Initiative to measure impact of interactive technology on young children

Associate professor and child and family development program coordinator in the College of Education Suzanne Lamorey and her graduate students will meet with child care teachers and directors during a one-year period as part of a collaboration to provide interactive technology to young children.

Through a $27,800 grant from PNC Bank, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County will provide interactive whiteboard technology to young students enrolled in selected Mecklenburg County child care centers. The project, known as the Interactive Whiteboard, will examine and document the impact of interactive technology on young children’s learning.

Lamorey and students will provide individualized training, modeling and coaching on whiteboards, as well as access to helpful resources and website links. Selected sessions will be videotaped for both research and learning purposes.

“The invaluable appeal of this project is that it offers the chance to extend young children’s engagement in the interactive learning process,” Lamorey said. “According to preschoolers, interactive technology means, ‘My finger is magic.’ This kind of attitude creates a unique opportunity for teaching concepts in early literacy, emergent numeracy and a variety of problem-solving activities.”

Based on the findings, Lamorey plans to develop research articles for submission to state-level reports and national journals for early childhood practitioners. As one of 76 state-wide partnerships, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is positioned to use project outcomes to inform work across North Carolina and beyond.

Interactive whiteboards have been shown to positively impact children’s learning by enhancing motivation, enthusiasm and students’ self-esteem. They promote increased collaboration, expanded access to technology for low-income students and a new communication style for children with special needs.