Embedding Computer Technology in Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Engaging with Early Years Professionals’ Beliefs and Values
Article
Elaine Hall, Steven Higgins, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
ITCE Volume 2002, Number 1, ISSN 1522-8185 Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)
Abstract
The use of computers in early years has become a contentious issue, with advocates calling for more Information and Communications Technology (ICT), more machines, better software, and more training for professionals, while other groups call for "a moratorium on the further introduction of computers in early childhood and elementary education" (Cordes & Miller, 2000). The authors of this article would like to declare their allegiances here: they are in favour of computers in the same way that they are in favour of books, pencils, worksheets, Lego, jigsaws, junk modelling, role play, and circle time. Activities and equipment in early years are, in themselves, neither positive or negative: it is the way in which they are used which is meaningful. Any of the things on their list can (and have) been criticised as retarding or limiting children's development. They believe that children need opportunities to interact with the world at developmentally appropriate levels, to "own" the interactions, forming personal, relevant "mental furniture," organising their learning in partnership with peers and sensitive, scaffolding adults. Such activities are appropriate in that they actively engage learners and developmental in the sense that they help to support the development of children's learning. ICT has a place in this, and the burning questions are not whether computers should be used but where and how ICT can be used to enlarge and enrich young children's experience of learning.
Citation
Hall, E. & Higgins, S. (2002). Embedding Computer Technology in Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Engaging with Early Years Professionals’ Beliefs and Values. Information Technology in Childhood Education Annual, 2002(1), 301-320. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved April 19, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/10760/.
© 2002 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)
Keywords
References
View References & Citations Map- Bilton , H . (1996) . The use of the computer in nursery schools and classes . Early Child Development and Care , 125 , 67-72 .
- Budin, H. (1999). The computer enters the classroom. Teachers College Record, 100 , 656-669.
- Crook , C . (1998) . Children as computer users: The case of collaborative learning. Computers and Education , 30(3-4) , 237-47 .
- Department for Education and Employment (1998) . Framework for teaching mathematics. London: Author.
- Fatouros , C . (1995) . Young children using computers: Planning appropriate learning experiences. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 20(2), 1-6.
- Fuson , K . (1992) . Relationships between counting and cardinaliy from age
- Hughes, S. (1997). The lost generation? The lack of competence in using information technology amongst postgraduate students of English enter
- Kohl, H. (1994). I won’ t learn from you: And other thoughts on creative maladjustment. New York: New Press.
- Landerholm , E . (1995) . Early childhood teachers’ computer attitudes , knowledge and practices. Early Child Development and Care, 109, 43-60.
- Lewin , C . (2000) . Exploring the effects of talking books software in UK primary classrooms. Journal of Research in Reading , 23 (2) , 149-157 .
- Luke , C . (1999) . What next? Toddler netizens , playstation thumb , technoliteracies. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood 1(1) 95-100.
- Nias , J . (1989) . Primary teachers talking: A study of teaching as work . London: Routledge .
- Selwyn , N . (1997) . The continuing weaknesses of educational computing research . British Journal of Educational Technology , 28 (4), 305-307.
- Sexton, D., King, N., Aldridge, J., & Goodstadt-Killoran, I. (1999). Measuring
- Underwood, J.D.M. (2000). A comparison of two types of computer support for reading development. Journal of Research in Reading, 23(2), 136-148.
- Wishart, J. (1997). Initial teacher training students’ attitudes to use of information technology and individual locus of control. Journal of Information Technology for Teacher Training, 6(3), 271-283.
These references have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. Signed in users can suggest corrections to these mistakes.
Suggest Corrections to References