Pre-K Technology Application TEKS Overview

The Pre-K Technology Applications TEKS lay a foundation and outline for student’s future performance and use of computers and other forms of technology as they progress through the grade levels preparing for graduation. This foundation is critical in preparing them to be productive in the global community. The Pre-K Technology Applications TEKS can be viewed at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/techapp/teks/prek.htm It is important to understand that students come to the various grade levels with a basic foundation of technological understanding which enhances their continued learning experience. They need to feel confident and independent in their use of technology. That foundation of understanding can come from the public, private, or home setting for children aged 3 to 4 years of age. By using technology children grow their ability to problem solve, acquire information and communicate with others. Software that is age appropriate, can not only engage children to learn but enhance their learning experience.

In the early years, the beginning steps of understanding technology should include the ability to comprehend the basic functions of the computer and the technology that it relates to. The basic understanding should encompass the child’s ability to start the computer along with starting appropriate software programs and exiting the program and turning off the computer when complete. While performing these activities students will demonstrate their understanding of various input devices such as the mouse, keyboard, printer and CD-ROM. The students should be able to follow basic oral commands and instructions along with picture cues for operating programs successfully. Programs that Pre-K students should be able to operate in consist of programs that include listening, interacting with storybooks, selecting music, and other age appropriate software programs. These software programs should promote students comprehension in vocabulary acquisition, phonics awareness, counting and number recognition. The use of audio, visual, and graphics involved in successful use of technology will give students in the Pre-K age grouping a solid foundation upon which they can build a concrete use and understanding of how technology works that will advance them into 21st century global awareness.

One way that spiraling curriculum can be accomplished is in the area of Music. The Music TEKS b1:1 deals with perception. Students have opportunities to analyze musical sounds by identifying voices, instruments and musical families; use of terminology to describe musical sounds; identification of patterns in musical examples. Music is much like technology in that it has specific terms and names for the various components of the art. Students can use the correlation to understand that there are basics that must be understood concerning the two areas. These basics must be understood before successful building can occur among the two content areas. Carrying that concept on to the subjects of Math and Science can be used to assist students in higher grades understand that subjects work together for the process of success and achievement.