If you’re looking for some great children’s programming incorporating technology, visit the Great Technology Programs for Children wiki page.
There are currently about a dozen listings including programs related to reading, storytime, gaming and more. Detailed notes will help you implement similar programs.
Have your own great program? Contribute! This is part of the ALSC (Association for Library Services to Children) Children and Technology Committee’s ChildTech Wiki.
When I saw this column in the paper today Digital Drugs: A new worry for parents, I immediately wondered if I’d been whisked around the calendar to April Fool’s Day. But, no, it’s not April and a quick search showed that this has been carried by many of the major news sources over the past few weeks.
These ‘drugs’ are sound files that are supposed to create some sort of brain reaction. I listened to a few and only found them annoying. But the article wildly (in my opinion!) concludes:
At the very least, digital drugs promote drug use. Some sites say binaural beats can be used with illegal drugs.
That’s quite a claim!
As Linda Braun points out in her YALSA blog post Time for More Hype, if it’s in the media, you’ll probably be getting questions about it from parents, colleagues, etc. Do read Linda’s post on YALSA and the other material she’s linked to and be ready for this latest techno-drama.
One of the projects I really enjoy being involved with is our statewide summer reading program. And that’s how I found out about the awesome StoryTubes project. Children from all over the country created short videos about their favorite books. What fun! We had 7 terrific entries from NYS this year. Let’s have more next year!!!!
Interested in joining in the 2009 program? Check out the StoryTubes site for more information.
StoryTubes – Reading Energy
Just heard about Kindernet, a new children’s search engine. Though the layout isn’t the jazziest at the moment, the search results look useful and age appropriate. The developer left a comment on Phil Bradley’s blog indicating that they’re working on a new look for the site. Looking forward to seeing how this project develops.
From their “about us” page:
Core Values
- Safe
A pre-researched set of great sites for kids.
- Relevant
Helps kids, teachers and parents find what they are looking for sooner.
- Global
Children are able to participate and communicate with other children around the globe.
- Friendly
Designed to be user-friendly for all children 12 and under.
- Free
The Kindernet search engine is free for all people to use.
(via LIB and Phil Bradley.)
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