Young+Children+&+Technology

 

Lindsey Wyatt, Tori Insely, Genna Gorman, and Krista Burns


 * OutLine**
 * Lindsey:** Benefits of technology in the classroom **Tori:** Different types of technology found in the classroom
 * Genna**: Present technology in the classroom
 * Krista:** Negative affects of technology in the classroom


 * Technology. The Classroom, and Young Children**

As we move into a new generation of advancing technology and learning there has become a big emphasis on technology in the classroom with young children. Technology has become a major part of every day life and has many alternative advantages from, benefits, uses, and negative impacts. Technology is becoming a part of our everyday lives and it's important that students' understand these technology advancements.

Technology is developing and changing everyday and with those changes comes many effects. These effects may be positive or negative depending on how one looks at it. Technology has many positive effects and has changed things for the better. The first benefit of new technology in the classroom is that it raises student’s motivation because it allows them to learn by doing and interacting using technology. According to the Article, “Why Integrate Technology into the Classroom?” children are more intellectually challenged when they have projects that are equipped with different technological tools because it gives children access to number of infinite sources. Another big benefit of technology is that it allows children to become better at problem solving skills, verbal skills, and conceptual skills (Kids Source Online). Of course there are not only benefits of technology in the classroom, but a need due to the constant changing of how tasks are being completed. Technology is the future and in order to prepare our children for the future and the job market we have to make sure that they are up to date and know how to operate modern technology. Computers are one of the big uses of technology that we see now. In the article, “Computers and Young Children”, “In addition, computer use enhances children's self-concept, and children demonstrate increasing levels of spoken communication and cooperation. Children share leadership roles more frequently and develop positive attitudes toward learning (Kid Source Online).” When children use technology in the classroom it gives children the ability to show you what they have learned through hands-on activities and can put their work in a portfolio that they can save (Transfer of Technology to Education, 1995). Lastly, the use of technology gives teaching the best of both worlds according to “Technology Impact on Learning”, because it get the students interested in the material and allows teaching to be “child-centered” with more student and teacher interaction.

 In today’s society you wouldn’t really be able to walk into any classroom without seeing at least one piece of technology being used. Technology is becoming more and more prevalent as the years go by. Inventors are finding new ways to make it faster, smaller, and more convenient for everyday people to use. About ten to twenty years ago teachers probably never even had to take technology courses. Along with the use of technology, there are several different types of technology being brought into the classroom. Some examples are smart whiteboards, laptops, computer programs, and much more. Other forms of technology are word processing, spreadsheet software, database software, and modeling software. Older uses of technology are being replaced with more advanced and up to date technology equipment. Some examples of technology replacements are the typewriter being replaced with voice recognition programs and also the traditional classroom is being replaced with two-way on-line distance learning classes. Technology has much to hold for the classroom in today’s society and in the future.

Technology plays such a large role in the classroom. Teachers today are using computers, smart boards and many other types of technology to teach. Children and technology has been growing for many years now. Some children learn better from using technology tools. Math is a subject in which technology has really had an impact on the curriculum. Computers have allowed students to have the opportunity to use software as a learning tool by playing games. “Drill-and-practice software can help young children develop competence in counting and sorting. Children can gain knowledge of patterns, symmetry, spatial order, and so on by the use of computers” (Clements, 1990). Many students find these drills and other ways of learning useful. Using interaction with computers and other technology appeals more to students that learn hands-on. Computers also allow students to be creative in learning. Computers can give students resources that normal classroom supplies cannot. Computers also allow for video learning. “Videos would bring the lesson or material to life for students and all other technology will help them develop necessary skills to use technology in the work force” (Transfer of Technology to Education, 1995). Technology in the curriculum can open doors for many different learning alternatives.

There are many positives about technology, but there are also some negative situations to technology use in the classroom. One negative example is funding. Technology of any kind can be expensive. Some schools do receive more funding than others, so they can be better off with their technology. This is negative because the school system must find funding for the new technology. Sometimes this may lead to cuts in schools, up-keep, teacher salaries, and extra curricular activities. Another negative is that teachers must be trained in order to continue to teach with the new technologies they have access to in their classrooms. The extra training costs more money that not all school systems have access to. Sometimes many say that there may be become a reliance on technology. If students use technology in the classroom, they may start believing it’s okay to use it as often outside of school (playing video games instead of reading.)

Technology has made its impact in the classroom. Students are learning and sharing information in new ways. Although teachers have a lot of catching up to do, they need to realize the benefits they could be giving their students. Bringing technology into the classroom will allow many students to express and create their own learning style. Looking ahead in the future, technology will become the answer to all curriculums. Knowing that students will enter our classrooms with knowledge about technology is important for their education and also for their future.

__**Sources:**__


 * Northwest Regional Education Laboratory (2001, June). Technology in the curriculum. Retrieved from http://www.nwrel.org/request/june01/technology.html**


 * Wardle, F (2000). Computers in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=302**

Early Connections (n.d.). 5 Benefits of technology. Retrieved from http://www.netc.org/carlyconnections/pub/brochure.pdf

Information cited from: Edutopia, Staff (1998, March 16). Why Integrate Technology in the Classroom? The Reasons Are Many. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction

Information cited from: Clements, (1999). Young Children and Technology. Retrieved from http://www.project2061.org/publications/earlychild/online/experience/clements.htm

Papert (1998) stresses that computers have an impact on children when the computer provides concrete experiences, children have free access and control the learning experience, children and teachers learn together, teachers encourage peer tutoring, and teachers use computers to teach powerful ideas. Information cited from: Haugland, S.W. (2000). Computers and Young Children. Retrieved from http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/digests/2000/haugland00.html

Information cited from: Haugland, S.W. (2000). Computers and Young Children. Retrieved from http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/digests/2000/haugland00.html  N Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory,. (2002, ). In //5 Effective Ways for Young Children To Use Technology//. Retrieved Sep. 8, 2009, from http://www.netc.org/earlyconnections/pub/brochure.pdf

Kid Source Online,. (2001, Apr. 6 ). In //Computers and Young Children//. Retrieved Sep. 9, 2009, from http://www.kidsource.com/education/computers.children.html  · In Institute for the Transfer of Technology to Education,. (1995, ). In //Technology's Impact On Learning//. Retrieved Sep. 8, 2009, from http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/tiol.html#Enhanced  Sorce: Clements, D. (1999). Young Children and Technology. American Assoc. Advancement of Science Retrived from: [|http://www.eecs.tufts.edu/~mhorn01/comp194/reviews/clements1999.pdf]

J., Gilberston (n.d.). Technology’s ffects on the classroom: the good and the bad. Retrieved from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Social_and_Cultural_Foundations_of_American_Education/Chapter_15/What_role_does_technology_play%3F_2