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.

So what is Digi-Kids you ask?  Digi-Kids is about integrating technologies into the early childhood classroom.  While technology is fascinating and fun for young children, it must be integrated with hands on activities in the classroom to be an effective teaching tool, which links to all areas of the curriculum.  It soon became obvious that these technology based activities easily go beyond academic outcomes, as teachers came up with a long list of social, emotional and physical skills that were being taught.

I think the most fun had to be the use of the Bee Bots (simple robotics for early childhood students).  Teachers were dancing with Bee Bots and designing intricate 3D maps for them to navigate.  The number of activities that can be created around a Bee Bot is literally endless.  It was one of the many open-ended resources that teachers got to “play” with during this workshop.

Teachers who have the use of Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) in their school also picked up a few ideas on how that technology can be truly integrated and used in conjunction with other technologies in their classrooms.  Many teachers expressed an interest in joining an Interactive Whiteboard Hub, where teachers not only learn new ways to use the board but, most importantly, how pedagogy can be greatly improved by the use of IWBs.  Of course, the networks that are gained at any Hub or workshop are invaluable as a way of sharing resources and ideas.  

There is an IWB Hub that has just commenced in Rockingham.  If you are interested in joining or want more information about a WA Hub for the IWB that is closer to your school, contact Helen Davey (ANSN WA Networker) at helen.davey@ansn.edu.au.  You can also contact Helen for more information on future Digi-Kids or Bee Bots sessions, or any other ANSN questions you have.  To see what the ANSN has to offer you, visit their website at www.ansn.edu.au

Thanks again to everyone for making the Digi Kids workshop so successful and so much fun.  

Helen Davey.
ANSN WA Networker