrated.  Technology can be very expensive and take an inordinate amount of money to acquire and operate  Training to use computers in the classroom can be costly and time-consuming. Many teachers are unwilling to participate in the extra training  And lastly “Some students will become distracted by other activities that they find on the internet”

25.  Within the article “Technology changing how students learn, teachers say” we are given a con in the form of a study by Dr. Dimitri Christakis director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Hospital  Dr. Dimitri Christakis, who studies the impact of technology on the brain, emphasized that teachers’ views were subjective but nevertheless could be accurate in sensing dwindling attention spans among students.  His own research shows what happens to attention and focus in mice when they undergo the equivalent of heavy digital stimulation. Students saturated by entertainment media, he said, were experiencing a “supernatural” stimulation that teachers might have to keep up with or simulate. The heavy technology use, Dr. Christakis said, “makes reality by comparison uninteresting.”

26.  The final negative effect I feel plays a major role in technology and its uses, is within its unlimited access to information, there is no filter to ensure that children are not exposed to concepts that could warp their perceptions of the world around them.  “An environment where there is no parental control or the possibility of supervision, a child may have access to content that has extreme violence or presents inappropriate or destructive concepts, such as racism, misogyny, or age- inappropriate sexuality”.

28.  Upon not only analyzing and reflecting upon technology as a whole but also its positive and negative uses within education, I now feel that with the current body of work behind technology and its effects of children's development, we as educators and facilitators can clearly say that prolonged use of any technology can result in a shorted attention span, and difficulty to complete tasks, but with researchers stating that “The technologies that benefit young children the greatest are those that are interactive and allow children to develop their curiosity and problem- solving and independent-thinking skills” one must question do the benefits outweigh the negatives. Upon further analysis we can find that our world is indeed shaping to be technologically driven and we as educators must provide children with those tools to succeed. I feel the most effective way to translate my analysis can be found in a quote found in “how technology is changing the way children think and focus” that states “The bottom line is that too much screen time and not enough other activities, such as reading, playing games, and good old unstructured and imaginative play, will result in children having their brains wired in ways that may make them less, not more, prepared to thrive in this crazy new world of technology”.

29.  As well as analysis and reflecting upon my research, I have also begun to develop new and emergent theories towards technology. The first theory I have developed through my research is that we as teacher must change with the times, accepting new tools and information and using them to help teach children to independently further their own growth and development. Using technology can not only help children with special needs, but also those who’s varied obstacles interfere with their learning.  The second theory that has developed through my research is based upon the concepts of attention and curriculum content and the effect technology plays and will play in their development. Highlight in pervious slides we are shown that “students who were allowed Internet access during class didn’t recall the lecture nor did they perform as well on a test of the material as those who weren’t “wired” during class” and with the rise of technology and its accessibility “Nine out of ten parents with children under 2 years old report that their kids use some form of electronic media” one must ask themselves how much and what type of technology is appropriate and for what age. I theorize that the use of technology should only match that of the difficulty of the task, the use of technology is inevitable so one must regulate their along with their loved ones consumption of technology so not to rob themselves of the real world experiences that so many take for granted.

30.  Lastly and most importantly I feel that as the world around us is continually changing, consistently introducing new and exciting technologies rewiring the way children think and discover, we as educators and a society must rethink the way we teach and our current teachings effectiveness. “Kristen Purcell, the associate director for research at P.E.W, acknowledged that the findings could be viewed from another perspective: that the education system must adjust to better accommodate the way students learn, a point that some teachers brought up in focus groups themselves”. Using technology as a gateway we can introduce children to the real world and the experiences it holds whilst utilizing such tools as technology for them to show their understanding in a way that is meaningful to them.

32.  I feel that my experiences and learning of technology and its effects upon children’s development has left me with more questions than answers, I feel that within my practice technology most certainly plays a contributing factor to not only the activities, materials, but also the experiences provided to the children through such mediums as exploring different types of music through Youtube, or using Google to find information on airplanes. Prior to this experience I was incorporating various forms of technology such cameras, and Ipads to not only help engage children but also help guild and display their thinking, using pictures, videos, and the internet to further children’s thinking. Unbenounced to me upon completing my research we find that yes indeed technology did effect not only the way children think and learn but also their attention as well. It is because of this I will be always cautious to the amount of tech time my students receive and mostly how will it help further their growth in a positive way, I feel that this can be best described by a quote in the article “The Effects of Technology on the Brain” that states “Children need real-life experiences with real people to truly benefit from available technologies. Technologies should be used to enhance curriculum and experiences. Children have to have an integrated and well-balanced set of experiences to help them grow into capable adults who can handle social- emotional interactions as well as develop their intellectual abilities”.

33. Quote found at http://teachbytes.com/2012/03/01/10- educational-technology-quotes/

35. *How Technology is Changing the Way Children Think and Focus - Are your children prepared to think and focus for success in 21st century life? (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/201212/how-technology-is-changing-the-way-children-think-and-focus) https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/201212/how-technology-is-changing-the-way-children-think-and-focus *The Effects of Technology on the Brain - What place does technology use have in early childhood? Early Childhood Today asked Dr. Bruce Perry to apply his expertise on brain development in young children to this controversial question (http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/effects-technology-brain) http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/effects-technology-brain *New York Times - Technology Changing How Students Learn, Teachers Say (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/education/technology-is-changing-how-students-learn-teachers-say.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/education/technology-is-changing-how-students-learn-teachers-say.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 *What is the Impact of Technology on Learning? (http://www.education.com/reference/article/what-impact-technology-learning/) http://www.education.com/reference/article/what-impact-technology-learning/ *Technology in the Classroom: Minister of State Goodyear Highlights Harper Government Support for Youth and Science at CONNECT 2013 (http://www.c21canada.org/2013/05/17/technology-in-the-classroom-minister-of-state-goodyear-highlights- harper-government-support-for-youth-and-science-at-connect-2013/)http://www.c21canada.org/2013/05/17/technology-in-the-classroom-minister-of-state-goodyear-highlights- harper-government-support-for-youth-and-science-at-connect-2013/ *Pros and Cons Technology in the Classroom ( http://www.ehow.com/about_5384898_pros-cons-technology-classroom.html) http://www.ehow.com/about_5384898_pros-cons-technology-classroom.html *Technology In Schools: Weighing The Pros And Cons ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/22/technology-in-schools-wei_n_772674.html) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/22/technology-in-schools-wei_n_772674.html *iPads for Winnipeg students: The pros and cons of high-tech learning (http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/ipads-for-winnipeg-students-the-pros-and-cons-of-high-tech-learning-1.1438691)http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/ipads-for-winnipeg-students-the-pros-and-cons-of-high-tech-learning-1.1438691 *Technology in the Classroom: The Good and Bad ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/parentingcom/technology-in-the-classroom_b_2456450.html) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/parentingcom/technology-in-the-classroom_b_2456450.html *Univirsity of Georgia Libraries – Research Guild (http://www.libs.uga.edu/researchguide/defining/creating.html)http://www.libs.uga.edu/researchguide/defining/creating.html