The Scottish Government document Enhancing Learning and Teaching Through the use of Digital Technology (2016) sets out its strategy for digital learning and teaching in Scotland. The document speaks of the importance of equipping our children with the right digital skills to be ready for modern life and work. Educators should “ensure that the use of digital technology is a central consideration in the planning and delivery of any learning and teaching across Curriculum for Excellence.” (Scottish Government 2016) When delivering Play Pedagogy there are many ways in which digital technology can support and enhance the learning in the class as well as aid the teacher in their planning and documentation.
Taught Digital Lessons Leading to Independent Play
After teaching discrete Digital skills, the resources can then be made readily available to children throughout the play zones. For example, after teaching the children how to use Beebots and Indi Spheros these can then be used in the construction area where the children can construct mazes or maps for the Beebots or Indi’s to follow.
Another example would be to use the Octo Studio app to retell a Fairy-tale story, make a digital version of their daily reader or tell their own story. After teaching the children how to use the Stop Motion app to create animations this can then be applied in a variety of ways e.g. Dinosaurs, Lego builds etc.
Developing Increased Independence
When delivering Play Pedagogy, it is important that children are trained to access and tidy resources independently so that they can fully engage when the teacher is busy with other groups. Digital technology can help support that.
- Talking tins or buttons can be used to provide instructions or information
- The Voice memos app can be used on the iPad to have prerecorded dictation or spelling words that multiple children can listen to using headphones and a splitter jack.
- QR codes can be used in lots of ways to link to stories, games, video instructions, oral instructions etc.
- Pictorial signs with instructions can be added to an area e.g. This is a must do task, take a photo of your work/creation when finished etc.
Links to Planners and Exemplified Learning
NL Digital School Progression Pathways and Exemplified Learning
Implement the use of NL Digital School Progression Pathways Exemplified Learning for Digital Literacy Skills and Computing Science. Each pathway is split across three levels to highlight progress through a level. Learners should move within and across progression levels to support pace and challenge. For Early Level focus on the Creating content theme.
Scaffolding / modelling app use
Using any new apps/ tools/ websites and not sure where to start. Use Tech Tuesday lessons for Digital Literacy and Computing Science. Videos are created straight from Exemplified Learning bullet points above and overlays are provided in the video to scaffold how to use the app and teach the vital skills needed.
-Tech Tuesdays (sharepoint.com)
Links to the Skills Map Progression for Each Stage
If starting Digital Literacy or Computing Science for the first time within your class setting and not sure where to start, try our Skills maps.
These are just suggested activities and a baseline of the fundamental starting skills from Tech Tuesdays, to use when you are at the beginning of implementing digital learning into your classroom
Digital Manipulatives
Possible Digital Elements across Play Zones
It is recommended that all the play zones in the classroom have opportunities to develop literacy, numeracy and digital skills.
The Social Zone
- iPad / laptop / phone / digital clocks in home area
- QR codes in library
- Stop Motion animations using small world characters / items
- Digital thermometers / microscopes in Science Lab role play
- Record stories on microphones / buttons/ voice memo app
- Mark making boards for role play
The Discovery Zone
- Mazes / worlds for Beebots / Indi Sphero
- Digital scales for weighing / measuring in the sand tray
- Stop motion Lego / construction builds
- Tinker table – broken digital devices
The Creative Zone
- Doodle Buddy – drawing and painting
- iPads – Markup – editing photos
- Music- Garageband instruments
- Record singing / puppet shows they have created
- iPads / smartboard – dance videos / brain break type active tasks (Danny Go) (Cosmic kids yoga)
- 2cas / book creator to retell / create stories
The Outdoor Zone
- iPads for photos and videos
- Digital Thermometers
- Timers on iPads / stopwatches for different activities
