Artefact 4: Evaluate e-learning tools or applications for ECE

Little Story Creator, A very simple book creator that can be shared. Tamariki can choose from a series of backgrounds, add photos, text or audio and video. Users can also draw pictures by hand using crayons and can select the width and colour (8). For each page, you can choose to include photos from your own device's library, which unfortunately is given to you in reverse date order, this may require guidance. It provides a flexible inclusionary tool that can be used to represent information in different ways (Stockall, Dennis & Miller, 2012) and to make meaningful connections by sharing a child's home language with others in the centre (The Royal Society of New Zealand, 2013). Creating a story links directly to the learning outcome that tamariki experience creating and retelling stories of their own and others culture (Ministry of Education, 2017). Figure 1.
How to use Little Story Creator

YouTube, is an excellent educational resource that allows you to access millions of videos and/or store and share your own. It is easy to navigate and intuitive. The quality and appropriateness of the content can be variable so I would recommend that users preview all videos before sharing with tamariki and store your favourites in your YouTube library. This resource can be used to increase engagement (Pisha & Coyne as cited in Stockall, Dennis & Miller, 2012) and to culturally situate your centre by exploring the cultural activities of the members of your learning community. YouTube can be used to make links to the curriculum strand exploration, videos selected can provide a different perspective and deepen understanding (Ministry of Education, 2017). Figure 2. How to use Youtube on your iPad. 

Toontastic 3D, an excellent creative platform for animated storytelling. With guidance tamariki can select from the many different detailed scenes, 3D characters and/or design their own. Tamariki can include photos (for the face of a character) and narrate the story and characters with their own voice. To finish they can introduce some drama by adding music to their shareable animated video. It takes a bit of experimentation to get the hang of it. A guided approach to using this platform will enable kaiako to differentiate and scaffold to meet the needs of individual tamariki (Stockall, Dennis & Miller, 2012). The multiple ways tamariki can express themselves using this programme will lead to them being able to communicate and discover different ways to be creative and expressive (Ministry of Education, 2017). Figure 3. How to use Toontastic 3D

Curious Playground, an app for iPad that is full of activities and mini-quizzes that with guidance tamariki could enjoy. Lots of subject areas are explored including, numeracy, literacy, geography and presented using puzzles, memory games and music. It also has a limited art activity. However, the best aspect of this app by far is the customisable activities. Tamariki can take photos and design their own simple shareable puzzles and activities. This app has the ability to foster a sense of belonging and agency, the designed activities can bring together ideas in collaboration creating an inclusionary activity that links to the strand of contribution, being able to recognise their own ability to learn (Ministry of Education, 2017). Figure 4. How to use Curious Playground