Taking Small BYTES was launched by the Minister for Children and Families on Tuesday 6th September. The resource supports early literacy and STEM learning (see below).
This resource can be viewed at http://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/?ZY2GMP
The resource is downloadable to any tablet/desktop/mobile device and contains 460 learning experiences matched to VEYLDF.
BETTER DIGITAL LEARNING ON THE CARDS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Young Victorian children will have better access to technology to support their education and build important skills and knowledge thanks to an investment by the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos today launched the Small Bytes card deck, which helps early childhood educators use technology to enhance children’s learning opportunities.
Small Bytes – comprised of 100 cards – features 370 tips for educators about how technology can be used as part of a play-based learning program.
Ideas include how to get kids exploring with a digital microscope, going on a virtual tour to the other side of the world, and how to connect with a favourite author.
The cards build children’s literacy and numeracy, and support the development of important broader skills such as curiosity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration.
Today’s launch was part of the Labor Government’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Plan, launched at Science Works with Minister for Education James Merlino.
Small Bytes align with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, which underpins the work of Victoria’s early years sector, outlining the knowledge and skills that lead children to become confident, engaged life-long learners.
Used in the right way, digital technologies enable learning by providing access to quality online resources and experts, connecting families with their children’s learning, improving assessment, feedback and reporting and bridging the educational divide for kids with additional needs.
All government-funded kindergarten programs will be receiving hard copy sets of the cards. The cards will also be available to all Victorian early childhood education and care services and parents as an electronic book at: Taking Small BYTES – http://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/?ZY2GMP
