TECHNOLOGY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Young children have needs that are real and different from those of older children and adolescents. Children from birth to age eight are learning rapidly, using all of their senses and their entire bodies to take in sensations and experience the world around them. During this period of their lives they learn through their play and exploration across five essential developmental dimensions.

These dimensions include:

sustain relationships gives meaning to learning experiences.

Responsive interactions provide a sense of well-being that

enables children to form attachments with others and participate positively in educational activities.

Social and Emotional Development. The ability to form and  

participate in both the cognitive and affective parts of the educational program. Experience with written and oral language provides children with the tools to interact with others, and to represent their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Language Development. Language empowers children to

Physical Well-Being and Motor Development. A child’s health is connected to preparedness for and performance in learning activities. Healthy children are able to focus on and actively engage in experiences crucial to the learning process.

WHAT RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY CHILD    AND DEVELOPMENT

 

There is a substantial body of research on technology use with young children. A large portion of this research focuses on the use of computers to enhance social, language, and cognitive skills . Studies highlight the opportunities for language use and social interaction that technology offers, along with increased motivation.

Computers also make possible experiences

and representations that cannot take place in the real

world, providing new experiences and improved understanding.

Social and Emotional Development

social interaction and conversations related to children’s work ; a classroom set up to encourage interaction and the appropriate use of the technology will increase, not impair, language and literacy development. Strategies to build socialization into computer use include placing two seats in front of the computer to encourage children to work together, placing computers close to each other to facilitate sharing ideas, and locating computers in a central spot to invite.