What are sandbox games for the computer? I am a clueless mom getting eyerolls from my jr high son!

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer: Sandbox games allow the player to design the action and the storyline of the game.  

Sandbox games for the computer are a great name.  Think about your child as a preschooler in a sandbox with a couple of toy trucks, shovels, buckets and some plastic horses and dinosaurs.  He had the tools to work with, but what he did with them was up to his imagination.

As a young child, he probably ploughed the trucks through the sand or used the shovel to bury the horses.  But as he grew older, he made up some games … the horses were out in the pasture and some dinosaurs came to eat them and the horses ran away and the trucks chased the dinosaurs.  He had the same tools, but he made up a story or a “game”.  And the next day when he was in the sandbox with the same tools, he made up a different story with other action.

Sandbox computer games operate similarly.  The software has a number of tools that the player can animate and control.  The action and the “plot” (if there is any) are designed by the person playing the game. 

Sometimes the games have action built in, but the players can change the action or make decisions about what is going to happen next…(remember the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books?)  Other games are totally open-ended, and the player builds the action and the story line.  The game has no proscribed beginning, middle or end; the player invents as he/she goes along.  Sandbox games demand a lot of creativity and higher order thinking.  If your son is playing sandbox games on the computer, I suggest you join the fun!  (Google “sandbox games” to learn more.)

COMPUTER EXPLORERS is offering its first sandbox course this summer, a 3-D video game design course.  Click here to find a location near you!

My 10-year old daughter wants to be on Facebook because all her friends are.  What do you think?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  I think the answer is more about parenting than Facebook®.

Consider that Facebook (and most other social media sites) restricts membership to those who are NOT under thirteen, which answers your question on the spot. Personally, I think that if you either give your child permission to use Facebook or set up an account for her, you are sending a message that breaking the rules is okay if “all her friends are” doing it.  We don’t need to extrapolate the long-term possible consequences of that message!

Let’s also consider the kind of messages that she may read or be subjected to.  Although her friends may all be very nice, their friends may NOT be. At the very least, the result could be posts that you would not want your child to read; at worst, she could become a victim of cyber-bullying or decide to meet a stranger.  Even if you monitor the conversations closely, the damage could be done before you can intervene.

 What your daughter has done, however, is open the door for you to discuss Internet safety in a rational and safe environment. Seize the opportunity!  Check out the link to the Internet safety book on the sidebar of this blog to get yourself started.  Although the activity book was designed for teachers to use with younger students, it will give you a place to start!

  http://www.facebook.com/terms.php

What five KEY points should administrators consider when evaluating their technology programs?  Why?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  I used LinkedIn and Twitter to help answer this question and received input from educators and technology gurus from around the world!

Following my own advice to use social media for professional development, I posed this discussion question to two groups.  The discussion centered not on key points for evaluating a CURRENT program, as I had hoped, but rather what to consider when improving it.

In other words, everyone tacitly agreed that their current programs needed improvement!  Throughout the exchange, five key considerations for administrators emerged repeatedly.

1.      How will new technology impact student learning?  If it won’t improve student learning, then what is the point in the investment?  Defining “student learning” is another whole issue.  Is it performance on standardized tests?  Or an ability to transfer skills from one technology to another?

2.      How will you measure student “success”?  Will it be as simple as proving they can do a PowerPoint presentation, or as far-ranging as having the skills to fit into the local job market?  Decide upon your goals and THEN create the measurement tools to see if your students have met them.

3.      How will the new technology help the teachers to teach?  And will they actually use any new technology? What are the teachers asking for?  What kind of professional development and teacher training will be part of a new program? Teachers are often overwhelmed by the need to “teach to the test” … and if they think that the new technology doesn’t support test-driven results, they are unlikely to spend the time to learn it.  One contributor said, I am “determined to have the technology enhance my lessons, not teach my lessons!”

4.      What do the students think they need now, and what do they think they will need in the future?  “The end-users, the students, often are our best coaches.  They fearlessly fly through links, exploring the unknown …It’s an amazing thing to step aside, and let the digital natives lead.”

And, of course, the REAL question that all of us have to face:

5.      What is my budget, and are my plans reasonable within my budget?  How will new technology investment mesh with local and state initiatives?  How will the hardware/software that I have now interface with what I may add?  And will my plans actually meet the first four objectives?

 For the full discussion of the question and great links to Website resources click here

My child is in COMPUTER EXPLORERS preschool classes and LOVES the teacher! Why is she so special?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  ALL of our teachers are special, but some definitely have a special flair!

Our COMPUTER EXPLORERS teachers love kids and love having fun!  In this picture, one of the CE teachers was using Pajama Sam software with her students … so she wore snowman pj’s to teach the class!  The children burst into giggles when Ms. Kaye walked into the room! This same teacher also wears coveralls and a hard-hat when using Bob the Builder software.  Never a dull moment in her class!

Your child’s COMPUTER EXPLORERS teacher has that same gift of making learning fun.  We start by having CT, the COMPUTER EXPLORERS turtle puppet, introduce the software and explain what the children are going to learn that day. We sing songs about the computer and use computer vocabulary.  (The mouse is NOT a ‘clicker’!)

We choose the “best of the best” software and Websites for our classes; sometimes the software might be available locally, while other pieces come from as far away as Canada, UK or Australia! Other times we use robots, digital microscopes and cameras in our classes, so the children learn by using a variety of technology tools.

Although an outsider might think the children are “playing” on the computer in our classes, the specially trained CE teacher is coaching them and enhancing their learning of core readiness areas: science, math, language arts and social studies.  Yes, our teachers have a good time in their classes, and so do the children!  We know how to make learning fun!

Check the sidbar to see COMPUTER EXPLORERS recommended list of software for holiday gifts. 

What did you learn at Dust or Magic 2009?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Cell phone applications are not the “wave of the future,” they are the tsunami of today! If you don’t have an iPhone or a Droid, your access to technology is as dated as a mainframe computer in your office. 

Fifty people (software programmers, Website designers, toy manufacturers and educators) discussed what’s new in the world of technology and education.  Exciting products on the horizon include a new line of Scratch-based activities from MIT, educational Websites for possible inclusion in our COMPUTER EXPLORERS online preschool program (eTOTS), and ... educational apps - everything from tanagrams and word recognition games to songs to sing with your preschoolers!

At least half of the new products shown at Dust or Magic involved ‘apps.’  And don’t be misled that all apps are game-based!  Many quality educational activities for children as young as preschoolers are available on your phone! Companies as respected as PBS, Highlights Children’s Magazine, and Disney are developing quality applications.  (If you have an iPhone and a preschooler, go to an independent apster  www.duckduckmoosedesign.com  to download three favorite songs with interactive screens: Wheels on the Bus, Old MacDonald, and Itsy Bitsy Spider - hours of fun for 99 cents each!)

What concrete (as opposed to virtual) products did I see that I want to buy for holiday gifts?  I really like the LeapFrog® Tag and Tag, Jr.  books – they are educational, reinforce cause and effect, and are fun.  Some people might be put off by their using commercial characters (Dora, etc.), but I think that anything that encourages children to start reading is a plus!  And I really want to buy one (or two) of the Fisher Price® remote controlled dinosaurs.  Unlike Tickle Me Elmo® which was a “watch me” toy, the dinosaur’s activities (walking forward/backward, rearing up on hind legs, stretching its neck, roaring “ferociously”) are easily managed by a preschooler whose indulgent grandmother cannot pass it up!

Off to buy my Droid … and get some cool apps!

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

PS  I know I have used this photo before, but it was too perfect not to use again!

What does “Dust or Magic” mean for COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Dust or Magic allows us to plan for the future. We attend the conference each year to learn more about children’s technology products that are new in the marketplace … sometimes they are so new that they aren’t even available yet!

Participants in Dust or Magic are limited to only fifty people each year, and COMPUTER EXPLORERS is excited to be among those invited to attend!  Warren Buckleitner, technology education guru, hosts the conference.  I love being on the ground-floor to learn about what’s new!

 Two years ago we had a demo of the LiveScribe pen – I used one of two prototypes in the world … and now you can buy them at Target! Last year, a LEGO rep came specifically from Denmark to give us a sneak peak of LEGO Universe, the company’s 3-D gaming site, a visual presentation so secret that we had to agree not to use any recorders or cameras during the demonstration!

 One of my favorite parts of the conference is the critics’ panel.  Each member demonstrates a technology product that is “dust” (lots of flash, but no permanent value) and another product that is “magic” - (one that will stimulate children’s imaginations and make them want to learn more.)

 To quote the Dust or Magic Website:

Dust or Magic is an annual critique and review of commercial children’s interactive media products. The demonstration-intensive three day institute is designed for individuals who need to understand the latest technology, and how it can be applied to the next generation of products. Discussions are framed in the context of child development theory. Dust or Magic is about designing and making, and less about marketing and selling.

 You can tell from the photo that after three days, we’re all a little sleep-deprived from the fun and games! Watch for next week’s blog and a report on what’s new … or at least what’s new that I can talk about!

http://www.childrenssoftware.com/dustormagic/

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

Do COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes partner with kids in technology classes in the US and other countries?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Absolutely!  Contact us at the corporate office and we’ll connect you!!

Did you ever sing that old camp song “The More We Get Together, the Happier We’ll Be”?  What better way to promote understanding and appreciation for people in other countries than to communicate with them using today’s technology! Whether the venue is as simple as initiating an email exchange or as sophisticated as creating interactive blogs, podcasts, wikis, and using video-Skype calls, the more we get together virtually now, the happier our lives are likely to be in the future!

Although connecting with kids in other countries seems more exotic, we could also learn a lot about kids in our own country. Lifestyles and interests in the US seem pretty much the same if you believe the ads on television; but when you start traveling around the country, you will hear different accents, listen to different music, eat different food and play different sports!  (Your heart rate will never be the same after going to a high school basketball game in Indiana, a hockey game in Minnesota, or a football game in Texas!)

If you would like your class to partner with COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes, please send me an email.  Let me know what age the kids are, with which CE country or state you would like to partner, and we’ll make sure you find some friends!

Cyndee Perkins

Director of Curriculum and Program Development

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I am applying for a technology grant for my school.  Can COMPUTER EXPLORERS help me?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  We can help you, but we can’t write it for you!

COMPUTER EXPLORERS can help you figure out the costs, help with some of the verbiage, and be a resource for the kinds of services you may want to include, but the writing is up to you.

A professional grant writer told me that any grant proposal can be in the top 10 percent of the applicants … because 90 percent of the proposals are thrown out before they are even read! 

To write a grant that is likely to be accepted:

1.      Become a grant reader first.  You won’t take long to learn which grants grab your attention and which are uninspired.  Being a grant reader will make you a better grant writer.

2.      Follow the directions exactly!  The first step in grant- winnowing is to get rid of the chaff. If a reader has 500 applications to review, he/she has to determine which ones are worth his time. If you are supposed to use a specific type font or margin size, do it!  If you are supposed to limit your descriptions to 200 words, don’t write 220!  By following directions, you gain credibility in being able to follow through on the project. 

3.      Target your funding source. Your need must match the goals of the grant.  If a grant specifically targets professional development in school, be sure that YOUR main focus is professional development.  You may need to get hardware and software (resources) in order to offer quality professional development, but the hardware and software are the means to the end, not the end in itself.

4.      Include measureable outcomes.  Include pre/post testing of technology skills, the development of classroom teaching tools which can be shared with other staff members, or the ability to replicate or expand this training across the entire district.

Avoid the term “learn to” – be specific and use active verbs. The teachers should not “learn to use wikis,” but teachers will “create grade-level wikis to allow student/parent participation in interactive learning.”

5.      Establish a team:  You may be the lead writer, but input from administrators, peers and students will strengthen the quality of your proposal.  Each person will give input from his unique perspective. You may choose to ignore some of their suggestions, but you will have a stronger proposal than one you developed in isolation.  

“Grant writing is the ART of storytelling and…  the SCIENCE of telling it well to the right audience!”  Nancy Fisher, The Sage Team, July, 2006.

I have been reading about COMPUTER EXPLORERS International trainees. What countries are you in?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer: COMPUTER EXPLORERS is now on four continents—North America-US (30 states), Asia-Malaysia and India, Europe-UK (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales),  and Australia!  Our latest addition to the “CE Family” will be offering classes in Kuwait.

 Left to right are members of the latest graduating class: Emma Scawthorn and Paul Charles—Wales, Omar Abu Al-Hassan—Kuwait, Nargis Chavda—India. They are shown with Amesha Daniels—US teacher who invited the training group to visit her classes.

Each country offers our unique COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes for preschool students, school-agers, and/or adults, but the emphasis in each country differs depending upon the local needs and interests.  While the US, Australia and UK have embraced “We go to where the students are” and send CE teachers into existing schools, childcare centers and community sites, other countries have chosen their own delivery systems. Malaysia, for example, has been offering COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes in its privately-owned learning centers in commercial sites for over ten years!  The group in India is planning to license our curriculum and train the teachers in existing schools, while the group in Kuwait will build a series of its own schools.  But no matter where COMPUTER EXPLORERS is found or under what banner, the use of cutting-edge technology, the quality training for our teachers, the curriculum written by educators for educators and the commitment to “global education through innovation” stands firm!

Take a moment to review the various CE Websites to get an idea of what’s going on in the world of COMPUTER EXPLORERS – literally!

http://www.imagine-ent.com/

http://www.computerxplorers.co.uk/index.php

http://www.ctce.com.au/home.html

http://www.computertots.com.my/index.html

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

You asked for input on technology plans for elementary schools on LinkedIn. What did you learn?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  A LOT of people have had a LOT of bad experiences when designing technology plans!

What I found most particularly interesting was that people often shared their problems and pitfalls-what had gone wrong with their plans. But when those problems were phrased as what to do instead of what NOT to do, we had some great suggestions!

1.      Establish a broad-based committee: Include teachers of core areas as well as technology instructors, parents, community members and students.  Be sure that the program is driven from the top down.  Does the administration support the development of a (new/revised) technology plan?  Student participation is imperative – they are the ones who know what’s new in the field of technology!

2.      Align with current governing plans:  Review any existing technology plans already established by a body whose jurisdiction determines your actions (school district, state, archdiocese). Do you need to consider an existing Universal Design for Learning? You must be aligned with governing plans to get support or funding.

3.      Create an overarching mission:  Establish both long and short term goals to help you fulfill the mission.  What do you want to accomplish in the long run, and what do you need to do in the short run to accomplish that?

4.      Write a plan that is realistic:  Although a plan might span a decade, its more practical scope is 3-5 years.  Recognize and plan for obsolescence, not only in hardware and software, but also in teaching methodology.  A plan must be a living document that can be adapted to changing times (and finances).

5.      Start with the hardware, but don’t stop there:  Consider your school’s infrastructure.  Do you have the wiring and electricity to create a functioning lab or support a WiFi system? Consider what hardware and software you already have, how its usefulness can be stretched, and plan for future needs. Research what new and creative tools might be on the horizon.  (Does your plan include using cell phones or e-books, Web 2.0 tools or distance learning?)

6.      Develop a curriculum that supports vertical integration:  Find out what technology skills middle and high school students are expected to have.  Provide the foundation leading to those skills.  Implement at the lesson plan level.  Adopt a reasonable Acceptable Use Policy for both students and employees.

7.      Provide the teachers with professional development: The teachers need to be able to use technology to enhance their own teaching and to recognize student technology achievement. Be innovative in providing the professional development; establish a positive reward system.

8.      Measure your success: Along with goals, establish timelines, measurement and accountability.  Ongoing evaluation is necessary for proactive change. Select a fair and respected leader to follow through on evaluating your success.     

Above all, keep in mind that your school is only one in a global community of learners.  A sound technology plan will not only provide the skills, but also the communication tools that your students will need for future success!

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

Thanks to Jayme Johnson and the Village School of Pacific Palisades for providing me with their technology plan as a reference!

How does COMPUTER EXLORERS choose software for its preschool classes?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  We literally use a scoring grid of 35 criteria based on age and developmentally-appropriate research!

Choosing software is both fun and frustrating!  When we (or parents) read the descriptions on a Website or on a software box, we need to remember that those descriptions were probably written by marketers, not by educators.  The job of the marketers is to stimulate buyers; the job of the CE curriculum team is to choose the best possible piece to stimulate children’s learning.  Only about ten percent of the software that we review is accepted by our team.

We divide the scoring into three major areas: Educational, Logistical, and Technical Criteria.  All of this sounds very pedantic and not very interesting to the average buyer who is looking for something to entertain his children.  But our job isn’t entertainment (which has its own value, of course); our job is education. Some of the criteria we use:

o  Do the activities have levels of complexity so they can be changed depending upon the skill sets of the children?

o  Does the software promote positive social values?  Does it mix gender and role equity?

o  Does the child control the action?  Does the software promote discovery learning?

o  Is the navigation simple and the purpose of the icons clear?

o  Is a print option available?

So what do we recommend?  If forced to choose only one piece, I would recommend that Kid Pix Deluxe 4® should be in every child’s software library!  It appeals to the very youngest child who can cover the screen with dinosaurs, horses and unicorn stamps, to the child who wants to post a podcast on his family’s Website!

Each year we create a ‘Technology Holiday Gift List’ in November.  Watch for it to be posted here in a few weeks …

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

I read that COMPUTER EXPLORERS is offering classes for military veterans. What is that about?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Bud Hadfield, owner of COMPUTER EXPLORERS, is a WW2 veteran who wants to “serve those who served us!”

COMPUTER EXPLORERS is incorporating project-based learning to help military veterans in their job-search and career placement.  The first pilot program will be underway September 8-11 at Northwest Forest in Houston, Texas.

Using our proprietary curriculum to learn MS Office® applications (Word, Power Point and Excel), participants will develop their resume’s, explain their life and work experience with PowerPoint, and establish personal budgeting processes. They will showcase their “projects” via our new social media course (focusing on LinkedIn, Twitter and FaceBook) to develop business contacts and job opportunities.  These practical applications will enable the vets to explore wider employment opportunities.  Hadfield, who was a Dale Carnegie instructor for 20+   years, has also created a short Personal Development Workshop to help the vets speak comfortably in front of a group and to develop interviewing skills.

We’re excited about doing these classes, and are looking forward to meeting with the veterans in a couple of weeks!  Let us know if you have any suggestions that you think we should include as part of the course content!www.iced.net/veteranssupport

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development 

I saw on Facebook that you have been training technology teachers. What do you do that is different?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Before the teachers attend the training, we ask them to use our CE technology curriculum to create a PowerPoint® presentation on one of four topics:

   1) The Benefits of Teaching Technology to Children

   2) Why Cooperative Learning Works

   3) A Typical Academic Year in __ Grade

   4) My Behavior Management Philosophy

Each of these topics is a key to successful technology teaching. When creating these presentations, the teachers model integration of core subject matter that relates to their goals and objectives, AND they learn how our curriculum is structured and relates to the CE technology skills Scope and Sequence.

In addition we help the teachers plan their academic year, discuss “case studies,” and learn about new technologies.  Last year we demonstrated the Pulse Pen; this year we investigated e-textbook possibilities on the Kindle.  We also discuss new methods for professional development.  During the training, the teachers set up Twitter accounts and Facebook pages to communicate with educators around the world. 

According to research, adults learn best when training programs and educational experiences are:

o         Personally interesting to them

o         Hands-on and collaborative

o         Grounded in knowledge they already have

o         Explicitly tied to outcomes

We at COMPUTER EXPLORERS feel that our training fulfills these criteria … and is a lot of fun!

For more information about Technology and Teacher Quality, access the ISTE Brief released in June, 2009 that is posted on the sidebar of this page.

Cyndee Perkins

Director of Curriculum and Program Development 

Does COMPUTER EXPLORERS have new information about learning stages for a frustrated preK teacher?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  We recently researched reasonable expectations for young children because our teachers are frustrated too.

Children today are more advanced in many ways than those included in past studies. Roz Shafer, our lead curriculum writer, used a variety of sources – online and print—to determine milestones that parents and teachers can use to evaluate if a child is progressing as expected according to a “norm.”  We all recognize, of course, that no child fits the “norm” … and a young 3 is not on the same scale as an older 3-year-old. Any of these evaluations must be relative.  (Of course, if they live in Lake Wobegone, they are ALL “above average”).

I especially like the way Ms. Shafer organized the “Ages and Stages” into expectations for 3’s, 4’s and 5’s according to fine and gross motor skills, language development, thinking skills and social and emotional development.  And I like that you can carry the same skill from one age group to another.  For example a 3-year-old uses 3-5 word sentences; a 4-year-old retells a story, but may confuse facts; and a 5-year-old speaks fluently, correctly uses plurals, pronouns and tenses.

Probably the most helpful information of the Ages and Stages Milestones is the references on the last page where MS. Shafer listed her sources, citing information from such diverse groups as the American Academy of Pediatrics to PBS.org.  I encourage you to read through the Ages and Stages (linked in the sidebar to the right), but also to go to the original sources.   Thanks very much for writing! 

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

Will COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes be the same in India as they are here in the US?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  We will need to tweak the delivery system for the preschoolers.

The principals of elementary schools and directors of preschools in Mumbai loved our curriculum and how we integrate their core standards into our classes. The elementary school principals liked the idea of adding TechStars courses to their after school programs – especially Dinosaur Discovery (creating a mock fossil dig, recording the discovery, designing a mural and producing a video documentary) and video game animation.  They were delighted that our curriculum taught the technology skills that need to be mastered for the standardized tests.

The preschool directors liked incorporating academic readiness skills (math, science, reading and social studies) into the teaching of technology skills. And they liked our use of robots to teach math, digital microscopes to teach science, etc.  But we at COMPUTER EXPLORERS are going to have to adjust our teaching methodology to serve the vast number of students.  In our preschool classes in the US, Australia, Malaysia and the UK, we have small classes of 3-4 children working together with a teacher who facilitates the learning – almost a tutorial environment.  In India, we will need to teach more students at a time – perhaps 18 children in weekly classes – to be sure that all of them can participate!

We will still be using the “explore and discover” method of learning in the preschool, but the teachers will be specially trained to incorporate the children into small core groups within the larger group.  As the Director of Education for COMPUTER EXPLORERS in India has assured me, “Our children are used to working with lots of other children, and our teachers are used to working with lots of children! We can do it!!”     

I am a tech ed teacher. Does COMPUTER EXPLORERS think technology is a tool, or an environment?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Great question! I read an interesting article on that topic, and have been thinking about it ever since!

Christine Weiser wrote the article for Technology & Learning published on May 11, 2009. On May 12, I heard Julia Sweig of the Foreign Trade Commission discuss lifting the trade embargoes for Cuba on the Colbert Report.  Sweig has written a book to be published in July entitled: Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know.

So what does Cuba have to do with your question about technology being a tool or an environment? Sweig maintained that lifting the embargoes won’t have any immediate affect on Cuban business or tourism or heavy industry, primarily because Cuba does not have an electronic infrastructure. Few Americans will go there without their cell phones, computers with Internet, Blackberries, Twitter or credit cards.

For some of us (you, the tourists Sweig was talking about, and me), technology IS an environment; much as we can’t get along without air, food and shelter, we can’t get along without technology.  I confess that I think twice about going out of town without all of my electronics safely stowed in my carry-on luggage.  The day that I downloaded the first book to my Kindle was magic … but second only to the magical day that I got my Internet aircard!

What happens to you and me, however, is that we get a distorted view of the world.  I can’t believe that my brother, for example, doesn’t have the Internet on his computer at home; he uses his computer ONLY to play games, type a letter and keep his finances. Technology is a tool for him, and he is happy...misguided man!

I teach computers to adults; a dad asked about kid computer camps in New Jersey. Can you help me?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  COMPUTER EXPLORERS is offering technology classes and camps all over the US!

COMPUTER EXPLORERS (CE) has ten business owners in New Jersey who offer classes and camps for ages 3-12+.  I suggest you direct the parent to our locations page, to use the drop-down menu to select New Jersey, and then to choose the site which would be most convenient for his child. Although the CE owner may have listed some specific classes, the parent should either email or call the owner directly to find out the full list, sites, dates and locations.

Our owners are offering great courses this summer, including Green Screen Adventures where students can climb Mount Everest, swim the depths of the ocean, or battle dinosaurs! Using a green screen and special photo-editing techniques, they will venture into real or imaginary locations and document the trip to share with friends.  Other classes include using the new LEGO ® WeDo robotics kits, CSI classes specializing in forensics, and geo-caching with GPS systems.  Whatever your friend’s child chooses to do, he/she is sure to have a wonderful time and learn a lot!

Part of my job is to look for new and exciting technology to bring to children, and one of the sources is the National Educational Computing Consortium (NECC )  whose 2009 conference is being held June 28-July 1 in Washington, DC.  A family field trip might include a visit to see the latest in techno-fun!

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

I am starting a Montessori preschool. Will COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes fit with our philosophy?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  COMPUTER EXPLORERS preschool classes are grounded in the same philosophy as Montessori, and I can vouch for it! 

My grandchildren go to Montessori preschools, my children went to a Montessori preschool, two of our curriculum writers are former Montessori teachers, and I was on the board of directors of a Montessori preschool.  We definitely believe in the hands-on explore and discovery approach to learning!

We offer classes in Montessori schools all over the US, including one in Naperville, Illinois, where we introduced the ItzaBitza® reading/art software a few weeks ago. In the attached video, the director of the school, Denise Plasch, discusses how COMPUTER EXPLORERS facilitates learning.

Our curriculum includes hands-on manipulatives so the children begin to understand the relationship between virtual and concrete experiences.  In one of my favorite units, for example, the children program a virtual robot (the BeeBot(R)) on the computer to follow a path; they also program the real BeeBot on the floor to follow the same path; they can then compare how the virtual robot and the real robot work and act. In another unit, the children look at bugs under a digital microscope and take pictures for an album (we make a big deal about returning the bugs to the playgournd!), they use the computer to design their own bugs to add to the album, and they build with Knex ® kits to create extraordinary insects.

Like Montessori learning our use of software is based in explore and discovery. Students choose which activities they want to pursue, and our curriculum assists CE teachers to facilitate the learning experience. We work in small groups to "enhance social interaction for cooperative learning, peer teaching and emotional development"* ...but if you ask the children what they are "learning" in COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes, they look at you curiously and say they are "just having fun!"

Our goal is to create lifelong learners with intellectual curiosity. Children today look at technology as part of life, just as books, crayons, sand and water are part of life.  In COMPUTER EXPLORERS, we don't use computers or digital microscopes or robots in isolation; they enhance what is already going on in the preschool classroom.

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

*American Montessori Society

Can COMPUTER EXPLORERS help me with PBL for Grade 2 classes? I am not sure where to start!

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Project Based Learning is fun for both students and teachers, but I feel that it should reinforce content at age 6-7, not be the primary means to teach the content. But where to start?

Our teachers have some general "rules of thumb" they follow:

1.      Look at the goals and outcomes for the unit.   Will a project help the students learn more, develop socializations skills and have fun?

2.      If yes, then what content to you want them to learn?   Plant growth from seed to flower to consumer benefit?  Names of planets and how they orbit the sun?  What services are provided by the community – police, fire, post office, library?

3.      Consider the type of project that will reinforce the content.   Too often teachers decide on the project before they think about its relevance to the learning.  (Oh, we'll write a play and the kids can be the actors!  It can be about plants...or planets...or firemen).  Should you create a book, a multimedia slideshow or podcast that can be shared on the Internet, a wall-mural or diorama, invent a game, write a song?  What will help the student learn what they need to remember?

4.      The construction of the project should incorporate learning: if the children create a book and the teacher binds it, the children miss an opportunity to learn about putting pages in order, binding with margins, etc.

5.      The project must be EASY to implement.   Teachers sometimes stumble here; their projects become too involved, and they or the children lose sight of the content because they are so busy "doing the project."  Putting the slideshow together becomes more important than what the slideshow is communicating about the solar system.

6.      Each child or team should create a segment of the whole project which is then put together.   This process helps prepare them for team sports, or a future workplace, where all the team-members contribute significantly toward a common goal.

7.      When feasible, every child should have a copy of the finished project. (Obviously a wall-mural can't go home, but photos of it can!)

8.      Use the school's Website to showcase the students' work .  Putting a stop-action movie of plant-growth on your Website will allow the children to relive the experience over and over, share it with friends/family across the country, and showcase your school.

The really fun part of PBL for the teacher, of course, is thinking of and developing the project.  But the project must not be the end in itself; it has to be the vehicle to reinforce the learning!

Cyndee Perkins

Director of Curriculum and Program Development

What does COMPUTER EXPLORERS have that I can use with my students for an Internet Safety class?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Internet Safety Week is April 27-May 01. You can download and use this workbook that was written by one of our teachers in collaboration with her 10-11 year old students.

Internet Safety is becoming more and more of an issue with the proliferation of social media.  Children, and even adults, are easily victimized if they aren't aware of the dangers.  And as we get more comfortable about putting information online, the more informal the posts can become.  I saw a post a few days ago from a "tween" whom I know, who said "I'm depressed." Now luckily I know this child and knew that "depression" meant too much homework, but many children are truly vulnerable. How easy for a predator to respond in a friendly way, gain a child's confidence, and eventually offer to spend some time to cheer him/her up!

I like this workbook because it's written from the students' point of view.  It has Websites with games and videos for both children and parents to learn about Internet safety without lectures or inducing fear. I especially like Activity 3 in the Workbook which gives sample postings and asks the students which are appropriate to share and which give too much information. One of the examples is: If anyone out there loves football as much as I do, send me an e-mail. My address is: ___________

Although our material is proprietary and we don't endorse copying, I can encourage you to share this workbook with others.  We all need to think about how to keep kids safe!

Cyndee Perkins

Please discuss COMPUTER EXPLORERS online comments re: tech prof. development. PS I am a teacher.

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  I will try to avoid getting on my soapbox, but I do have opinions about professional development ... as you have apparently noticed!

Technology professional development is offered less grudgingly now than fifteen years ago for two reasons --first, technology PD dollars are more available than other funds, and second, schools don't want to be perceived as behind other schools and.orschool districts in using technology.

If the training is done correctly so that the teachers master the skills, the students WILL get a better education!  The teacher will demonstrate renewed enthusiasm for presenting the core curriculum in innovative ways, and the different technology tools they use for teaching will appeal to varied learning styles. Unfortunately the training is not often done "correctly" -- by which, of course, I mean MY way!

Let's take key application training as a start:  word-processing, spreadsheets, multimedia presentations, etc.  The training is usually offered in the summer and with back-to-back courses in the applications-a technology "boot camp".  It's efficient use of time for the staff, and puts the computer lab to good use in an otherwise slow time.  As part of the training, the district may demand "proof-of-learning" via some sort of project that is lesson-plan oriented and designed as a teaching tool.  Great ...as far as it goes...

But because the training is in the summer, the new teaching tool is not put into immediate practice in the classroom.  By the time the teachers are ready to implement the project created four-six months ago, they have forgotten how to use the application, they have lost their enthusiasm, and they revert back to the "tried and true" lesson plans they have been using for ten years.  How much better if the teachers learned one application, put it to use in the classroom, and then learned another application to use in the classroom.  Perhaps this method is not such an efficient use of teacher down-time and computer hardware, but it does provide a much better return on the dollars invested in professional development!  The teachers actually master and use the new skill!

If we use peer-accountability, the teachers could share their teaching tools with others on the staff or in the district, so that the effort encourages technology use by other teachers and benefits even more students .

The teachers should also be trained to incorporate the tool into projects for the students.  If I create my own PowerPoint, for example, to present information about the Revolutionary War, I will be more likely to ask the students to create multimedia presentations about other aspects of the Revolutionary War.  And if we used those presentations as a base, we could create podcasts ... which we could post on the school’s Website  ... and parents will Twitter about their children’s work ...and who knows where it ends!  But I know where it starts -- with good professional development!

If you’re a member of LinkedIn , you may want to join the ISTE and/or the Technology in Education groups. We have some good discussions going!  Please add your comments below.

Cyndee Perkins 

I am a mom with a junior high son.  What does COMPUTER EXPLORERS think about standardized testing?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  What a difficult question!  The answer isn't as simple as "It's good" or "It's bad."

Is anything more unnerving than watching Jay Leno's "Man on the Street" interviews? They're funny, yes, but frightening too! "Canada is an island in the Pacific." "The 'euro' is a Japanese car." "Global warming only happens in the summer."  Where did these people go to school?

As a parent, I want to know how my child is doing relative to other students.  As a taxpayer, I want to see my education dollars spent wisely and with accountability. And as a voter concerned about poorly-educated citizens who will determine the future of my country, I understand the need to measure general knowledge.  Standardized tests are simply a measurement tool, and from that standpoint they are good. 

But as a teacher, I am totally frustrated by standardized tests.  Student scores determine the amount of funding a community and school will receive.  And as a result, my success as a teacher is determined by my students' scores.  How much information a child regurgitates at a given time on a given day on a standardized test doesn't measure how well that same child can problem-solve, think logically or be creative. Would Albert Einstein have been a successful contestant on Jeopardy?

I don't think standardized tests are inherently bad, but the emphasis that is placed upon them is the problem.  We need to put the tests in perspective, and get back to preparing our children for life ...not preparing them to pass a test.   One of my favorite songs/videos by Tom Chapin and originally aired on NPR expresses the frustration caused by standardized tests: http://davidmquintana.blogspot.com/2008/04/tom-chapin-not-on-test.html

Cyndee Perkins

I need help teaching computer basics to kindergarteners. What do you do in COMPUTER EXPLORERS class?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  We provide the children with a lot of visuals!

We work with a lot of Kindergarten students in labs and media centers around the country and I understand what you mean about the frustrations of logging on and developing basic computer skills in a one-visit-per-week environment!

We use a child-friendly program that overlays Microsoft Office® in our PC-based labs; we provide visuals for self-help, as well as instructions for the classroom teacher and the aide.  If you look at pages 8-9 of the unit linked below, you will see the type of visual instructions that I am talking about.  Over the course of the 36-week school year, we cover basic computer operations, keyboarding, word-processing, graphics, multimedia presentations, and spreadsheets -- each week’s lesson has its unique Explorer Card with "step-by-step" instructions for non-readers.  After completing an application, the children create a project that demonstrates the learning.

I hope this unit will give you some ideas.  I look forward to your comments, questions and suggestions!  We're always ready to improve!!

To see a sample KG unit Click Here

To find out more about curriculum and program offerings in your area, click here.  

My 3-year-old twins in COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes are talking about CT’s birthday.  What is it?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer below:

ANSWER:  CT is the turtle mascot for COMPUTER EXPLORERS preschoolers.  He will be 25 years old on March 17.

COMPUTER EXPLORERS was founded in 1984, 25 years ago.  At that time our preschoolers were using 5.25" floppy disks, Apple ll or Commodore computers, and pressing arrow keys to control the program.  We had to sing songs while we waited a minute or two for each activity to boot -- no instant gratification in 1984!

To celebrate CT's birthday, our franchisees around the country and internationally are helping their preschoolers make a birthday card slide show which we will post on our Website.  So far over 2500 children have sent birthday greetings to CT, and more are arriving every day!  (Luckily they are arriving electronically, or we would have one grumpy mailman!)  We have had such a great response that we are posting several different slideshows.  Your twins are going to have a great time looking at the pictures and hearing the music that so many preschoolers have put together!

If you have difficulty playing this video, you can see all the CT birthday videos on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/computerexplorers 

Can I set up an e-pal program for my students in the UK with COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes in the US?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Our mission is to promote global education through innovation, so let's get started!

We can begin with e-pals, but let's consider how much more interesting and "global" the project would be for the kids to have a blog or a wiki, where they can post pictures, podcasts and videos about their school, their hobbies, current events.  They can teach each other about where they live, the history of the area, the geography -- students in the UK might be especially interested in Hurricane Ike that went through Houston last fall, and the Texas students would be surprised to learn about all the henges (other than Stonehenge) that populate the UK.

If you were to start a blog, students from all over the world could join in. To begin, we could ask COMPUTER EXPLORERS students in Australia and Malaysia to participate ... we would then have kids in four continents getting to know each other!

If you would like to be linked to COMPUTER EXPLORERS in a specific area, or to kids with specific interests such as robotics or movie-making, send me an email.  I'll help you get it started!  Click here to contact me!

Cyndee Perkins

Director, Curriculum and Program Development

COMPUTER EXPLORERS

In COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes, my son and his friend created a blog.  Is that “social media”?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  Yes -- and so are wikis, text-messages, Twitter, Facebook, Club Penguin, YouTube and the other online activities your son and his friends are using to communicate with each other

Your son and his friends are "digital natives"; nearly anyone over fifteen is a "digital immigrant."  As natives, our kids have grown up in a world of fast-changing technology and they adapt quickly. When you were his age, you were probably stuck with using such archaic communication tools as the 1-lb mobile telephone and dial-up Internet ... if you were lucky enough to have a computer! As digital immigrants, you and I have had to learn to adapt to a new way of life.

In COMPUTER EXPLORERS, we accept that kids are going to interact using social media, and we have a responsibility to help them use it correctly and safely.  As part of the blog class, your son not only learned HOW to create and write a blog, but also the importance of publishing facts (with sources), what kind of information should be made public and what should be kept private, how to "talk" to peers without being offensive.

In essence, today's "social media" is yesterday's video-arcade -- where kids get together to hang-out.  On the other hand, they might enjoy the camaraderie (and exercise) of being on a baseball or soccer team too! 

I see COMPUTER EXPLORERS responds to a lot of Internet postings.  Why do you do that?

Posted by Cyndee Perkins

Answer:  We really care about kids and education, AND we have a lot of experience to share!

COMPUTER EXPLORERS is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year.  We joke that when we started our business, parents thought a mouse was a rodent hiding behind a kitchen door!

We have taught thousands of technology classes to hundreds of thousands of students over the years, and learned a lot about what works and what doesn't in technology education.  Since you have read some of the postings, you know that we have important messages:

§          Our children need to be prepared for the 21^st century work force, and they can't do that if they have 20^th century technology skills.

§          Teachers need professional development in order to use technology effectively as a teaching tool.

§          Schools need more than good hardware to have a good technology program; they need curriculum, lesson plans and teachers specifically trained to teach technology skills.

§          Technology isn't only computers; it means using robots, creating digital movies, peering through electronic microscopes and trekking with GPS systems to connect classroom learning with the real world.

We used to write articles for education and technology print publications, but now we use technology to talk about technology!  Here are some of our more recent contributions:

http://www.eschoolnews.com/conference-info/conference-news/?i=57176

http://www.techlearning.com/blogs.aspx?id=15830

http://www.edutopia.org/student-information-systems-grade-monitoring

http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2009/02/17/04ddassessment.h02.html

Thanks for letting us know you’ve noticed us!

I would like to use my computer more. Does COMPUTER EXPLORERS offer classes for senior citizens?

Posted by Corporate

Answer:  We have classes that will help you learn everything from using your digital camera to creating your family tree!

We have a lot of fun in our adult/seniors courses!  One of my favorite classes is "Digital Photo Restoration" in which students bring in old family photos and learn how to repair the cracks, get rid of the dust and see who's hiding in the background!  I restored a photo of my grandmother on her eighteenth birthday, and was able to see the lace on her collar and sleeves, and the swirls in the taffeta of her skirt. (Here she is!) What I thought was a rather odd hair arrangement in the unrestored picture turned out to be a big velvet bow!

Another picture was of my mother as a preschooler in a Model-T Ford; when I lightened the dark areas, I discovered my great-grandfather seated next to her in the driver's seat!

Other classes include what to look for when buying a new computer, creating emails with attachments, buying/selling on EBay ... or at least valuing some of the collectibles that are on your bookshelves! Contact our local COMPUTER EXPLORERS owner to find out what classes might be going on at community and senior centers, churches or retirement communities in your area!

It’' time for you to start having fun with your computer!

http://www.computerexplorers.com/locations/

What’s going to be new in COMPUTER EXPLORERS classes for summer?

Posted by Corporate

Answer:  Try Green Screen Adventures!

Among other 70+ cool classes, we are especially excited about a new course in stop-action photography that uses a green screen; one of our business owners in California is running the pilot classes now, and we expect to be able to post some movies on our COMPUTER EXPLORERS YouTube channel in the next few weeks.  Look for the following course description in YMCA and community center catalogs:

Climb Mount Everest, swim the depths of the ocean, or battle dinosaurs! Using a green screen and special photo-editing techniques, you will venture into real or imaginary locations and film the trip to share with friends. Experiment with photos and unique drawing software to set the scene for fantastic adventures. Don't stay at home -- jump into a green screen and find yourself some fun!

Check out the other classes too ... video game design and comic book writing are mega-hits!

Does COMPUTER EXPLORERS have a software suggestion for my preschooler for Valentine’s Day?

Posted by Corporate

Answer:  Order ItzaBitza, from www.itzabitza.com !

ItzaBitza has restored our faith in children's educational software! We have been frustrated over the past few years by the lack of quality software for young children, but ItzaBitza's software is right on target!

I was literally amazed by the program!  ItzaBitza lets children turn their own drawings into interactive art. Your child can draw a house with a door, for example, and the door will open!  Choose a character -- and he/she can enter the house, and be seen walking from window to window upstairs!  The software also reinforces reading skills.  The characters speak aloud, but the text is printed in speech bubbles -- your child can mouse over a word and hear it spoken again. Children can spend hours being creative, and at the same time, improving their word recognition.

Even if your child wants to experiment on his/her own (and he will), Moms, Dads and Grandparents will demand to join in -- to share the fun and to marvel at the technology!  I speak from personal experience!!

As parents become more and more concerned about on-screen hyperactivity, ItzaBitza is a welcome change. The graphics in the software are not cluttered with distracting details; movement is easy to follow.  I like the clean look of the characters, the settings and the backgrounds. The children can easily focus on the actions and activities.  Our teachers are excited about using this software in classes throughout the US and internationally! I think it’s a great investment!

For more information and a trial free download, go to www.ItzaBitza.com

Does COMPUTER EXPLORERS have curriculum that integrates computer training with school subjects?

Posted by Corporate

Answer:  Outsourcing to COMPUTER EXPLORERS is a cost-effective way to provide your students with an exceptional technology program.

Thank you for your email about technology curriculum and integration into core subject areas.  Our company has a full scope and sequence, curriculum and lesson plans that meet and exceed the National Educational Technology Standards. We will even provide a technology resource instructor, who is approved by you, and specifically trained to integrate technology!

Last year an independent company conducted three national focus groups with principals of private schools to learn their greatest concerns about their technology programs; we combined their concerns and interviews with our current clients the short (3 minute) video below. 

In July 2008, The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) released a brief that shows how integrating technology improves student achievement.  The brief lists seven factors for successfully implementing technology for learning.  http://www.computerexplorers.com/images/uploads/Student_Achievement_Brief.pdf

COMPUTER EXPLORERS has business owners throughout the country.  Our local owner will be able to show you samples of our curriculum, our project-based learning, answer your questions about our products and services and provide you with references.

We look forward to helping you build your technology program!

Thanks for writing!

To find your nearest COMPUTER EXPLORERS owner, go to our locations: http://www.computerexplorers.com/locations/ 

Our daughter loves her COMPUTERTOTS classes. What kid-friendly web sites can you share with her Dad?

Posted by Corporate

Answer: Make your own fun using Google Images!

I suggest doing something as simple as getting photos of objects that interest your child.  You can go to Google, for example, and type in "Horses" or "Puppies" or "Balloons."  Instead of clicking on "Google Search" immediately, select "Images" from the toolbar and then "Search Images." You will have 11 million pictures of horses!  The two of you can talk about the pictures, the colors of the horses, how many are in the picture, what they are doing.  If you right click on one of the images, you can print it. If you open the link, you can print a bigger image.  You will find 2 million pictures of balloons ... the quantity of pictures alone will delight a 3-year old!

I am sure that you are familiar with all of the more commercial sites:

Sprout:  http://www.sproutonline.com/sprout/Games

Disney: http://disney.go.com/games/

Sesame Street: http://pbskids.org/sesame

Thomas the Tank Engine: http://www.thomasandfriends.com/uk/games.asp

Some of my other favorites are listed below.  Some have online activities; others have ideas for you to do off-line. Please be sure that you preview the sites before you go to them with your daughter; content can change and you want to be sure that you know ahead of time what she will be seeing.

http://www.buildyourwildself.com/

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html     

http://www.everythingpreschool.com

http://preschoolrock.com/

http://nationalzoo.si.edu. 

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/kids/index.html

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/  

I hope this list will be a starting point for you and your daughter to have a good time together.

Thanks for writing!

What Does My Child Get Out of COMPUTER EXPLORERS Robotics or Video Game Classes…Besides Fun?

Posted by Corporate

Answer:  Preparation for REAL life!

  Fractions take on new meaning as students build race cars and experiment with gears to make them go faster.  Writing a story with awesome adventures is a lot more interesting when you create a video game, make a movie or write a comic book with dialog, plot, rising and falling action!  In after school and summer camp TechStars courses, students connect classroom learning to hands-on experience. 

Who knows?  Kids having fun experimenting with alternative energy sources in after school classes now, could become award-winning scientists who save the world in the future  ... or great science fiction writers ... or simply leave a smaller carbon footprint.  These kinds of classes allow students to find out what they want to do with their "real lives" as adults instead of changing their majors four-five times when they are in college!

...and besides ...what's wrong with just having fun?  

COMPUTER EXPLORERS TechStars classes first started with LEGO's Intelligent House in the mid 90's.  To find out more about how to apply classroom learning in a hands-on environment, post your questions here:

Is COMPUTER EXPLORERS Podcasting for Preschoolers a Joke?

Posted by Corporate

Not when you use the computer as the new refrigerator! 

Podcasting for Preschoolers might seem like a silly idea, but young children love to see their artwork at home on the refrigerator.  Today's digital natives love it even more when they can see their artwork on the computer, AND they can share it with Grandma in Florida, Aunt Karen in Washington, and Uncle Jim in Kansas--all at the same time!  Using kid-friendly software, our preschoolers are learning 21st century technology skills by creating slide shows about numbers, letters and science-- with great graphics, cool sounds and music, and sometimes their own voices.  Preschoolers also love repetition, and they can enjoy their podcasts over and over...and over.  Their work never gets wrinkled and faded on this refrigerator door!

To check out some of the podcasts created by young COMPUTER EXPLORERS click here or here or here !

COMPUTER EXPLORERS has been teaching computer classes to preschoolers since 1984.  To find out how to use your computer creatively (and stress-free) with your preschooler, post your question below:

Back to School

Posted by Corporate

Back to School with COMPUTER EXPLORERS

We are so excited about our technology education offerings this fall. The TechTots program focuses on academic readiness in Math, Science, Fine Arts, Language Arts.

Our Integrated Technology Resource Program, for schools includes project based learning using MS Office 2007.

The TechStars program offers classes in Scratch Video Game Animation, GPS, Alternative Energy, Crime Scene Investigation, and much, much more.