Live Wires Resources

Guide their app-cess

Dan Donahoo demonstrating one built-in tool that helps parents and educators guide children’s use of tablets. Click the video below to see Dan explain how Guided Access works.

Online articles

Research and articles: tech in early childhood

Dr Kate Highfield from the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University, Dan Donaho, Director of Project Synthesis and Professor Leon Straker from Curtin University WA, presented at the Live Wires Forums, Perth and Sydney:

• Highfield_Livewires_NatureVsNerdture_ (File size is 13 MB, so you may not wish to download to mobile phone).
• Highfield_Livewires_beyond_the_screen
• Highfield_Livewires_Beyond_snap_shots
• Donahoo_Diagram of iPad Use in ELE
• Donahoo_EY Tech Resources
• Donahoo_EY_App_Recs
• Donahoo_Using iPads in ELE
• Straker 2015 ECA LiveWires
• Straker_2009_Principles Wise Use Computers Children
• Straker_2010 guidelines physical wise computer use by children Ergon
• Straker_2014 guidelines egames use by children Ergo

Other links, papers and websites to visit

• Sheffield University research  www.techandplay.org
• Erikson Technology in Early Childhood (TEC) Center is teccenter.erikson.edu (Dr Chip Donohue is Director of the TEC Center and also Dean of Distance Learning and Continuing Education).
• Commonsense Media www.commonsensemedia.org/learning-ratings
• Children’s Tech Review childrenstech.com
• Children’s Tech Review YouTube Channel is at: www.youtube.com/user/childrenstech
• Joan Ganz Cooney Centre, ‘Family Time’ is an excellent PDF to print and share with parents. It looks at how parents and children can use apps and mobile devices together www.joanganzcooneycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/JGCC_FamilyTime.pdf

Ebooks and online apps

• Print and app versions of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore & Numberleys both from Moonbot Studios. Use each with its matching IMAG-NO-TRON app for augmented reality version
• Nosy Crow UK publishers of print books, apps and puzzles. Try Jack and the Beanstalk, Flip Flap Farm and Flip Flap Jungle
• Storybox Library—Australian stories read by Australian voices in a streamed, subscription service all about favourite Australian children’s books.
• Miximal—classic flip book with an app twist and pre-literacy element. Also Loopimal and Drawnimal all from Yatatoy
• Busy Shapes from Seven Academy
• Metamorphabet by Vector Park.
• Universal Zoom—a small, versatile way to measure and compare almost anything
• Windosil—silent, sleek and slightly eerie problem solver for slightly older children. Find the light first and make your way to the next screen – if you can. From Vector Park
• Human Body from Tinybop—complex, multifaceted app about the human body and all its systems
• Everything Machine also from Tinybop.

Tangible play tools

• Puppet Pals by Polished Play puts children in the activity, making, controlling and creating
• Osmo—three part tangible play kit, using the iPad camera and a mirror with Tangram shapes, letters to play Word and using anything to hand for the gravity-based Newton.
• Makeymakey—see the video at makeymakey.com for inspiration about what to make or invent. Visit virtualpiano.net to turn computer and bananas into a piano keyboard or find other ways to ‘connect, rewire and invent’

A reminder that all of the tools, Apps and other devices on this site were mentioned by individual presenters and participants at the 2015 Live Wires Forum. They are not endorsed by Early Childhood Australia.