Last year in my classroom, we had two dysfunctional computers. My students used the computers at least once a week for reading and math as part of their centers and sometimes for research. I tried to find games that were differentiated based on their needs such as www.abcya.com, www.starfall.com, and pbskids.org. However, I did not always feel the games on those websites were the best fit for all my students. They were always excited when it was their turn on the computers, but there was the constant interruption of, "Both of the computers froze!" There was a computer lab in our school but by the time I walked my students upstairs to the room, made sure they were all logged on to working computers, the class period was basically over. This year we finally received Promethean boards! We didn't receive a connecting computer with the software...meaning the teachers' Promethean boards are currently covered with chart paper. You can only imagine how frustrated the teachers are with technology this school year.
Many school have a range of technology resources. Individual schools need to decide which technology resources to use and how to use what is available. But I wonder how to integrate technology that is developmentally appropriate and useful in an early childhood classroom. According to Dr. Bruce Perry, in his interview with Scholastic, it is important to keep healthy development in mind as teachers and parents think about using technology with young children. He feels that when using technology with children, teachers should "make sure that we use them to enhance or even expand our social interactions and our view of the world as opposed to using them to isolate and create an artificial world." Teachers need to reflect on whether the technology they use in the classroom expands students' social interactions, or whether children are just playing a game that keeps them busy.
I know I should rethink the games I allow my students to play. I had no way of holding my students accountable for what they were learning during the games. I don't know if the games my students were playing were helping their academic or social development. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) also explains how to integrate technology developmentally in an early childhood classroom. Technology needs to be, "responsive to the ages and developmental levels of the children, to their individual needs and interests, and to their social and cultural contexts." (McManis and Gunnewig, 2012, p. 16) Scaffolding needs to occur in order to make sure the students understand the concepts and are able to effectively use the technology. Technology should not be used to substitute instruction, but should be integrated into the curriculum. The technology used should be authentic and meaningful in order for it to be beneficial to the students' development. (McManis and Gunnewig, 2012)
Teachers should integrate technology into classrooms in a developmentally appropriate way, but what are some resources? I found some online that might be helpful for incorporating technology in your classroom. I would love to hear about any other resources you use in your classroom.
- Apps from scholastic.com
- 50 Education tools
References:
McManis, L. and Gunnewig, S. (2012). Finding the education in educational technology with early learners. Young Children. Retrieved from:
http://www.naeyc.org/yc/files/yc/file/201205/McManis_YC0512.pdf
Perry, B. Using technology in the Early Childhood Classroom. Scholastic. Retrieved from: http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/using_technology.htm
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