Should we start teaching computer skills to Preschool Children?
While reading Cybertots (Technology and the Preschool Child) from Rethinking Early Childhood Education (pg. 75-83). I think about how technology has such a big part of our lives. I realize that from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, technology is with us at all times, “think about it.” Almost everything we use has a little technology in them. Even the cars now run with computer chips in them, and our military forces now, have planes with non-man pilot flying them for patrolling in dangers areas. That’s how technology plays a big part in our lives. For example: The first thing I do in the morning is check on any messages on my Blackberry phone and the last thing I do before I go to bed, I would login into my computer is check if I have any messages. “Wow!” I need to change.
Now, here’s a question I ask myself after reading “Cybertots” should we as teachers start teaching computer skills to our preschool children? Before reading this chapter, my answer was “Yes!” but after reading it “No!” If we start our pre-school children on technology at that age, it’s going to do more harm than good. From Rethinking Early Childhood Education - Cybertots (Technology and the Preschool Child) says: “Children has different stages of brain development have different needs, the immature human brain neither needs nor profits from attempts to jump start it, the brain tends to seek what it needs at each age of development, and it doesn’t need the blandishments of software programmers to distract it, and children under age 5 have a tendency to confuse appearance with reality.” If this is true, we as teachers should not teach our preschool students computer skills.
David Elkind suggested that preschool children don’t need technological expertise. They should be able to learn how to: “Express themselves, listen, and follow directions, start a task and bring it to completion themselves before jumping off to another project, and cooperate with other children.”
The Cultural Divide
Chapter 2 / New Possibilities for Early Childhood Education
This chapter had some good stories that can help us as teachers to have empathy on our students. Sometimes we need to put ourselves in their shoe, to see where they’re coming from and what makes they do the things they do. Here’s one story: “When Bertha talked about her stories it made me realize as a teacher we need to show lots of empathy towards students from a different countries who are here to make a brand new living. Memorials from another world were presented: a family picture taken before boarding a boat leaving Vietnam; a small, handmade dress worn as a child in Mexico; an old, yellowing storybook carefully wrapped. Each woman described her precious item and its hidden story.”
How can we as teachers show empathy toward our students?
Hello Gary,
ReplyDeleteAbout computer in preschool,I agree with you as to not force to educate children with computers. However,I wonder if supervised and with rules implemented it might be okay? Of course, young children will be children no matter what the situation but with proper guidance.
About the cultural divide, I feel this can a difficult task for all of us. Each individual should be handled delicately in their own ways. I do not think that there is "only one" answer to your question but many!!
Hi Gary,
ReplyDeleteI also think that there's many technology use today even for children with video games, TV etc. I agree that young children shouldn't be introduced to computers because it could affect their brain development. I think it's important for educators to think of the child and what they should be learning.
Hi Gary,
ReplyDeleteYou mention the quote from David Elkind on what children should be able to do -- “Express themselves, listen, and follow directions, start a task and bring it to completion themselves before jumping off to another project, and cooperate with other children.” Then, at the end of the blog, you ask the question -- How can we as teachers show empathy toward our students? Immediately I began to think about how the two of these are connected.
Are educators empathetic towards their students if they chose to focus on the narrowly defined standards? Are the words of Elkind present in how classrooms are constructed and managed? Are the words of Elkind and empathy connected?
If we consider Elkind's words, can technology every reflected his suggested expectations of children? Can empathy be taught through technology?
Jeanne
Hi Gary,
ReplyDeleteDo we need to have a computer in preschool to keep up with the technology?
A few years ago I worked in a D.O.E campus where we had three preschool centers. The other two classrooms were fortunate to have parents that donated the computers and some softwares for their children. One of my parents in my classroom asked why I did not have a computer. I felt that I need to have a computer to keep up with the parents' expectation. While my supervisor did her regular site visit, she told me that I need to let my students to use my work computer to develop and strengthen their computer skills. As we are a federally funded program and we have tons and tons of paper work. I did what I was told and guess what? The computer was broken and I had to do most of the work at home. Since I have only four hours a day working with my children, I find I cannot work attentively with them and help them to progress in their computer skills.
Aloha
Ivy Pang
Hi Gary,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned in your writing that as people we are surrounded by technology and we use it everyday, if this is so, children are surrounded by it as well and most often then not children are already having their hands on technology. What reasons would be your greatest reasons why you have changed your mind on computers in the classroom? In my class I have several children who have DS and WI are exposed to computers at home. At the center where I used to work they had a computer and the way it was set up it taught cooperation, patience, time management, as well as the lessons of the programs they are working on. If we set up the use of computers in a more responsible way (limiting time, programs, etc) would computers be considered an asset in the classroom.
In order to have empathy for children we are in charge of we need to get to know them and their family. We can not relate in ways that matter unless we get to to know them outside of school. Sometimes children will share what goes on at home, sometimes more than you care to know, but home life does affect the child at school, it may show up in very challenging behavior. For examples, in one of the centers I had work in their was this child that would always make reference to her dad and wanting to make things for him. Now, she comes from a single parent household, her mother says that her father has nothing to do with her, she has no contact with her dad what so ever and yet this child makes up stories about her dad all the time. I really felt for this child, she wants so much to be like the other kids. It hard to see this child looking for a father figure and yet knowing that she has to wait 14 years more before she can even contact her dad. At least this is what mom shared.