Why Document Infant and Toddler Learning with Tablets?

By: Carrie Portrie, EC-SEAT Project Coordinator in collaboration with Sophia Fowler, early supports and services provider and Jessica Heald, elementary special educator as part of a workshop presented to Early Head Start childcare partnership teachers.

Many adults working and caring for young children have access to tablets with built-in cameras that can easily record infant and toddler learning. Using digital tools for observation and documentation can provide creative means for practitioners and families to reflect on infant and toddler growth. Below are tools to create social stories and learning stories on a tablet. Social stories are focused on targeted behaviors for specific interventions. Learning stories originate from New Zealand and are constructed in the oral story tradition or like a picture book illustrating a child’s observed explorations or interactions with peers and the environment. Below are resources and basic steps to begin creating these types of stories.

Steps for Creating Digital Social and Learning Stories

Identify target behavior or observe a learning moment

• Document behaviors and/or development
• Communicate with families to identify desired behaviors

Write story scripts

• Using the child’s perspective, describe events and actions with a few sentences focused on desired behavior 
• 1-2 short sentences per slide/page 

Compile photos

• Focus on people and settings
• Use tablet camera to take photos and edit photos as needed

Utilize digital media

• Arrange slides/pages
• Add Photos
• Record voice narration

(Adapted from Broek et al, 1994, Drummond, 2012, More, 2008 )

Try these digital story making tools:

1. Google Slides – An open ended free tool allowing you to make slides with photos, video and text. 
2. Stories About Me by Limited Cue LLC – Use photos, text and audio, integrates with Dropbox, parental lock feature, blank book template, $3.99 (+$4.99 to unlock access to unlimited stories & sharing) 
3. iCreate … Social Skills Stories by I Get It, LLC - Use photos, audio & text, to create unlimited number of stories, has a multiple users feature, blank book template, can e-mail or print as PDF, $4.99 
4. Kid in Story Book Maker Free: Create & Share Personalized Photo Story by Enuma Inc. - 20 story templates and a blank story feature, can use photos & audio and edit story templates, can share via e-mail, 

References:

• Broek, E., Cain, S.L., Dutkiewicz, M., Fleck, L., Grey, B., Grey, C., et al. (1994). The Original Social Story™ Book. Arlington,TX: Future Education. www.thegraycenter.org 
• Drummond, T. (2012). Learning stories. Retrieved from http://tomdrummond.com/learning-stories/. 
• More, C. (2008). Digital stories targeting social skills for children with disabilities: Multidimensional learning. Intervention in School and Clinic, 43(3).