Frederick Jace
Preschoolers today are “digital natives.” They were raised with and around technology to the point where they feel comfortable with it from a young age. However, when it comes to technology in the classroom, a common parental issue is that “my child is exposed to too much media at home.” “Why would I want that in my child’s school?” While this is true, technology can help promote and attain early childhood education and preschool learning goals when employed in precise and focused ways. Students of all ages and abilities may engage, interact, and explore more when technology is used in conjunction with traditional activities like outdoor play and tactile learning (such as wooden blocks and sensory bins).
There are clear benefits to incorporating technology into your child’s early education.
Helps Build Community
Technology in early childhood learning can promote collaborative learning environments, enhancing students’ relationships with their classmates. To minimise the harmful effects of high media exposure, teachers in these classes must understand when it is suitable to include technology into an early learner’s routine. To improve peer-to-peer interactions, educators must apply their professional judgement and incorporate technology when it is appropriate and helpful to do so.
Educators may employ technology to allow students to actively participate in learning together, whether it’s with their peers or with their teachers. Effective technological solutions bridge the gap between on-screen and off-screen activities, with a focus on co-viewing and co-participation between adults and children, as well as children and their peers. This can be particularly helpful when students must remain at home due to medical reasons or other extenuating circumstances.
Helps Develop Literacy Skills
Educators can choose an interactive software solution that allows them to build interesting, adaptable courses that promote the learning development of early learners to support children’ maths and literacy skills. Both the facility’s and the student’s personal devices should be compatible with this programme. Teachers should not have to worry about losing letter tiles or Word Work paper cut-outs or misplacing a maths and counting manipulative. There should be a plethora of pre-installed, ready-to-use tools available, as well as the option to tailor educational content.
Traditional fixed approaches can slow down the learning process and completely distract pupils from the subject, while high-quality interactive software can assist a student’s early arithmetic and literacy skills speed. Because of the software’s real-time, collaborative nature, students can instantly interact with the curriculum, and teachers can quickly detect and respond to student faults and accomplishments.
Help Broaden Imaginations
It’s all about discovery, investigation, and imaginative play in preschool and early learning. The farthest parts of the earth — indeed, the galaxy — come alive with sharp sounds, bright visuals, and real-time video thanks to interactive classrooms. For example, pupils can embark on a “jungle safari” during recess and continue it in high definition back in the classroom by visiting live webcam websites from around the world.
Alternatively, they can fly over Pluto and engage in a video conference with experts in the field. Screen media can introduce children to animals, objects, people, landscapes, activities, and places that they cannot experience in person. Instead of relying on the teacher to do it from a laptop connected to a classroom projector, students can take greater control of their learning and broaden their horizons at the touch of a button.
Help Improve Engagement
Flexible, interactive technology can serve as the foundation for a daily routine that is responsive to the needs of pre-kindergarten pupils who are busy and lively. Despite the numerous interruptions and changes that these classes endure, technology can aid in creating more order and attention.
Students will be more engaged, and teachers will provide a more supportive environment if technology is used for learning centres, read-aloud time, morning meetings, or even simple movement breaks. For indoor recess or sing-alongs, open GoNoodle on an interactive touchscreen. For read-aloud stories with closed captioning, go to Storyline Online. Use ClassDojo to keep track of and document student progress and conduct in real-time. Technology aids educators in measuring and documenting development, planning activities, and sharing information with parents, families, and communities.
Programmes at a quality early learning centre will usually incorporate technology into their curricula. Your child can benefit greatly from this technological inclusion.
