“Most experts believe computers are not
developmentally appropriate for children under the age of three”, (Wardle,
2008). Some experts believe that children who use technology through their
developmental years are robbed of social, intellectual, physical, and moral
developmental opportunities.
However, there are many experts that believe that
technology should be used in the early childhood classroom, to “expand, enrich,
implement, individualize, differentiate, and extend the overall curriculum”,
(Wardle, 2008).
It seems that for early childhood programs to
strictly subscribe to one of these schools of thought would be irrational, but
a hybrid model, that strikes a balance between social interactions with
students in the classroom, as well as students in a virtual classroom in Asia.
That encourages students to run around and play outside, as well as learn about
their bodies on an interactive website. Students should learn to play music on
instruments and sing with their classmates, as well as listen to music of
another culture, and sing along in a language they learn from the internet (like
this recording of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=312&c=50).
Most importantly however (not only at the early childhood
stage, but at any stage of development) is implementation. Wardle provides some
suggestions:
-
encourage children to work together
-
encourage the more advanced students to act as peer
tutors
-
develop cooperative learning activities
-
teachers and other adults should resist interfering
or helping the children
These are characteristics of any student-centered activity,
especially when a student is trying to learn a new skill. This constructivist
approach to learning is how we all learn best, by trial and error, and through
our own mistakes.
Wardle, F. (2008). The Role of Technology in Early Childhood Education. Early
Childhood News. Retrieved from: http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=302
I am of the opinion that it's rarely a black and white, right or wrong way to look at an opinion. In this case I understand the concern, we have all seen young kids far too engrossed in tv and games while tuning out the world around them. However, the flip side of that is rejecting objects that have an obvious appeal to students. When supervised and used in correct instances, I see no reason that technology cannot be successful with youngest learners.
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