Tech 4 Content Objects

The four apps I chose to investigate were not hard to understand based on technology for me.  It has taught me that what I am doing as an early childhood instructor to introduce science instruction is necessary and correct.  This is especially true when there is a need for hands on materials and the lack of funds to teach the the students.  I looked at Earth Viewer, Google Earth, Science 360 and Brain Pop.  What I liked about  all the these apps fall under the TPACK qualifications they even cross the core curriculum lines. What I didn't like about some of the apps were they are too hard for the average 2nd grade students to use alone. They lessons would need to be guided for the first lessons or until the students gets use to the manipulation of the app.  

My favorite is the Brain pop app. It is my favorite because it is an app but it is also web based for those schools/students that do not have access to an apple type product. The other 3 could be used to enhance your lessons.  

Brain pop goes as follow concerning the TPACK:

Content  knowledge: Science main lesson with Reading and Social Studies as sub lessons

Pedagogical Knowledge: curriculum based lessons that teach the students at their educational level

Technology Knowledge:Computer animation is highly effective in demonstration of processes that 

cannot be viewed naturally or that are difficult to demonstrate in the classroom or even in 

the laboratory.  

The main issue is the teacher needs to be the catalyst to the transfer of knowledge from the lessons.  Students still need to be guided.  

The lessons can be used at home for futher homework study, there are  tests to check for understanding and games to practice the lessons given instruction.