Creative, Design-Based Explorations in Engineering and Technology for Early Childhood Classrooms

Presented by Dr. Angela Eckhoff, Author of Creative Investigations in Early Math
Sponsored by Gryphon House

Watch the Recording

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In this edWebinar, Angela Eckhoff, PhD, Author of Creative Investigations in Early Engineering and Technology, stresses the importance of encouraging engineering and technology experiences in the early childhood classroom through guided and independent investigations where every child is actively involved in meaningful ways. Early childhood educators play important roles in early engineering and technology experiences and this session will demonstrate the ways teachers can facilitate these experiences throughout the planning, implementation, and assessment of the creative, design-based experiences.

For young children, technology experiences involve using tools, identifying and acting on problems, being creative and inventive, and making things work. Engineering experiences involve exploring problems, using a variety of materials, and designing and building things that work. The lessons and approach to curriculum shared in this session include critical elements of inquiry and creative thinking—open-ended tasks, activities involving social interaction, and opportunities for children’s reflection and elaboration.

This edWebinar will support viewers’ abilities to develop and implement creative engineering and technology experiences in the early childhood classroom by helping them to:

• Understand the links between engineering content, design learning, and project-based learning
• Plan cooperative engineering and technology lessons that will engage all children in the classroom as individuals or when working in small or whole groups
• Implement classroom experiences that support children’s engagement with engineering and technology in everyday experiences
• Recognize children’s understandings of engineering and technology concepts in order to build upon their current understandings to support knowledge growth
• Document children’s knowledge development with authentic work samples and classroom artifacts

PreK educators will benefit from watching this recorded event.

About the Presenter

Dr. Angela Eckhoff is an associate professor of teaching and learning-early childhood education and director of the Virginia Early Childhood Policy Center at Old Dominion University in Virginia. She holds a dual PhD from the University of Colorado – Boulder in educational psychology and cognitive science. Dr. Eckhoff is the author of Creative Investigations in Early Engineering and Technology. She also is a coeditor of the Growing in STEM column for Young Children and the Full STEAM Ahead column for Teaching Young Children from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Dr. Eckhoff researches informal learning environments for children and families, the role of creativity in child development and learning, as well as arts-based early childhood pedagogical practices.

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Gryphon House, Inc. is an award-winning publisher of early childhood resources for teachers and parents.