All aboard the dinosaur train!

Week two; Literature/Webinar Review #1


Dig into Early Science Instruction with Dinosaur Train


The webinar, Dig into Early Science Instruction with Dinosaur Train, is about a children's television show on PBS called Dinosaur train that is targeted for the ages 3-6 years old. When children watch the show, they will join the dinosaur characters Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Don, their parents and Mr. Conductor on adventures. The characters hop aboard the Dinosaur Train where they become scientists and observe natural world habitats and use general skills to explore the world. 

On board the Dinosaur train, Buddy and his siblings not only learn about dinosaurs, they learn about earth and life sciences, plants and volcanos and than learn how to answer questions about these topics and how to find the answers. During the episode, there will be a live action segment where the characters will show the viewers how dinosaur facts relate to the natural modern world. For an example, they will connect and link animals based on their habitat or eating habits. 


The mission of Dinosaur Train is to get young children interested in their natural world habitats. The viewers will learn general science skills and vocabulary such as observing, hypothesis, conclusion, species, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, predator, prey, fossil and nocturnal just the name a few. The show gets children excited and want to explore their own natural world. It gets interested in exploring, observing, collecting data, forming a hypothesis and drawing a conclusion. These are perfect for the 3-6 year old range because they are already natural scientists. This age group is already asking questions, making observations and trying things out. The show helps teach these children how to use these skills in a scientific manner. They learn that it is okay to be wrong! That you try a different way if it doesn't work the first time. 

Not only is there a television show, but of course there is a website to go along with it! On the Dinosaur Train website, you will find online games and teacher resources for the classroom. For an example, in one of the games children will learn how to compare a dinosaur size to a modern day animal and decide which one is larger and which is smaller. For teachers, it helps you take a concept that was in the show and how to apply it in the classroom. One example would be to experiment with colors and mixing them. The children will learn how to form a hypothesis, collect data, change the data accordingly and draw a conclusion. 


I have not heard of this show before and I found the webinar to be very interesting and informational on the background of the show and how it will assist a young age group. I am glad to see that there are television shows for young children that are educational. With the information that I have learned I will be able to use this in my future teaching. I feel as though anytime a teacher can relate their classroom to something the students do at home is a great advantage. Where they are already interested in the characters and the adventures it would be easy and fun to get their attention using the same characters in  learning. This is a good way to incorporate technology into the learning as well. This show provides two sources of technology; television and a computer. To be able to teach children at such a young age how to use technology for learning is great. 


I'm glad that I listened to this webinar because it taught me the background of an educational show. Normally when I thought about these shows I would think yes they are learning their colors, shapes, new language, etc. and think it was great. But now I see what more they can learn from these. A show like Dinosaur Train gets them excited about their own world and want to go out behind their house and see what they can observe and find. It gets them interested in using the scientific process in a way that keeps their attention. I've had conversations with some parents who do not think it's a good idea to allow such young children to watch television. I agree and disagree. Should they spend all evening sitting in front of the television? No. But what little time they do spend watching television should be educational. Parents can use this to their advantage as well by having the children go on their own journeys and adventures when the show is over. Now when I have these discussion with parents I will be able to have information to give them. 


Course outcomes reached through this webinar;


#1 Demonstrate the understanding of how technology can effectively promote student learning
This outcome was met because it demonstrated how a television show can be used as an effective learning method. The show is full of education for young readers to take part in. Also with the website, it allows children to use another form of technology for learning.  

#2 - Evaluate and use a variety of current technologies to enhance content instruction and to advance students' technological literacy

Teachers will be able to use a variety of current technologies to not only get their own teaching curriculum but also for children to advance their technological literacy. Where this show is targeted for the age group 3-6 years old, parents and teachers can assist the children and teach them the simple steps in using the computer to access the website.