The research project Kids Media Lab - Technologies and Programming Learning in Preschool Age, proves to be innovative, both in the context in which it will be implemented either in their own research goals. We intend to consolidate knowledge about learning theories, by introducing the programming in a playful and creative way in the activities in the garden for children. We will take tablets and robots to kindergartens in 5 districts of Portugal (Aveiro, Braga, Coimbra, Oporto and Viseu) for ...
Kids Media Lab - Technologies and Programming Learning in Preschool Age.
We intend to consolidate knowledge about learning theories, by introducing the programming in a playful and creative way in the activities in the garden for children.
This project will provide activities during a school year in 5 districts of Portugal (Aveiro, Braga, Coimbra, Oporto and Viseu) involving 250 children (estimate) in the course of the investigation. We will also carry out activities (workshops and training), across the country, with several technological resources (tablets and robots). We intend to annually take the technological resources to other schools, which do not benefit in this first phase of the project activities.
Synthesis
Understanding how children react in the use of technologies and programming proves to be important to know your behavior, your learning style and enable education professionals anticipate or not this integration in their educational settings.
In order to realize this research outlined the following objectives:
- Know about the technologies that children know and use;
- Recognizing the potential of technology and mobile devices in preschool;
- Develop skills associated with digital literacy and applications on mobile devices;
- Promote creativity and imagination through the symbolic representation associated with the program;
- Integrate learning activities of the program in early childhood education contexts, in a playful manner;
- Learn to program by applying Scratch Junior for mobile devices and also the KIBO robot kits;
- Develop programming activities in accordance with the phases of the model "K tangible curriculum";
- Promote sharing and collaboration among children, by building projects with significance for them in particular with stories;
- Understanding how children learn to program;
- Perspetivar the construction of meaningful learning to use the program and that they endure throughout life;
- Analyze and compare the different contexts studied;
- Disseminate results in the scientific community.
We expect the project to be developed in three phases with a total of 36 months, each of which corresponds to one year and we will replicate the same research for another three years in other educational settings.
About the author
We are researchers at the Institute of Education, CIEd (Centre for Research in Education) at the University of Minho.
This project involves the creation of a Technology Lab (Kids Media Lab), to train and support the integration of technology, programming and robotics in Childhood Education contexts.
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Maribel Santos Miranda Pinto - is a researcher and is conducting post-doctoral studies in the scientific area of Educational Sciences, specializing in Educational Technology at the Institute of Education, University of Minho. The project was approved by the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology), entitled: "Kids Media Lab: Technology and Programming Learning in Preschool Age."
It is PhD in Educational Sciences in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), University of Minho (2009), which created and energized @rcaComum - An Ibero-American Community of Practice Online Education Professionals Childhood.
Is Associate Professor invited, ICT, Department of Communication and Art in ESE Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, since September 2009. Directs several masters and undergraduate projects in the areas of ICT, Educational Technology, Education and Multimedia.
"The realization of this project Kids Media Lab is another challenge for the Education of Children in Portugal. It is the opportunity to provide children in preschool innovative learning through technology, programming and robotics, with a playful and creative aspect. A project dedicated to children, with support and training for education professionals ".
António José Osório - Associate Professor with Aggregation at the University of Minho, a member of the Department of Curriculum Studies and Educational Technology at the Institute of Education.
He held a doctorate in educational telematics from the University of Exeter School of Education, UK, (1997). Master in Education Specialization in Computing in Education from the University of Minho (1991). It has a degree in Teaching of Biology and Geology from the University of Minho (1983).
As a collaborator of the MINERVA Project actively participated under the guidance of Professor Altamiro Machado in research and development activities under the Lethes Project / Peneda-Geres, with a view to boosting a computer network involving the single Schools National Park in Portugal .
Coordinates various research projects, national and international, in ICT in Education. Directs the Master in Computer Teaching and guides of various masters projects, doctoral and post-doctoral ICT and Educational Technology.
Budget and due dates
For the implementation of the project need to buy and have the technological resources at our laboratory by April 2016.
Starting this month we will be giving training to kindergarten teachers who will participate in the project, conducting workshops and activities in our lab before starting the activities in kindergartens in September 2016.
At the same stage we will also be giving back what we offer in the rewards of this campaign.
Given that the robots come from the United States and the expected delivery time is 2 months, we need to have the support available in late January 2016.
Resources for Kindergarten
The minimum resources to implement the project and to achieve the research are:
30 tablets (5 for each kindergarten and 5 for the laboratory at the University of Minho).
6 KIBO Robots (one for each kindergarten and one for the laboratory at the University of Minho) - (each robot $ 399 + tax + shipping fees).
6 digital cameras.
In the event that we can have more support, we may include in our research activities to other kindergartens and so bring more technology to more children.
Resources for Researcher
Training - Training at KIBO KinderLab in Boston, MA | ($ 450) registration fee only.
Teaching Materials Package ($ 140.00) - KIBO Training.
These resources are part of the training and accreditation of the investigator to validate and give credibility to research and design.
Resources (tablets and robots) are intended for use by children participating in the project. The lab resources will be used in the activities (workshops and training) for all childhood education institutions to support this project through the rescompensas we offer.
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