Hanan Harrison (from an interview with Keith Redman, Editor of ANSN E-News)

Throughout 2009, ANSN national networker Hanan Harrison has been working in partnership with Education Queensland International on the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)-funded project Integrating ICT Pedagogy in School Community. Hanan was contracted to develop, deliver and evaluate a national project targeting teachers and school leaders in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as an integrating teaching tool.

Professional learning opportunity in Tasmania 2009

The Australian National Schools Network is launching a new PD opportunity for early childhood teachers focusing on making technology an integral component within a play focus for  teachers of prep - year 2 classrooms.  The project is based on the learnings from the KidSmart workshop which has been a national project since 2000 with ANSN and the IBM, where prep/preschool teachers from rural or disadvantaged areas were supported through a 12 month action learning PD model to focus on developing effective pedagogical strategies for ICT implementation.

The 2 day Digi-Kids workshop was enjoyed by all participants over the school holidays.  Big thanks to Hanan Harrison and the ANSN (Australian National Schools Network) for presenting, as well as Mary Vajda from ECU for hosting the sessions.  The participants certainly had a good time and came away with an enormous amount of open ended ideas to implement into their classroom next term.

A series of Snapshots is being developed around the experience and practice of teachers in the Digi Kids program. The first in the series looks at Lynda Page’s work on Integrating Technology in the Early Years Classroom.  A teacher for more than 20 years, Lynda works at Coolum Beach State School, in Queensland. She has been a keen participant in the Digi Kids program, which is co-ordinated by Hanan Harrison. In developing the Snapshot, she worked with Keith Redman, Editor of E-News and this Snapshot series.

Winner of the “2006 Education Resources Award” primary ICT category.

1 day hands-on workshop where participants:

• Play and explore Bee Bots
• Make resources for future learning experiences that integrate Bee Bots with their curriculum
• Take back to school collective ideas and strategies for implementing Bee Bots as well as their very own Bee Bot (1 per participant) valued at rrp $88

The ANSN and IBM as partners have documented and produced 11 snapshotsthat showcase early childhood teachers and their journeys inimplementing technology with a play-based curriculum. These snapshotsare designed to celebrate and share the cumulative learning of teacherswho have explored and developed innovative teaching practices throughtechnology integration, based on their participation in the IBMKidSmart project.

This snapshot case studies Alex, a young child with Autism, and how using technology integration provided a tool for Alex to develop social and educational outcomes.

The ANSN and IBM as partners have documented and produced 11 snapshots that showcase early childhood teachers and their journeys in implementing technology with a play-based curriculum. These snapshots are designed to celebrate and share the cumulative learning of teachers who have explored and developed innovative teaching practices through technology integration, based on their participation in the IBM KidSmart project.

Moorditj - a Noongar word for "strong or excellent"

Having launched the series with the Gracemere story, the second Snapshot we are introducing is from Moorditj Noongar Community College, WA, a school with approximately 140 indigenous students enrolled from K-7.