Although children these days are completely surrounded by new and exciting forms of technology, they still need time to learn through nature and reality. So many children are stuck in front of a television all day instead of really interacting with the world around them and this is a travesty. Children need the time outdoors to explore animals, plants and the real world in itself. Sure, technology brings great things to learning and shows children things that they may not otherwise have the chance to see and experience, however, teachers and parents cannot solely rely on technology to teach their children everything they need to know. Creating a happy medium between real world teachings and using technology in the classroom is the best thing we can do for children. Technology should be used as a supplement in the classroom and at home instead of the main focus.
Using technology like Leap Pad and other educational video games are good sometimes because it gets children interested in learning and playing education games, but it should only be used sometimes. These games should be treated like any other video game in a child's life. They can be learning so much more through real life experiences with friends and family. Parents and teachers should be more focused on creating opportunities for children to visit new places and see new people rather than trying to recreate these experiences through technology.
I think teachers should have some extra training about how to use technology in meaningful ways in the classroom - for example, to draw a video game scene as in our reading. It would be great for child care centers to also offer information or sessions for families to learn more about using technology in meaningful ways.
ReplyDeleteChildren should learn through nature. Children need to have a lot of positive experiences with natural things. Taking nature walks and playing outside should happen regularly.
ReplyDeleteI was always curious about the effectiveness of Leap Pads... They are marketed as a wonderful educational tool, but I just could not wrap my mind around that experience being worth more than a physical book. I think that you are right: in moderation and intentional usage, tools like Leap Pad and computer software can be a positive addition to a child's education.
ReplyDeleteI think intentionality is definitely key. Clearly, there are ways that technology is used that is not beneficial to children, but with a little bit of professional development, teachers can use technology in amazing ways in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI understand your point. Technology is really important and we cannot igonore it anymore in children's life because the time has been changed. However, teachers should not ignore nature and reality learning. When teachers use technolgy, they should consider using nature materials and environments for children to have more real things.
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