Odette+&+Julia+Meetings

Meeting 1: Aug 26 2009
Main points from our discussion:
 * How does free play with the SmartBoard (SB) help to develop and build graphomotor skills?
 * verticle plane - hand grip & visual-spatial skills
 * hand-eye coordination
 * visual-motor planning
 * visual-motor organization
 * pencil grip muscle memory
 * How does free play with SB develop other skills?
 * spatial reasoning
 * attending to whole space (Bell Test)
 * fine motor skills
 * handwriting
 * integrates many disciplines together
 * What makes SB successful in N4?
 * on more frequently for free play and choice time
 * small groups
 * "let's explore" approach
 * Where are teacher stuck in their use of the SB?
 * how to use it for play v. how to use it to advance lessons
 * What exercises do OTs use that could be remedied with use of SB (vertical plane) in NK?
 * Piaget v Vygotsky
 * Piaget "Play is the work of childhood" trumped by Vvgotsky! "it is not WHAT you play, but HOW you play that's important"


 * Next steps:**
 * define research question
 * Ideas: To explore the effects of SB on Early Childhood development?
 * redefining what "play" looks like in NK
 * Questions that emerged:
 * To what extent is there research on Early Childhood and use of SB?
 * what do OTs do to help children with graphomotor issues?
 * In what ways is the SB like Art?