Erikson TEC Center: Technology in Early Childhood

The TEC Center at Erikson Institute empowers early childhood educators to thoughtfully and appropriately use technology in the classroom and other early childhood settings. Learn more

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About the TEC Center

The TEC Center at Erikson Institute empowers early childhood educators to make informed decisions about the appropriate use of technology with children from birth to age 8. Through carefully selected resources and real-world examples, the Center strengthens educators’ digital literacy and their ability to intentionally select, use, integrate, and evaluate technology in the classroom and other early childhood settings. The TEC Center was launched with the support of The Boeing Company.

The full TEC Center website is coming soon! Watch this space or sign up to receive Center updates.

Learn more about us.

Technology in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8

Issued jointly by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media

This position statement provides a framework to guide practice in the selection, use, integration, and evaluation of technology tools and screen media in early childhood settings serving children birth through age eight.

Learn more on the NAEYC website 

Key links

Related news & blog posts

TEC Center Director Chip Donohue co-chaired the writing team and working group that developed the position statement.




















































































TEC Center Events

Join us for TEC Center presentations at these conferences:
February
Child Development Theory and App Design: A TEC Conversation with Frances Judd
Frances Judd, Mrs. Judd’s Games
Erikson Institute, Chicago
More Info
April
Intentional Technology for Early Learners in Schools: A TEC Conversation
Jennifer Magiera, Tricia Fuglestad, and Erin Stanfill
Erikson Institute, Chicago
More Info

December
Technology and the Young Child, Naperville, IL
RSVP via email by Dec. 10
Chip Donohue,
Hosted by DuPage Professional Development Task Force
View Slides
Selected Resources
Pedagogical Considerations and Effective Practices for Online Teaching
Chip Donohue
Open University of China, Beijing, China
View Slides
November
Supporting the Whole Online Learner
Luisiana Melendez, Chris Maxwell, Laura Papale& Allie Pasquier
NAEYC Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA
View Slides
Technology Resources for Educators
Karen Putman, David Kleeman, Chip Donohue, & Katie Paciga
Technology in the Early Years Conference
Columbia College Chicago, Catherine Cook School and TEC Center at Erikson Institute, Chicago, IL
View Slides
Tech on Deck Playroom, NAEYC Annual Conference
Hosted by the TEC Center with NAEYC, the NAEYC Technology and Young Children Interest Forum, Early Childhood Technology Network, Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media, the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, and United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education, Atlanta, GA
View Slides
Key Messages
Intentional and Appropriate Teaching with Technology
Roberta Schomberg, Chip Donohue, Carli McKenney, Sue Polojac,
NAEYC Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA
View Slides
Technology in ECE: For Teacher Educators and Teachers of Young Children
Chip Donohue,
NAEYC Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA
View Slides
View Resources
October
All Hands-On Tech!
Technology Conference for Child Care Professionals
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and TEC Center at Erikson Institute
   Technology Leadership in ECE
   View Slides
   Intentional and Appropriate Teaching
   with Technology
   View Slides
   Learning Tech through Play
   View Slides
Using Technology in Your Classroom
Amanda Armstrong, One Hope United, Park Ridge, IL
Technology in ECE: Is There an App for That?
Chip Donohue & Amanda Armstrong,
Office of Catholic Schools, Northlake, IL
View Slides
Teaching with Technology: Guidelines from the NAEYC
Chip Donohue
Council of Chief State School Officers, Indianapolis, IN
View Slides
September
Bammy National Award Ceremony, Innovator of the Year Recipient
Chip Donohue
August
Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, Madison, WI
Intentional Design Based on Understanding the Learners, Teachers, and Content
Simone C. O. Conceição & Chip Donohue
View Slides
June
Fred Forward Conference, Latrobe, PA
Fred Forward Moment
Chip Donohue & Roberta Schomburg
Senior Fellows, Fred Rogers Center
"Fred Forward Minute" Interview
NAEYC Professional Development Institute, Indianapolis, IN
View Chip, Roberta and Madhavi’s Slides
View Chip’s Resources
EdMedia Conference, Denver, CO
Building and Sustaining an Online Teacher Education Community: A Case Study for Overcoming Barriers
Simone C. O. Conceição & Chip Donohue
View Simone and Chip's Slides
Read Simone and Chip's Paper
May
Technology Leadership in ECE – Is There an App for That?
Chip Donohue, Fran Simon, & Karen Nemeth
Leadership Connections, Wheeling, IL
View Chip's Resources
View Chip's Presentation
View Chip's Slides
Read Chip’s article
Dust or Magic App Camp 2012, Pacific Grove, CA
April
Technology for learning with and about children: Strategies for engaging and empowering online training and PD
Chip Donohue,
National Head Start Association
View Chip’s Slides
View Chip’s Resources
March
Intentional & Appropriate Use of Technology Tools & Interactive Media
Chip Donohue,
Early Education and Technology for Children
View Presentations
View Chip’s Presentation
View Chip’s Slides

Early Childhood Investigations Webinar Series
Sponsored by the TEC Center

2013

February 20
Effective, Appropriate, & Intentional Use of Technology Tools in ECE Classrooms
Mark Bailey and Aja Appel
View Interview Questions
More information
April 17
Digital & Media Literacy — Practical Pedagogy Behind Successful Technology Integration in ECE
Faith Rogow
View Interview Questions
More information
October 16
Using Developmentally Appropriate Practice with Early Learners to Evaluate Apps
Gail Lovely
More information
November 13
ECE Tech Trends in 2013 and New Directions for 2014
Warren Buckleitner
More information

2012

May 9
Teaching with Technology: Guidance from the NAEYC/FRC Position Statement
Chip Donohue and Roberta Schomburg
View the Recorded Webinar
June 6
Paving the Way for Developmentally Appropriate Technology — A TEC Conversation with Fran Simon and Karen Nemeth
Fran Simon, Karen Nemeth, and Chip Donohue
More information
September 12
Using Ele™, a Free Online Tool, to Incorporate Principles from NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center into Your Program
Michael Robb and Chip Donohue
More information
October 17
ECE Tech Trends in 2012, New Directions for 2013, and Why Technology Integration Matters: A TEC Conversation with Warren Buckleitner
Warren Buckleitner and Chip Donohue
More information
November 14
Apps and Software in Early Childhood Classrooms: A Continuum of Teaching Tools
Kate Highfield
More information

More webinars available at Early Childhood Investigations.