The IBM KidSmart Early Learning Programme
Document Sample
The IBM KidSmart
Early Learning
Programme
Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs
The IBM KidSmart Aims
Early Learning
Programme • To extend IBM’s education
grant programme into the
critical pre-school years, with a
focus on disadvantaged
communities.
• To help develop the role of IT
based learning in pre-school
education
• To help bridge the digital divide
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IBM is committed to supporting early childhood education
• The KidSmart programme provides technology and professional
development to pre-schools around the globe
• More than $106 million has been invested over 11 years
– 55,000 Young Explorer units have been donated in 60 countries
– 110,000 teachers and over 10 million students are participating
worldwide
Denmark Czech Republic Brazil
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The IBM KidSmart
Early Learning
Programme • Encourages the positive attitudes
necessary to life-long learning
• Prepares young children to enter
the digital world
• Works in partnership with
Ministries of Education
• Trains teachers to use IT
effectively to support children’s
learning
• Offers an on-line resource for
teachers and parents :
www.kidsmartearlylearning.org
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The Young Explorer is a powerful combination of
computer & leading software
The computer is housed in brightly-coloured,
child-friendly Little Tikes furniture
Pre-loaded award-winning educational software
in 27 languages helps children :
to learn and explore concepts in maths,
science and language as well as engage in
creative thinking
to learn important socialisation &
collaborative learning skills
The programme is effective in supporting the
learning and integration of children with special
educational needs
There is a web site to support teachers and
parents (available in 8 languages)
/ www.kidsmartearlylearning.org
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KidSmart in Europe, Middle East and
Africa (EMEA) :
• 18,000 Young Explorer computers
• in 11,000 pre-schools
• in 31 countries
• benefiting over 2,000,000 children
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KidSmart – total unit numbers in Europe : 2011
334
232
402
38 574
847 500 30
1416 38
961
436 938
1166
524
1306 1014 208
227
204
364
499 727
999
380 Pakistan
South Africa 134
1317
510 UAE
420
544 362
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KidSmart in EMEA - 2011
In association with our partner organisations we
have :
Trained 35,000 early education practitioners
Established 60 flourishing practitioner networks
Supported over 60 parent involvement programmes
Ensured that there are high profile links to
kidsmartearlylearning.org on 4 key European and 20 National
education servers in 18 EMEA countries
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Independent evaluations: KidSmart promotes early learning
The KidSmart programme leads to substantial improvements in teaching and
learning
It has shown significant positive outcomes for children and teachers in
disadvantaged communities
The use of the Young Explorer units has increased the self esteem of practitioners,
who have become much more confident in using computer technology overall.
Children’s motivation for learning increased following the introduction of the Young
Explorer unit
The unit supports and extends children’s learning in a very enjoyable way
Children tend to persist longer in trying to resolve problems than when using other
media
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Findings from independent evaluations
Critical importance of :
• a frequent adult presence alongside the children at the computer to enrich
the quality of learning
• professional training which addresses the appropriate use of
technologies in the education of very young children.
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Evaluation findings
• Children work better when collaborating at the computer in twos or
threes than when alone. Their interactions with each other at the
computer become increasingly sustained over time
• Children's motivation for learning increased following the
introduction to the ‘Young Explorer’
• The ‘Young Explorer’ supports and extends children's learning in a
very enjoyable way
• Children tend to persist longer in trying to resolve problems than
when using other media
• In the UK a promising impact on the motivation and concentration
levels of boys have been noted
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2007 : His Excellency Dr Hanif Hassan, UAE Minister of Education, admiring a new Young
Explorer unit in Dubai
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July 2010 : IBM Ireland CGM, Peter O'Neill, and Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan, at
the KidSmart 10th anniversary celebration in Dublin
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Kinderet :
A manual for trainers of Early Childhood Educators in Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) In Bulgaria, England, Portugal, Spain and Sweden published by the European
Commission
In the European context the continuing training of early childhood educators in terms of
information and communications technology (ICT) remains limited and is in need of
development.
The KINDERET project has therefore been structured according to five main objectives, namely
to:
•identify and understand the theoretical and practical needs of kindergarten teachers with
regard to ICT education
•establish plans for the training of educators, in the application of ICT
•develop interactive learning materials for educators in order to support the established plans
for continuing training in ICT
•implement pilot training schemes and promote transnational collaboration between tutors and
students through the use of ICTs
•evaluate the pilot training schemes
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Strong impact in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
KidSmart is widely acknowledged as
a catalyst for curriculum
development and learning
innovation in EMEA
16 KidSmart case studies from 15
countries highlight the impact of the
programme on children with a wide
range of special educational needs.
They are available for download in
19 languages at :
http://blog.eun.org/insightblog/2009/10/kidsmar
t_case_studies_and_trav.html
15
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16
Case study: Slovakia
The Mokrohájska kindergarten is for children with a range of disabilities, including polio, cerebral
palsy, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy and fractures following serious injury. Many suffer from speech
defects and have problems with concentration.
Staff were keen to bring KidSmart into the kindergarten in order to implement new teaching methods
and to help the children feel comfortable with computers, which will play an increasingly important
part in their lives.
KidSmart is now enthusiastically used by the four to five year olds, with staff focusing on basic
mathematics, speech therapy, enrichment of vocabulary and general knowledge acquisition. Its
programmes link into the kindergarten’s curriculum and staff agree that they are entirely suitable for
this age group.
Improved levels of concentration and collaboration between children
Children have become used to the computer and keyboard in a very natural way and tend to work in pairs to solve tasks. They thoroughly enjoy
projects with pictures and print their work to make exhibitions for their parents.
Using the software programs has increased their vocabulary, while helping them understand logical thought process and physical orientation.
They have also enhanced their maths skills. Children using the unit are progressively left to make decisions on their own and staff have noticed
that this is improving the learners’ levels of concentration. Their concentration span is also lengthening, so they stay focussed for longer.
These developments are important milestones for many of the children. Teamwork and co-operation have improved as the pupils often
collaborate on projects. Some children who have problems using the mouse, because of their physical disabilities, rely on their peers to help and
they tackle tasks together.
“In today’s information, communications and technology-based society, it is important that children have a chance to work with PCs at a young
age,” says Maria Knotekova from the school. “For those with physical disabilities, the PC will probably be the key for them to access the
workplace. “
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Case study: Berlin
The kindergarten “Käpt’n Browser Integrationkita” in Salvadore-Allende-Straße in Berlin has 125
children between 3 and 7 years old. 27 of them have special educational needs, including Down’s
Syndrome, hearing impairment and a wide range of physical and learning disabilities.
For some years the kindergarten has been developing a stronger focus on the integration of ICT into
teaching and learning and was delighted to qualify for a place in the KidSmart programme. Their
Young Explorer unit is freely accessible to all children and currently stands in a teaching area for a
mixed age group of 15 children, 4 of whom have special needs.
The teachers work collaboratively to build their ICT competences and develop new ideas for using technology in creative ways to build children’s
skills, knowledge and social confidence. One of their recent projects has been to make a radio play based on the story of ‘The Hungry
Caterpillar’. Everyone contributed to writing the play and each child took part, either taking a role or playing the accompanying music. The
production was recorded and saved along with the children’s drawings and photographs on the KidSmart computer. A number of CD Roms were
produced so that families could also enjoy the play together at home.
For children with disabilities, staff have found that the KidSmart unit offers enrichment opportunities and enhances their capacity to cater for
individual needs. Henrik, aged 7, suffers from Down’s Syndrome. Normally he is easily distracted from any activity and is always on the move.
However, experience has shown that he is often able to concentrate for at least 15 minutes on a single learning activity when working on the
KidSmart unit and becomes deeply engrossed in the ‘game’.
Communication and a sense of success ..
Justin, aged 4, is hearing impaired. A special computer program helps to teach him sign language. He enjoys learning with the KidSmart Early
Learning Centre because a lot of the programs depend on visual communication. His communication with other children has also improved
significantly because they love to learn sign language on the computer as well !
Marvin and Noah, aged 6, are both children with learning difficulties. They are really keen to work with the ‘Millie’s Mouse Skills’ software
because these activities enable them to succeed and they can repeat the games as often as they wish, building their sense of independence,
control and self-esteem.
"KidSmart offers access to ICT to every child - No child is excluded due to his or her disability!" said Lila Voss, Head Teacher at the kindergarten.
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Travelling Toys: promoting culture exchange…and IT skills
• IBM designed this one-month project in October 2008 as a contribution to the
European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
– 50 teachers and 550 pre-school aged children (between 3 and 6) from
disadvantaged communities in 13 countries throughout Europe participated
– Designed to encourage cultural exchange and increase IT communication
skills among young learners.
• How Travelling Toys worked:
– Children exchanged a toy representing their country with groups in four
other regions.
• The UK, for example, sent Paddington Bear (along with instructions for Moscow
making marmalade sandwiches) and received Olli the squirrel from
Finland (who had met Santa Claus on his way from the north) in return.
– The children used the internet to talk to their peers in their partner countries
by sending and receiving electronic ‘postcards’ between the toys.
– During the toy’s “visit,” the children learned about each other’s cultures and
about themselves, including many features of daily life, language, music,
dance, food, imaginative thinking and travel.
• For teachers, Travelling Toys enabled them to introduce a new level of
creativity into their work, and helped them use collaboration to stimulate
children’s learning; they gained an increased understanding of the skills
needed to integrate information technology and communication effectively into
early education. Helsinki
Travelling Toys : 29 September – 24 October 2008
Austria : Kuh Elsa
Baxter Betriebskindergarten,
Vienna
Message from Berlin :
Eurer Elsa geht es gut. Sie hat heute
zum Frühstück Kakao getrunken und
zum Mittag gibt es Kaiserschmarren
mit Pflaumen, das wird sie sicher aus
Wien kennen.
Belgium : Papa Smurf
As representative of our school,
we are sending "Papa Smurf”
along. Smurfs are very small
creatures who live in toadstools
deep in a Belgian forest.
Saint Martinus school, Brussels
Finland : Olli
I am Olli-the-Squirrel, and I come from Helsinki, the capital of Finland. I come from Haaga Kindergarten, and I
was sent to this trip to represent a group of 6-year-old pre-school kids from Haaga KG.
My best friend is the Troll of the Woods. I live with him in a forest behind Haaga Kindergarten. Children have
visited the Troll many, many times, and the Troll asked me if I wanted to go on a journey to get to know how
human children live, what kind of games children play etc. He also wanted me to remind you that it is important
to take care of our environment, care for animals, plants, and trees, as well as other human beings.
Haagan päiväkoti, Helsinki
Germany : Brummel (the
Berlin bear)
Ich möchte Euch von meinem Wohnort „Köpenick“, der Kindertagesstätte, den Kindern und Erziehern erzählen.
Hier ist eine menge los!
Die Kinder werden Ausflüge machen, auf Entdeckungsreise gehen, gemeinsam mit den Händen singen, malen ,
spielen und gemeinsam eine Menge entdecken.
Hab ich Euch etwas Lust gemacht, dann kann’s losgehen!
Käpt’n Browser Kita, Berlin
Ireland : Sinéad
The doll we sent you from Ireland is called Sinéad
Hello!! The name of our school is Scoíl Bhríde. It
(pronounced Shin-aid). She is an Irish dancer. Irish
was built in 1954 in a little village in the west of
dancing is a very old tradition in Ireland and has Ireland called New Inn. New Inn is a really quiet
become even more popular in Ireland and round the and peaceful place to live.
world since Riverdance. Have you heard of it? Perhaps
you can teach Sinéad your traditional dance while she
is Poland? We can teach Benio a few Irish dancing
steps too!"
Scoil Bhríde National School,
Ballinasloe, Co Galway
Italy : Hannibal
In the photo we send, you can see us with
"Hannibal", a nice horse with whom we have just
made a ride in the park of our school. Hannibal is
ready to travel, reach your place and stay a time
with you! We look forward!
Scuola dell’infanzia Andersen
Vimercate, Milan
Netherlands : Teddy
Hello !
We are from the Da Costa school in Hooggraven. Our school
has almost 170 pupils from 4 up to 12 years old. We have
three kindergarten groups with children from 4 up to 6
years old. Our group is called the Bear group. The other two
Kindergarten groups are called the Elephant and the Monkey
group. Because we are the bear group, we have chosen a nice
bear called Teddy to travel to you
Da Costa Hoograven, Utrecht
Poland : Krakus
We promise to take care about your little hors Hanibal. We have sent
you our dragon. His name is KRAKUS. There is the legend that tells the
story of the dragon who lived in our city long time ago. This dragon was
living in the cave, close to the old castle…. you can read the rest of the
story in the book that KRAKUS has with him.
Samorzadowe Przedszkole Nr 175,
Krakow
Portugal : Gil
We are very pleased to have the opportunity to
meet you and to know something about you and
your school. We live in Portugal, in a small village
in the centre of the country, called Porto de Mós.
Our kindergarten has 3 classes with 25 children
each from 3 to 6 years. All three classes will
participate in this project.
Jardim de Infância, Porto de Mós
Russia : Matrioshka Luba
Kindergarten «Po Schúchiemu Veléniu», Hello, dear friends! We
Nizhny Novgorod are very pleased to meet
with you. It is very
exciting to learn how you
live, and also to tell you
about us.
We are happy that our toy,
Matrioshka Luba (Lubove)
will visit your kindergarten.
She is not alone, but with
her sisters. Try to guess
where they are.
Slovakia : Zaba the frog
We belong to English / Slovak bilingual
classroom and our symbol is the Frog,
because we live close to the forest and we
meet frogs often in our yard. We are 3-6
years old boys and girls keen to
communicate with children from other
countries.
Materska skola Koliba, Koliba
Spain : Paco Pepe
I am Paco Pepe a dragon who comes from the island of
Dragonera in the Spanish Balearic Islands. I’m a friend
of Zaleo School. I will visit you soon.
Escuela infantil Zaleo,
Madrid
UK : Paddington Bear
Just to let you know:
Paddington loves scones with
marmalade, and if you can let
us know Benio's favorite food
we can plan cooking activity
for him too
Hargrave Park school, Islington
Brummel enjoys the music of Mozart in Vienna – as do the children
back home at his kindergarten in Berlin
The children decide what to pack in Elsa’s suitcase. What sort
of clothes will she need ? What is the weather like in Portugal
? What kind of money will she need ?
Children in Moscow find Helsinki in Finland on their globe – with Olli‘s help
Children in Portugal unpack Matrioshka Luba and her ‘sisters’ on arrival in Lisbon
from Nizhny Novgorod in Russia
See how tiny Portugal is compared to the size of Matrioshka Luba’s
country, Russia
Elsa learns to brush her teeth in Berlin
Brummel on his way back. The children ‘see him off ‘ at the airport
The airport staff are brilliant !
Child’s view of Brummel the bear flying home to Berlin from
Moscow by the quickest route ..
A copy of the project report in English can be found at :
http://www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu/1648.0.html?&L=0
Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs
“ The KidSmart programme has raised the whole profile of ICT in the early years (under 5s) in
Inverclyde (Scotland). Getting the resources to go on-line is a major outcome directly attributable to
KidSmart".
"I had no notion that KidSmart would impact the way it has."
Anne Rourke - Inverclyde Early Years Adviser
"We received 3 Young Explorers as part of the IBM KidSmart Programme in October 2009 which we
installed in Junior and Senior Infants and the Special Language Class. The Young Explorer and the
installed programmes are extremely child friendly, allowing those who have little or no experience
with computers to gain confidence and become more independent in using them. In our school,
children with specific learning difficulties have benefited greatly from these computers, in particular
a little boy with Downs Syndrome, and all the children in the Special Language Class."
Ann Ryan, Principal, St Marks Junior National School, Tallaght, Dublin
" The learners in Grade 0 found the programme exciting and challenging. The learners also used the
computers with their peers. The activities exposed the learners to symbolic representation,
language/number awareness, sharing and taking turns, explaining and describing, gross and fine motor
control and extending their imagination, creativity and role playing. They have enjoyed participating in
the activities and their perceptual mathematical and language skills and concepts have been enhanced.
... There is a definite need to implement this programme in all schools."
Jeanette Herholdt, Principal of Sagewood pre-primary school, Midrand, South Africa
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Russia
Moscow Department of Education :
"Our surveys of pre-schools participating in Kidsmart show that the programme is a good
starting point for teaching computer technologies to pre-schoolers. The programme
develops creative thinking and helps children to learn important phenomena and
concepts while playing. The programme improves childrens' self-confidence and self-
sufficiency and encourages them to research activities, says Vlakdimir Yablonsky, Director
of the Information and Analytical Centre of the Moscow Department of Education.
