Information and communication technology for preschools

The Australian, Rathika Suresh, 11 September 2007

 

According to new studies, the sooner children become comfortable with being around and using technology, the better.

Ms Rathika Suresh from the Australian Computer Society says that the current debate among parents, educators and policy-makers is focusing on when is the right time to introduce children to computers.

It is believed that computers play an integral and growing role in education, work and communications. Ms Suresh believes that the sooner children become comfortable with technology, the better.

The major criterion to take into consideration when introducing preschoolers to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is whether or not they are showing an interest.

According to Ms Suresh, a baby as young as 12 months can interact with computers by watching the monitor and
playing with the keyboard. She goes on to say that many children acquire the skills needed to play a computer game
by the time they are two years of age.

The Australian Computer Society believe that ICT can promote early childhood learning by developing basic literacy
and numeracy skills and begin educating preschoolers about the world in which they live.

Ms Suresh shows that worldwide research is being conducted into preschoolers’ use of ICT. In New Zealand, ICT specialists have found that children with special needs and children that come from language backgrounds other than English can use ICT as an effective form of ‘scaffolding’ learning.

The UK has also conducted a study, believing ICT to provide children from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds with a point of connection, and contribute toward a positive and multicultural learning environment.

Ms Suresh shows that closer to home, the value of using ICT with children is recognised, but that there is little guidance available to assist teachers with integrating technology into preschool curriculum.

To read the New Zealand Council for Education Research report on the role of ICT in early childhood, click here.

 

 

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