When to Introduce Learners to Computers

Mia Gail B. Samaniego

Computers are used in ways that are not developmentally suitable. One study showed that although schools are gradually growing their access to new technology, some teachers use these technologies in conventional ways, including basic skills drills and training games.

Computers have an effect on children when a computer has a meaningful experience. Children have free access to and monitor learning experiences; children and teachers learn together; teachers promote peer tutoring, and teachers use computers to teach powerful ideas.

Children 3 and 4 years of age are well equipped to explore technology, and most early childhood educators see the computer center as a beneficial learning activity hub. Children need a lot of time to experiment and explore. Young children are comfortable clicking on different choices to see what happens next. Teachers may want to interfere when children are upset or when nothing seems to happen.

3-and 4-year-old children who use computers to facilitate activities that strengthen the core goals of the program have substantially greater developmental benefits relative to children without computer training in similar classrooms – intelligence, long-term memory, verbal skills, problem-solving, abstraction, and conceptual skills.

The first goal could be to get computers. The ratio of computers to young children is high – at most 1:7, preferably 1:5. If this ratio cannot be met with the available resources, it is much easier to use a group of computers in a classroom for a month, a quarter, or a semester, and then rotate them to another teaching space.

Fair access for children is essential; even the most skilled teacher would have trouble incorporating computers into his or her classroom with only one computer. To assist in the selection of computers, you may seek mentors who have computer-based expertise. These mentors may be teachers currently using technology, college professors, or business leaders.

The author is Teacher

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III at San Manuel Elementary School