Technology and Early Child Development

The article I read was titled Technology and Early Child Development and was written by Mary Eming Young, Senior Public Health Specialist, the World Bank. It stresses the importance of technology in the early childhood classroom.

Although this article was written 10 years ago it still contains some important ideas to think about.

The author was very interested in how important it is for all children have the opportunity to use technology in the classroom. She discusses how important it is for all children to have access to computers. I think this issue is very important and with many public schools now;housing preschools, preschools have easy access to computers. With access comes the question of how computers are used today. Computers should not be used for excessive drill and practice activities, or color book activities, but more open ended activities that allow the user to think and make decisions should be used.

This article also highlights the four major areas of development and discusses how technolory can be used in each area.

Social and Emotional development is the first area. Children form and sustain relationships and they learn to gives meaning to educational experiences. Computers can serve as a catalyst for social interaction and conversation, however computers and the such cannot replace human interaction. Children can listen to taped stories, or watch a program, but there has to be interaction woth others. Nothing can take the place of someone reading a story to a child while they are sitting on their lap! This creates interpersonal relationships! Certain computer software can be used as long as thers is immediate feedback with an adult. This creates interpersonal relationships Children learn how to interact with others.. Computers can help invite learning and encourage the connection to learning as long as it is done with adult intervention in some form.

The second area discussed is language. Language empowers children in both the cognitive and affective parts of education. Children need experiences in both written and oral communication in order to interact with others. Children need to see print in relationship with language. This article states that computers encourage language by promoting more complex speech and the development of fluency. Children can engage in high levels of spoken communication. They can hear a variety of language and learn from it. An extra benefit would be learning to take turns and cooperation with others. This may elicit more interaction than activities such as puzzles. There are many language rich software programs that promote language sevelopment.

Physical development and motor development are also mentioned. This is not only physical activity, but the promotion of health, as well as motor skills. A healthy child is able to focus and actively engage in learning. Active play cannot be replace with technology. Children need to move. Following a taped activity can provide ample opportunities to move. Children can also practice fine motor skills by learning to use the mouse and the keyboard.

This last area covered is cognitive development. This includes general knowlege. Activities should promote problem solving, knowlege of patterns, and understanding relationships between objects and events. Computers can introduce positive elements of children's play and learning as they explore and experiment. If technology is connected to what the child is doing it can lead to motivation and self direction. Children need to use programs that allow them to be creative, providing opportunities to discover, make choices, and find out the impact of decisions to foster creativity.

Compupters are best served if they are in the classroom, providing easier access. Computer labs hinder the opportunity for use when the device is needed. Labs also lead to more drill and practice activities instead of tool-oriented software.

Other technology like cameras, tape recorders, and TV/VCR are also effective in the classroom when used appropriately. They can lead to open ended activities. Children can see themselves, and hear thier voices in activities. This is evident in many of the programs I used in this technology class.

The two key questions that need to be addressed with the use of technology are--Is it developmentally appropriate? and--Will the activity benefit the child? This, along with balancing the use of technology with other activities will lead to many exciting learning experiences that will benefit the child for years to come

The Internet and the Early Childhood Classroom

As an early childhood preschool teacher I am always searching for new ways to keep the interests of my students. We use the high scope curriculum in our preschool so technology does not play a key role. However, this curriculum is based a lot on student interest. With the world and technology changing everyday I find my students being more interested in the computer and other forms of technology. This article confirmed my belief that technology can be integrated into the preschool classroom if it is used appropriately.


When using computers or the internet in the classroom you need to have an appropriate balance and make sure that students are using it to enhance their learning experiences. Using websites to enhance literacy and math activities are most helpful to students of this age. There are also many digital manipulatives that can enhance student learning.


As they state in the article you need to make sure that the website you are using is age appropriate as well. The article also states that when using websites with preschool children to make sure they are auditory. This will make it easier for students to use. Teacher support is also a big part of using the internet with such young children as the author states.


Another key part of using the internet with young children is to use real world experiences and models. As many preschool theories suggest, the article also says that you need to use real world models that are relevant and meaningful to children's lives.


I found this article very useful. It gave me a basis for reasons why I should include technology and the internet in my preschool classroom. The conclusion to this article really says it all:

"As with any technology, use of the Internet in the early childhood classroom is most effective when matched with appropriate teaching methods. The key to using the Internet with young children is to make sure their experiences are interactive and integrated into their other learning experiences."

The Internet and the Early Childhood Classroom, by Lisa K. Schanen

The 21st Century Learner

The 21st-Century Digital Learner

How tech-obsessed iKids would improve our schools.

BY MARC PRENSKY

http://www.edutopia.org/ikid-digital-learner-technology-2008

I read the article, the 21^st-Century Digital Learner: How tech-obsessed iKids would improve our schools. The title caught my attention right away. The author of the article, Mark Prensky, conducts panels about improving schools for other educators and administrators. What is unique is that he does a question/answer panel with students from area districts. He asks the students questions such as: What experiences in school really engaged you? How do you use technology in school as opposed to outside of school?

The article points out that our educational system does a poor job getting input from students about how their schools and teachers are doing. It is suggested that students hold the key as to what helps them learn the best while we as educators struggle in this area. The author suggests to us that technology has become a driving motivator and a daily activity for children today. Lectures and Power Points no longer keep students attention and many find themselves shutting down or not listening. A common statement that students shared in the panel was that they were bored in school and didn’t feel teachers were engaging enough. With today’s students being raised on computers and technology, teachers and those in the educational system need to realize that technology is a huge part of students lives and possibly a great way for students to stay engaged and learn while in school. One of the students on the panel stated that technology is a “foundation, and the basis of everything we do.”

I found this article to be very interesting and relevant to incorporating more technology into the educational system. I feel that there is a huge push for technology to be used in all classrooms and across all districts. I agreed with the author when he stated that we don’t listen to our students enough. Only the students know the key to what will motivate them to learn the best. We, as teachers cannot make those assumptions for them. Maybe this means we push to change up the curriculum to incorporate more technology as a means to engage the student’s better. The article points out that students today have been raised on computers and cell phones and incorporating technology maybe a much-needed change. Perhaps this may require more trainings or continuing education for teachers to keep up with times, but I for one am always interested in learning more about the advances in technology today.

We as educators need to step back and listen to the voices of our students. If technology is the key to better education and engagement then I think we need to do whatever we can as educators to take that step. Ultimately our goal is to get students to learn and students won’t learn if they are not engaged. Overall this article shed some new light on the issues and concerns of technology with the children raised in the 21^st century. I’m started to see that technology can be the key to helping our students enjoy education more, instead of them dreading going to school. I would recommend all people in the educational system to read this article and think about how technology can impact and change a student’s learning.

-Alissa Holland

The Digital Whiteboard: A Tool in Early Literacy Instruction

The Digital Whiteboard: A Tool in Early Literacy Instruction

I read an article called, "The Digital Whiteboard: A Tool in Early Literacy Instruction". I chose this website because I am using my whiteboard daily in my classroom and I wanted to see if the article had any new ideas to use the whiteboard. For those of you who do not know a digital whiteboard is an electronic version of a dry-erase board. It is a digital whiteboard connected to a computer. The whiteboard can be written on with regular dry-erase markers. The markers are virtual in that they contain no ink, and they function by responding to their movement on the surface of the board. The virtual markers are activated when you lifted the pen from the tray and then put on the digital whiteboard frame. Only one marker can be used at a time and there are different colors.

The whiteboard engages students through kinesthetics as they use markers or their hands to respond to the text, highlightning with color or drawing boxes and circles with the tips of their fingers or the palms of their hands. You can also write with your finger when you lift up one of the markers. This is also good for motor skills.

The digital whieboard works with other software on your computer by opening up a file and then being able to write on whatever is open. It also makes website more visible for students to see and interact with. This helps creates meaning, make connections, and develop understanding during literacy lessons.

Overall whiteboards are amazing and I cannot go a day without using mine. If you do not have one in your classroom or school building, apply for a great because they are wonderful!

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/29204/

Kati Larson - Technology in the Shakespeare Classroom

I read an article entitled "Technology in the Shakespeare Classroom." This article caught my attention right away because when I think of Shakespeare, I do not immediately think technology.

Throughout the article, the author gave valid examples of how technology could be integrated into the Shakespeare classroom to enhance both student learning as well as the curriculum itself. One positive point for using technology to teach Shakespeare is using it to reach all learner types. Not all students learn the same way and as a teacher, it is my job to try and teach to various learning styles. Using audio and visual clips as well as the various internet resources for historical backgrounds, reviews, and online dictionaries in helping with vocabulary, can all be helpful in enhancing Shakespeare for all learners. Students can choose different technological resources for research as well as video creation. Shakespeare is best understood through performance. Using different video creation sources is a great tool for students to perform, record, and present parts of Shakespeare's plays to their fellow students.

As in much of classic literature, hooking student interest is key to both teaching and student understanding of the material. Using various forms of technology to enhance the Shakespeare curriculum would allow me another way to get my students excited about literature.

Link to article.
http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/educators/technology/indepth.html