E-Learning in PreK-3: Selecting and Designing Grade-Level Appropriate Online Tutorials
Abstract: Today our PreK-3 students are comprised of Generation Z children who were born into a technology-abundant society. As a benefit to the technology affordances there are many learning opportunities associated with the technology that enhances the critical learning processes taking place in the classrooms and within their everyday lives. One specific technology with potential benefit to the teaching and learning process is tutorial-based software and online modules. Unfortunately, there are many inattentively designed tutorials, especially for the PreK-3 student audience. One contributing factor may be disconnect between generations in this highly digital age. Another may be misunderstanding by the older media designers with the learning and developmentally appropriate practices suitable for younger learners. For teachers of PreK-3, identifying and selecting effective, developmentally appropriate tutorials is challenging. This paper analyzes issues encountered by PreK-3 pre-service teachers when they were tasked with designing e-learning tutorials.
Presider: Anne Montgomery, University of Phoenix