Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Technology

Technology can be used in a very appropriate and positive way. It can be a tool used to promote literacy in young children’s lives. Children can use different forms of media to read stories. They can also use these forms of media to listen to stories being read aloud. This can be a helpful tool when children are struggling with reading by themselves. Technology consumes the world we live in today and children need to learn how to use it in a positive way.

Too much technology can take away our attention from important things such as learning, being social, and reading books. Children need to be able to turn off the computer and pick up a book on their own. Technology can take away from our children’s opportunities to be creative. When children are playing and reading they are able to express themselves creatively in a way that they cannot do with a computer or video game. Young children should be surrounded by literacy materials and natural toys instead of just computer games. It is very important to balance the use of technology in a child’s life. Teachers have a challenge on their hands when it comes to the idea of whether or not they should use technology in their classroom, and if they do to what degree. Children need to be able to use technology within our society and yet most children would benefit from using technology less in their lives. 

4 comments:

  1. Using technology in the early childhood classroom is definitely a balancing act! I love your last sentence, especially that "most children would benefit from using technology less in their lives." It is true that technology can have important and beneficial uses in the classroom, but we need to keep in mind that we should not overload children with technology use if they are constantly using it at home.

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  2. You make the comment that children "need to be able to turn off the computer and pick up a book." This interests me. Books are currently making the transition to electronic formats, and I wonder how long -if ever- it will be until all books are expected to be read through LCD screens. Also, my parents used to limit our computer time, which I thought was silly. There argument was that I needed to spend time with people. Well, when I am on the computer, I am always connected, chatting, blogging, and interacting with people. I think it's important for us to open our minds to new ways to experience life, including literacy and social interactions.

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  3. I think that there are definitely children who could benefit from "less technology", but not necessarily by cutting it out. There is a difference between children simply being plugged in all the time and just playing mind numbing video games, and children using technology in positive, meaningful ways. For example, my cousins live in MN, so for much of the winter they are not able to spend a whole lot of time playing outdoors, which is basically all they do when it is warm out. My aunt want concerned about the drastic change in their physical activity (as well as their roughhousing in her living room) so she bought them Kinect for their Xbox. They are only 6, 4 and 2, but it is amazing watching them interact with this technology. Also, I was really impressed with the high level of physical activity. Honestly, that was probably one of the best workouts I've ever had. They also can connect with neighbors through this system and play games with them. It's like an entire virtual play space that still uses physical activity. I think that things like this are good uses of technology, and that a distinction definitely needs to be made between the ways in which we use technology.

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  4. Creating the right balance of natural things and technology is the key to a successful classroom these days. Children need a variety to choose from and giving them learning opportunities in both forms is essential to children's learning.

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