Feature Story

February 2015

Bridging the Gap: Integrating Technology and Environmental Education

Jana Willis, Brenda Weiser, and Donna Kirkwood

Note: This story is adapted from an article in the most recent issue of the International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education. 
 
 
Children come from diverse backgrounds, particularly in terms of their access to nature and technology. It’s our job as teachers to help level the playing field and provide all students an equal chance to succeed. By integrating the two seemingly opposed areas of nature and technology, we can create an opportunity for young children to become both environmentally and technologically literate. In this article, we explore how technology tools can be used to encourage preschoolers to engage in activities that will help them appreciate nature and explore environmental issues.  
 
 

Nature Deficit

Over 80% of the US population now lives in urban areas, meaning that most of today's children live in either an urban or suburban environment. When children go outside, they often see only streets, buildings, shops, cars, and more people. In addition, young children are often exposed to the importance of reducing pollution and recycling, but may not be taught or fully understand the reason behind these concepts. 
 
Environmental education encourages children to become good stewards and to think globally but act locally regarding the environment and environmental issues. Environmental education is more than just learning about plants and animals and the environment: It is an invaluable tool for teaching critical thinking skills and applying these skills to the students’ everyday world.
 
Educators can integrate technology and media with environmental education through activities that encourage children to explore, create, problem solve, communicate, collaborate, document, investigate, and demonstrate their learning about the world outside of their classroom. We argue that developmentally appropriate technologies can be used to supplement experiences in the natural world, especially when the curriculum:
 
  1. is based on research and theory,
  2. integrates authentic experiences
  3. is child-directed and inquiry-based, and 
  4. relates to the whole child.
 
 

The Digital Divide

One of the most remarkable changes in the classroom over the past two decades has been the incredible advances in classroom technology. The declining costs of technology have enabled schools to gain access to new technologies, while increases in access to advanced technologies offers classrooms new opportunities to explore different ways to explore and learn about the world. 
 
But, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2009, 31.3% of households did not have computer and/or Internet access. This number is higher for African American (45.5%) and Hispanic (47.2%) households. This means that many students rely on the school setting to provide them with the necessary technological practice to prepare them for success as they go through the school system and prepare for the workforce or higher education. For young children, this includes becoming familiar with technological terms and the use of different hardware and software. 
 
In addition to developing technology skills, integrating technology into the classroom provides students with additional tools to enhance their learning experiences. Technology can address different learning styles by helping students understand their experiences through verbal, written, spatial, quantitative, and/or graphical means. Technology also can motivate children to become independent thinkers by offering opportunities for student-centered instruction, or technology can be used to promote cooperative learning and increase the interaction between the teacher and the student.
 
 

Using Technology Effectively

In order to introduce technology in age-appropriate and educationally effective ways, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Fred Rogers Center recommend that early childhood educators:
 
  • Select, use, integrate, and evaluate technology and interactive media tools in intentional and developmentally appropriate ways, giving careful attention to the appropriateness and the quality of the content, the child’s experience, and the opportunities for co-engagement. 
  • Provide a balance of activities in programs for young children, recognizing that technology and interactive media can be valuable tools when used intentionally with children to extend and support active, hands-on, creative, and authentic engagement with those around them and with their world.
  • Prohibit the passive use of television, videos, DVDs, and other non-interactive technologies and media in early childhood programs for children younger than 2, and discourage passive and non-interactive uses with children ages 2 through 5.
  • Limit any use of technology and interactive media in programs for children younger than two years to those that appropriately support responsive interactions between caregivers and children and that strengthen adult-child relationships.
  • Carefully consider the screen time recommendations from public health organizations for children from birth through age five when determining appropriate limits on technology and media use in early childhood settings. Screen time estimates should include time spent in front of a screen at the early childhood program and, with input from parents and families, at home and elsewhere.
  • Provide leadership in ensuring equitable access to technology and interactive media experiences for the children in their care and for parents and families.  
 
We are not advocating for technology to replace interactions and hands-on experiences, but believe that we can use technology to build skills and interests in the environment. The overall goal is literacy, a kind of literacy that prepares students to be contributing citizens of tomorrow. 
 
 

Tools for Teachers

The following are ideas for age-appropriate, interactive tools and resources and examples of how they can be used in the classroom. 
 
Webcams
ZooAtlanta's Panda Cam gives educators round-the-clock access to wildlife.Webcams can bring distant places to the classroom and allow learners to observe events in real time. For example, if migration is the topic of the day, watching polar bears migrate in Canada can be accomplished via the Polar Bear International webcam. Of course, with webcams, sometimes the animals are active and sometimes not.  However, you can often see snippets of the animals’ activities from previous days or review the data recorded by scientists. Teachers can also set up webcams in the schoolyard, at the bird feeder, or at the garden.  There are relatively inexpensive wireless cams available, including some that record when they are tripped by motion sensors. Webcams can also allow videoconferencing and collaboration with other children, educators, or experts across town or across the world.
 
Here are some webcams you might try:
 
Scanners
Scanners are inexpensive tools that allow teachers to create digital images of a full range of objects that can be used in the classroom in a variety of creative ways. Anything from learner work products to leaves from schoolyard trees can be digitized with the use of a scanner. Scanners can create digital images of plants, insects, or other specimens from the environment for close-up examination. Once scanned images are created, they can be integrated into other programs for classroom activities. The following links provide ideas for using scanners in early childhood settings:
 
 
Cameras and Video
Young children at KidsU at University of Houston-Clear Lake create claymation with digital photography.Digital cameras and video equipment offer children an opportunity to share their views of the environment with others. A digital image can capture a moment in time and allow children to revisit an event or location over an extended period. Children can use cameras and videos to record data, conduct observations, or document events. Children can take photos of schoolyard trees and shrubs throughout the year and document the changes over time.  They can document where they see specific insects or birds with digital cameras. Another option is to have children take pictures of specific shapes or colors, or see what shapes they can find in the pictures they take.
 
The following are some helpful camera- and video-related resources:
 
Geocaching
According to The Geocaching Handbook (Cameron and Cameron, 2004), geocaching is “equal parts scavenger hunting, hiking, outdoor adventure, and gift-exchange-with a technological twist.” GPS receivers (usually on a mobile phone) guide the user to the location of the cache anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure," usually toys or trinkets of little monetary value that users exchange. Today, well over 480,000 geocaches are registered on various websites devoted to the sport. Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Geocaching can be a great hands-on environmental activity for learners of all ages. Educators can create geocaching activities within their classroom, school, or outdoor environment to help children learn to navigate their immediate environment. Visit www.geocaching.com to learn more.
 
 
Mobile Technology
Preschoolers at KidsU at at University of Houston-Clear Lake with their iPads.Mobile technology is entering the classroom at a rapid pace. Teachers and students have a variety of mobile technologies at their fingertips: smartphones, iPods, iPads, tablets, and eReaders are providing learners access to a vast amount of interactive and collaborative tools. Each of the tools discussed above are now readily available on one of the mobile technologies. Students can use mobile technology in a variety of ways inside the classroom and beyond. Tools with touch motion technology such as the iPad or iTouch afford interactions to young children who have yet to fully develop fine motor or reading skills. A collection of environmental education apps offers the classroom teacher opportunities to take instruction outdoors. The following links can help you navigate the options: 
 
 
 

Summary

Children come from diverse backgrounds, and some may not have easy access to technology. As 21st century educators, it is our charge to find strategies that level the educational playing field for all learners. Using age-appropriate, interactive technology tools to foster student engagement in activities that support appreciation of the environment and natural resources promotes understanding of environmental issues. Across the nation, schools are increasing access to technologies in the classroom. Therefore, providing early childhood educators with developmentally appropriate resources and strategies that support environmental and technology literacy should be an essential component of all technology plans. 
 
 
To see the full version of this article as it appeared in IJECEE, click here. If you would like to submit an article for publication in IJECEE, you can view more information, including the Call for Manuscripts, here. 
 
 
About the Authors
Dr. Jana Willis is an Associate Professor at University of Houston - Clear Lake, Texas.  She can be reached at [email protected].
Dr. Brenda Weiser is an Associate Professor at University of Houston - Clear Lake, Texas.  She can be reached at [email protected].
Dr. Donna Kirkwood is National Program Director at HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters).  She can be reached at [email protected].
 
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technology