The Child: Between Touching Buttons and Touching Hands
Wadi D. Haddad, Editor-in-Chief

With the potential of technologies for early childhood development come concerns. Is there a happy combination?

Young Learners and Their Learning Technologies
Frank Method, Consultant, and Andrea Bosch, Educational Development Center

Since early learning is contextual and interactive, many early childhood educators are cautious about the use of computers and other screen-based media. Are other technologies more appropriate?

Early Childhood Education Going Public?
Kurt Moses, Vice President, Academy for Educational Development

Early childhood education models for delivery create a real challenge for formal and more bureaucratic ministries of education, lest they destroy the inherent motivations involved in community efforts.

Technology and Early Child Development
Mary Eming Young, Human Development Department, The World Bank

For the majority of the world and in particular for children living in poverty, we are far from addressing the merits of using technology in education and learning, let alone closing the digital divide among the �haves� and �have-nots.� This article summarizes the use of technology in early childhood, with special focus on the U.S. context.

TechKnowNews

Africa Connects Conference Connects Africa � ECD Knowledge Base for Africa � Online K-12 School to Launch First Curriculum for K-2 � UNESCO Publishes Community Telecentre Cookbook for Africa �

Bolivia�s Kusillo: Museum of Science and Play
Wendy McFarren, Ph.D., Director, Kusillo Cultural Complex, Bolivia

The Kusillo, in La Paz, Bolivia has explored the notion of appropriate learning technologies and content for an urban population that is diverse culturally and socio-economically. In the past four years, the Kusillo has designed interactive educational programs on health issues, and in the process faced two types of challenges: technology and content.

Sesame Street - the Longest Street in the World - Runs Along the Nile
Michelle Ward-Brent, CEDPA TAACS, Girls� Education Advisor to USAID/Cairo

In most parts of the developing world, significant disparities continue to exist in the educational standing of girls and boys. Eliminating such gender disparities is the focus of USAID/Cairo's local co-production of SESAME STREET called ALAM SIMSIM.

Making Waves in the Himalayas: Interactive Radio Instruction for Early Childhood Development in Nepal
Jeffrey Bates, UNICEF Project Coordinator for IRI/ECD Nepal Project, 1996 � 1998

In 1996 UNICEF Nepal introduced an interactive radio project as part of their early childhood development initiative. This article describes the process the project went through during its early stages, with the purpose of providing ideas and caveats for people working in environments with similar needs.

Brain Mechanisms and Early Learning: Highlights of the First High Level Forum on Learning Sciences and Brain Research
Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development, Centre for Education Research & Innovation

This article presents highlights of the forum on �Brain Mechanisms and Early Learning� held by OECD-CERI in June 2000 as part of a larger project on �Learning Sciences and Brain Research.� It presents findings in five major areas of research: brain plasticity, brain periodicity, early cognition, emotional competency, and specific learning processes.

Technology and Young Children: A Position Statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children

This article presents the position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children on technology and young children. It addresses seven main issues related to the use of technology with children ages 3 � 8.

Technology and Young Children: A Review of Literature
Alexandra E. Appel, Caliber, Fried & Sher Associates, and Chloe O�Gara, V.P. & Director, Ready to Learn Center, Academy for Educational Development

This article reviews current literature on developmental issues and the use of technology in learning environments for 4,5, and 6-year-old preschool children. It inquires how current practices address developmentally appropriate learning, and reviews guidance on how best to use computers with young children.

Learning Software for Pre-schoolers: Is it Worth Purchasing?
Laurence Wolff and Norma Garcia, Inter-American Development Bank

Pre-schoolers seem to enjoy learning software. But do parents get their money�s worth? Do pre-schoolers really benefit from these programs? Is computer software good for kids?

Harnessing the Potential of Information Technologies in Education: The Importance of Resources and Intent
Zoey L. Breslar, International Development Consultant

This article explores indicators to measuring resources and intent when considering the implementation of information technology in education, specifically the classroom.

Finding Quality Children�s Television Despite the Odds
Tressa Steffen Gipe

No one is certain how long-term exposure to television impacts children�s social, emotional and intellectual development. Experts frequently cite studies showing correlations between excessive television exposure and obesity, attention deficits, violent behavior, vision problems and sleep disorders. So what�s a parent or teacher to do?

Educational Software Today for Ages 3-8
Editorial Staff

With thousands of titles to choose from, it is difficult to discern what is quality educational software from games and entertainment. Although there are no set guidelines there are some elements to look for in choosing software for young children. This article covers those elements as well as describes some children�s software currently on the market.

WorthWhileWebs
Selected by Sonia Jurich

Here you will find a selection of early childhood websites of advocacy and professional organizations, as well as sites that make resources available to parents, teachers, and children.

Will Moore Be Less? Stretching the Boundaries of the Silicon Chip
Editorial Staff

Most of us are familiar with Moore�s Law, which holds that the power of microchips/microprocessors is expected to double approximately every 18 months. Just when some are predicting that physics and even Moore�s Law have reached their limits, along comes a breakthrough that stretches boundaries of the mind, the future�and the atom.

Back to the Future: �IT� for �ECD� Among the Maya
Mary Fontaine, The LearnLink Project, Academy for Educational Development (AED), and Andy Lieberman, The LearnLink Project, Local Project Director

This article describes an AED/LearnLink activity with an ECD component currently underway in Guatemala. A technology related initiative is underway to make it possible for children from the region to begin their schooling in their native language.