The section seemed particularly interesting to me is the Technology and Young children. Our school has been trying to find a better way to support our students to learn through technology and now we are all switching from PC to apple devices like ipads and macbooks.
From the section, there are two great article and webcast focusing on this topic - " Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8" and "Pre-recorded Webcast: Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs". Both publications state pros and cons about using technology with young children. Since I teach 2-3 years old children, I always have uncertainties about using technology with my students as lots of researches have shown negative effects on children's development if too much technology have been used. For example, if children look at the computer screen for too long and watch too many moving pictures/cartoons, it will have damage on their eyes as well as may have negative outcomes such as irregular sleep pattern and/or behavioral issues (NAEYC).
However, technology also has its amazing aspects in turns of teaching. Teachers use it as a tool to maximize children's learning abilities and provide children with individualized learning experiences to support developmental appropriate practice. I think it depends on educators how to use technology as a tool to support learning. More importantly, as early childhood educators, we need to be equipped with all these educational knowledge and skills about technology before we can best support children's learning using the technology.
Through school's presentations about using ipad as the teaching tool, I have been amazed by the technology we can use with young children and the ways to motivate and maximize children's learning. Everything has two sides, and we need to be very careful in minimizing negative outcomes about technology for children yet maximizing their learning abilities.
Through school's presentations about using ipad as the teaching tool, I have been amazed by the technology we can use with young children and the ways to motivate and maximize children's learning. Everything has two sides, and we need to be very careful in minimizing negative outcomes about technology for children yet maximizing their learning abilities.
NAEYC technology section, retrived from http://www.naeyc.org/content/technology-and-young-children
I was very interested in your blog post! Though my generation is generally very tech-savvy, I somehow missed out on that, and am a bit intimidated to try it. However, I think through careful, intentional use, it can be helpful for children, and make some aspects of our job as teachers easier (such as the paperwork, research, and data-keeping). With the heavy emphasis on technology in today's workforce, it is important that children are able to access technology- though what types and to what extent must be determined for all ages, so it is kept developmentally appropriate! I agree with you whole-heartedly when you say we need to be careful in minimizing negative outcomes and maximizing learning abilities.
ReplyDeleteIt is not very easy for me to work most of the devices they use now. I just got use to the computer; but. What is amazing to me is to see children interacting with technology. They can natural do some amazing thing with them. I have seen children spend hours learning on the computer and not it tried. The only thing that bothers me is that children are not exercising enough because of all the technology that is getting their attention.
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