Stowe Early Learning Center
Enfield, Connecticut, United States
Little learners are developing
big ideas with iPad.
Stowe Early Learning Center is the combination of a Head Start programme, an integrated pre-kindergarten cohort, and a STEAM academy — all under one roof. It’s part of the Enfield Public School district, where over 50 per cent of students are in a high-need category. But as part of the district’s commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for everyone, all students have an iPad. This 1:1 deployment has enabled Stowe to put powerful technology in the hands of little learners as young as three.
“We want our students to understand the impact technology has, how it can be used, and how they can apply it to any situation they’ll encounter in the broader world,” says Kerry Wiley, director of innovation for Enfield Public Schools. “iPad enables us to be creative, demonstrate knowledge and elevate our abilities. It creates exciting ways to engage with the world.”
While it may seem unconventional to provide iPad to three-to-five-year-olds, the learners at Stowe are doing incredible things. After an introduction on how to use the devices appropriately and safely, the district’s youngest students learn how to express themselves, show what they know and share with their peers.
Students draw self-portraits on iPad every month, illustrating their development and the evolution of how they perceive and represent themselves. Using GarageBand, young learners discover how different instruments, notes and chords can communicate feelings. And each week, a student is assigned the role of “class photographer”. They use iPad to capture moments and photos of things they find interesting around the school, and then share them with the class using AirPlay on the classroom Apple TV.
“Using iPad, students can share with the whole group — they take responsibility for their learning,” says Kristin Malone, a STEAM programme teacher at Stowe. “I think a lot of people don’t understand how capable preschool children are. When you talk to them like they are adults and treat them with the respect they deserve, it’s amazing what they can do.”
iPad is a very intentional tool in our classrooms, and because we’re a preschool, we can start right at the beginning. We can take education to the next level.
Because every student at Stowe has their own device, it can go home with them at the end of the day, enabling educators to communicate with parents and caregivers — some of whom may not otherwise have access to a connected device. This gives them a view into their child’s day and a way to monitor their progress and development.
Educators at Stowe are deeply engaged with their students and technology — they’re 100 per cent Apple Teacher recognised, and they balance kinesthetic learning and hands-on, physical activities with the use of iPad. “Education should be a reflection of where students are,” says teacher Ginny Prentiss. “Thinking creatively and critically about the information you’re given is as important as the information itself. iPads do a lot to build independence with the students, and they help our lessons to have greater impact.”
Using iPad to build confidence, resilience and collaboration skills, Stowe Early Learning Center is setting up even their youngest learners for success in the future.
It’s important to merge play and learning, because the work of young children is play. Adding iPad elevates creativity, possibility and access to information — helping them generalise their learning into their lives in and out of the classroom.
