S/O ipads in preschool

[UMaineTeach]

I don't remember if the thread was on MM or PCE, and since TN is broken, I can't check.

But here is an article about using technology in the early childhood classroom that just came out in this month's NAEYC journal YC. Here is the beginning of the article and a link to the full thing if you want to read it.

www.naeyc.org/yc/article/finding-education-in-educational-technology

As many educators and parents have observed, today’s children are exposed to advanced technology at an early age, with tablets, e-readers, and smartphones being some prevalent choices (Gutnik et al. 2011; Rideout 2011). Experiences with technology can pave the way for unprecedented learning opportunities. However, without an education component, technology cannot reach its full potential for supporting children’s learning and development. In early childhood programs, the education component often means adults being nearby, interacting with children and providing opportunities for peer-to-peer learning to encourage children to gain the skills they need for succeeding in school.

[ringstrue]

I think technology definitely has its place in the classroom but figuring out how to incorporate it and with what programs or goals is a whole nother can of worms.

Plenty of college kids still readily balk at smartphones, tablets and ebooks due largely to the learning curve. I think having kids used to different devices - computers, tablets, smartphones, etc., is vital to getting them to catch on in bigger ways - like ebooks replacing text books.

[heightsyankee]

I'm not interested in my kids really using technology until they're in upper elementary. they go to a school where they have access to a computer starting in pre-k, but won't use it for any real work until 3rd grade at the earliest. all through elementary they write out all their work.

I think we get so focused on technology that we lose sight of the fact that things like learning how to write cursive also help the brain develop other problem solving skills. I am thankful every day for Dr Maria Montessori. That's all I have to say about that

[thejackpot]

I don't mind the occasional use but I cringe when I think that my ds will spend an abundant amount of time on technology at preschool.

[2curlydogs]

@heights - there's a host of research out there that shows that kids learn how to write better and faster using touch-point technology i.e. using their finger to write letters on an iPad instead of tracing on paper.

That said, technology for its own sake without a curriculum or pedagogy backing it is useless.

But there is some cool shiiz being done with technology that is invaluable. My sister teaches 4th grade and her kids have been Skypeing with a class in Afghanistan. Which is interesting in itself, but the coordination and organization and setbacks (the anger/riots over the burning of the koran happened the day before they were due one time) have also become topics of conversation and learning in her class.

[IIOY]

I am not necessarily a fan of this. I'm not even sure I like iPads at my my kids' elementary school. The administrators there tell me they have seen a huge jump in fine motor skill deficiencies in the youngest students because they spend so much time on touchpads these days rather than actually doing things with their hands. Touchpads are not complicated and no child who reaches second grade without using one in school is going to be at an academic disadvantage.

[emilyj]

I'm not a fan of this from the perspective that not every kid is going to have this advantage. So isn't this going to widen the gap even more between the haves and have-not's? That's my biggest concern with this.

[heightsyankee]

May 10, 2012 14:57:42 GMT -5 2curlydogs said:

@heights - there's a host of research out there that shows that kids learn how to write better and faster using touch-point technology i.e. using their finger to write letters on an iPad instead of tracing on paper.

Yeah but that is different than keyboarding... and it's not just about learning to write but about developing other fine motor skills. My kids play on my iPhone. I am not adverse to technology, but it has it's time and place. They'll learn to write. I don't need them to learn early if it's to their detriment in other ways (like studies that say too much screen time is bad for their eyes...)

[pixy0stix]

::waves everything in moderation wand::