How Important Can It Be???

PRE-K Technology Applications TEKS summary:
Technology learning in PRE-K involves intense amounts of exploring and discovering the "nuts & bolts" of technological hardware (computers, TV's, MP3's, digital cameras, etc.) through the use of software designed to teach and assist these little ones in practicing their newly acquired knowledge (both technological & academic). These students will learn technological vocabulary that describes the basic components of hardware and simple (but vital) keyboarding commands through developmentally appropriate methods, such as songs, rhymes, pictures, & other oral language rich techniques.

How do the PRE-K Technology Applications TEKS lay the foundation for student perfomance in future grades:
Learning, as it relates to technology, in PRE-K is vital to a virtually seamless and efficient transition to the more "in-depth" technology learning that happens as one navigates upwards in grade level. This is really no different than any other subject or learning "genre." It ALWAYS works better and is easier when a solid and quality foundation has been laid "early on." Just as one learns how to read easier when he/she has been exposed to a language rich environment from birth, one also picks up the new learning required for technology literacy when he/she has had ample opportunity to handle, explore, and discover the hardware, software, & technological vocabulary that will, most definitely, be a required part of his/her life.

What is a spiraling or scoffolding curriculum?
This is a type of curriculum that is cumulative...each year's learning is vital in that it builds onto and supports the next. It's success is based on the fact that each grade level's curriculum in a specific area has been vertically aligned with the other grade levels and that the learning & skills gained during previous grade levels/years is a "prerequisite," if you will, for the learning gained in current and future grade levels/years.

Examples of scaffolded technology skills:
Beginning with PRE-K, students will be introduced to the opportunities and responsibilities of information aquisition via technology, i.e. websites. Each subsequent grade level (1-12) will then give students opportunities to gain more sophisticated knowledge & to practice and build upon those early prerequisite skills (i.e. keyword & Boolean search strategies, navigating & accessing LANs & WANs).