The next generation learning system infused by technology opens up
exciting prospects at all levels of education. We all have encountered
a mix of learning process in our own education life and probably still
experimenting with new tools and methods to make the process more
meaningful and efficient. In today’s world, technology plays a
dominant role in our life and it’s no wonder that it serves as one of
the prime driver in the process of education. Use of technology shifts
learning from being ‘faculty-centric’ to a ‘learner-centric’ process.
It makes the process more interactive and visually effective. The
caveat being that it adds additional complexity for the educator in
the classroom.
In this regard, I would like to share my experience for one Pre-K
student, my son. I can see how powerful the use of technology could be
for teaching young kids who have generally a small attention span.
There’s an enormous amount of useful websites and videos for starting
the basic learning process for youngsters. With a careful selection
and routine use of the Internet, I have seen rapid development in my
child’s vocabulary and number skills. Since the videos are more
appealing than a book, he sits through an entire half- hour session of
illustrative materials which would have been impossible to achieve
with a book or a blackboard. In addition to that, interactive
application software products act as a powerful tool in various fields
of child development process. I run most of these applications on the
Apple iPad which provides an unique way to interact with these
applications though its touch-screen. Touch screens are much easier to
navigate for a child than the conventional keyboard and the gamut of
“apps” available on the App Store opens up endless opportunities to
learn in a more natural and fun-filled manner.
In future, while teaching (with the lower and middle school students
in mind) I would like to use software like Excel, PowerPoint,
WebQuest, Thought Boxes, Educational apps, and mainly Adobe® Digital
School Collection software (helps in the teaching of math and
science, language arts, history/social studies, and visual and
performing arts). As I have a strong background in Adobe software
products and like to experiment and stay updated, I think the School
Software Collection can work excellent in the process of education. As
I mentioned before, iPads (or similar tablets) would be a standard
fare in classrooms as vital learning tools and blackboards will be
replaced with high-tech whiteboards. Like every other aspects of our
daily lives, formal education can be profoundly enriched by the use of
technology.
My son is just over 2.5 and we definitely seen the benefit of interactive toys in his learning of his numbers, shapes, letters, etc. We didn't have a TV for the longest time because we were between places, but we just bought one just recently - and he is thrilled. We purchased an Internet TV and we will soon be interacting with all sorts of apps on it in addition to movies and broadcast TV. I have found that preschool programming and even movies help my child's language development when we actively talk about what we are viewing.
ReplyDeleteMy son does thoroughly enjoy books - and I do wonder if these newer technologies will have an negative affect on his interest in reading print materials. So far the only impact is that the characters that he encounters on TV (such as Thomas the train) have impacted his interest in play with toys and selecting books. I hope (and expect) that he will grow up understanding the value of multiple media and that one will not necessarily supplant others.
Have you found that your son is more likely to read books with you if they are about a topic (or character) that he feels passionately about?
Have you found that the technologies he has used have been able to fully develop his interest in stories and story telling - as much as a printed book would have in a more traditional setting?
Hi Debra,
ReplyDeleteI observed similar pattern with my son. He likes to see Dr Seuss TV shows and wants me to read the same books to him before sleeping.
The games are interactive and that's primarily the reason why its more appealing to him at this stage. I hope that as he starts reading, he will also find a lot more to explore through books and subsequently be more interested.
Debarati.
Hi Debarati,
ReplyDeleteInteresting perspective. I think the way you've used online resources and IPad apps to help your son learn is great. Personally, as a child (before the internet), I learned a lot from a basic computer program called Reader Rabbit and a similar math program (Math Rabbit?). Similar to your son's reaction, I remember spending a lot of time learning from the program because of the interactive, game-like nature. It would be great if all parents were as careful and focused as you about what their children were doing with technology.