Blocks to Robots: Learning with Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom

Contents......Page 8
Foreword......Page 12
INTRODUCTION: Playful Learning......Page 16
Acknowledgments......Page 21
PART I: Constructionism: Technology and Early Childhood......Page 26
CHAPTER 1: Constructionism as Developmentally Appropriate Practice......Page 28
Learning by Designing Within a Community......Page 31
Technological Tools for Learning: From Building Blocks to Robotics......Page 36
Powerful Ideas and Wonderful Ideas......Page 38
Learning About Learning with Technology......Page 42
CHAPTER 2: Socioemotional and Developmental Contexts for Learning with Robotics......Page 45
The Big Picture: Promoting Positive Technological Development......Page 46
Promoting Socioemotional Development Through Robotics......Page 51
Technology in the Classroom: Technocentric vs. Systemic Approaches......Page 54
The Role of the Family: Lessons from Literacy......Page 56
Why LEGO Engineering?......Page 61
What Are the Obstacles and How Have Teachers Gotten Around Them?......Page 63
But What About the Girls?......Page 65
Is It All Worth It?......Page 66
What Next?......Page 67
VIGNETTE: The Engineering Design Process in a Kindergarten Study Group......Page 68
The Initial Provocation......Page 69
Implementing the Curriculum......Page 71
Extending Engineering......Page 74
INTERVIEW with REBECCA S. NEW: Moving from “I Know” to “I Wonder”......Page 75
PART II: Using Robotic Manipulatives in the Early Childhood Classroom......Page 82
What Is a Robotic Manipulative?......Page 84
Teaching and Learning Powerful Ideas with a Robotic Manipulative......Page 91
Designing the Learning Environment......Page 100
Developmentally Appropriate Robotics Construction Kits......Page 104
Engaging Parents......Page 107
Resources......Page 110
Curriculum Starters......Page 111
VIGNETTE: Building Boston Together......Page 118
The Freedom Trail......Page 121
VIGNETTE: Engineering by Design......Page 123
Engineering by Design in First Grade......Page 124
The Engineering Design Process......Page 125
INTERVIEW with TERRY GREEN: Insights from Experience......Page 130
Conclusion......Page 136
APPENDIX A: Engineering and Technology Standards in the United States......Page 140
APPENDIX B: Sample Curriculum Starter......Page 149
APPENDIX C: Sample Design Journal......Page 151
References......Page 158
C......Page 164
G......Page 165
M......Page 166
R......Page 167
Z......Page 168
About the Author......Page 169