Story Park Documentation

STORY PARK

Apple Store

March 1, 2017

Story Park is an online documentation that can be accessed through their website (Click here) or their app found on the Apple Store (iPhones, iPads, etc.) or on Google Play (Android).

This online documentation or ePortfolio could be used by Educators, parents, teachers, and others who are part of the child's life. Storypark is used in a way that supports the involvement of the child's life by connecting them with those in the community or those they interact with.Each documented post per child can include the skills and key areas the child focused on during a specific play.

Each documentation or ePortfolio per individual child is at a low cost. An advantage with this online documentation is that the progress of the child's development can be taken with them once they leave the childcare center or the school. It can be shared and accessed by many people if the parent, educator, or teacher provides the accessibility to others. Another handy thing about this app/website is that it can be opened anywhere, updated, and viewed.

What can be posted on this app/website?

On Story park, you can post videos, photos, notes, portfolios, and other developmental documentations about an individual child.The parents and educators have an opportunity to preview the child development during a weekly or daily basis by commenting on a post made by the child’s educator. For older children, they can have access to the document and post their own learning and experiences.

Website Click Here (Computers, Laptop, etc.) 

Reference

Storypark. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.storypark.com/ . 

HiMama - Documentation

Feb 15, 2017

During an hour or so of class, we had a guest speaker come in and talk about the positivity of technology for young children, parents, and educators and walked the class through a web page/application called "HiMama". "HiMama" is user-friendly, for educators and parents - it is used a substitution to children documentation during programming.

HiMama is a substitution to the centre’s program documentation, it allows for educators and parents to engage in individual children’s learning growth. Allows for continuous communication, memory reminders and connecting families with the centre. Not only does HiMama support documentation it allows for communication, engagement, technology involvement, and it saves time. When educators are able to save time on documentation it means educators would have more time to engage with the child's learning and experiences throughout the day.

The online document HiMama allows educators to have access to every individual child's section for inputting and updating the professional development the child is building on a daily or weekly basis. The application is used to document the child's activity engagement, what they have eaten, the time they have slept, etc. This then is informed to the parent(s) that have access to an HiMama account for their child. Educator(s) and parents at the center have quick and updated information based on what the child is currently working on.

For further information based on HiMama access the website and or video below! 

Below are how the application looks like for parents and educators in the apple or google play store. Also to access the website click here

This is what the app looks in the Apple store (iPhone, iPad, etc.) and should be similar to on Google Play (Andriod) - This is for educators and the center staff to use. 

This app is for parents to use and access their child's progressing documentation. 

Reference

HiMama.(2017). Retrieved from https://www.himama.com/

HiMama. (2014). Child Care and Day Care App for Documentation, Reports, Daily Sheets - HiMama Overview. [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKcRw4TIx58

Technology Interaction for Children & Families - Newsletter

Technology is something that is not safe for all users, in which worries parents in allowing their child to take part in a virtual world. When parents are to introduce technology to their child/children they should focus on the safety and how it can be a safe environment in a virtual world (CDC).

Prior to introducing technology Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers some resources and strategies that can be used for educators and parents:

1.       Talk to you child.

·         This is like a parent asking their child where they are headed, it can be used in the same context while the child is surfing online.

2.       Develop Rules.

·         Create rules, restrictions, safety, and behaviours while using any source of media technology.

3.       Explore the Internet.

·         Visit, explore and access sites that are frequently use by the child to assess the pros and cons.

4.       Talk with others.

·         Communicate with other parents/educators of how they address technology to their child.

5.       Connect with the school

·         Be involved and partnered with the school to engage in school policies on electronics and resources available to support it.

6.       Educate yourself.

·         Be informed about new devices, websites, and media. Always communicate with your child and explore technology yourself, to gain the most understanding what the child is engaging in.

For more information on technology interactions for children and families, View PDF (Click Here). This PDF will lead you to a newsletter talking a bit more about the benefits of technology for young children. Below are interactive links to a few applications that can be accessed on mobile devices. 

Active Links from the Newsletter: 

Math:

Math training for kids (4 years +) – Android, Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.divmob.eastermath.game.GameActivity&hl=en

Counting Caterpillars (2 ½ years +) – Apple, iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/counting-caterpillar/id468556132?mt=8

Language:

Stories by Gus on the go, multi-languages – Apple, iTunes.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learn-spanish-stories-by-gus/id1071230980?mt=8&utm_campaign=elearningindustry.com&utm_source=%2F10-best-language-learning-apps-for-kids&utm_medium=link

References 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Kids and technology: Tips for parents in a high-tech world. CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/matte/pdf/cdcelectronicregression.pdf