Blog Post 11

Ms. Cassidy’s, Little Kid’s…Big Potential, validates the current research regarding technology and child development. Findings from the American Academy of Pediatrics conclude that “computer use enhances children’s fine motor skills, alphabet recognition, concept learning, numerical recognition, counting skills and pre-mathematical knowledge, cognitive development, and self-esteem or self-concept.”

Her 1st graders say it best, “We LIKE to write on our blogs” “My blogs help me WRITE better.” “I can SEE and SPELL my words better.” “We PLAN our videos in groups to show what we have learned.” “We use our webpage to help us FIND things.” “The pictures take me places to HELP ME LEARN.” “I can choose whatever page I need to HELP MYSELF learn.” “Playing the DS helps us be better PROBLEM-SOLVERS and learn to SHARE.”

The comments made by Ms. Cassidy that I wholeheartedly agree with are: “We cannot teach kids in this generation using the tools that worked 20 years ago, 10 years ago, even 5 years ago. We have to change because the world has changed. There are so many opportunities online now for collaborating, for learning from other people. You are handicapping your students and yourself by not taking advantage of those tools. As for not having the time, you will never have more time to learn about technology than you do in college. It does not get better when you have your own classroom. Kids and technology: It’s part of their world. They really like not having to power down when they come to school.”

I was glad to hear an EDM-310 student ask Ms. Cassidy how often her students blog. Her response in general was that blogging assignments are tailored to the class and based upon other opportunities the students may be a part of (computer lab)…but around once a week.

Like Ms. Cassidy, I will teach my students to be “digital citizens.” Internet safety will be a top-priority in my classroom.

I am pro-technology in the classroom. However, I must admit that I was relieved to hear that Ms. Cassidy’s class is not ALL technology, especially at the 1st grade level. Blogs are used in rotation as a center to enrich reading/writing. Skype, netbooks, wikis and interactive white-boards are also used as TOOLS TO ENRICH learning in her class.

Consider the following from childwellbeing.org. “Technology offers the greatest benefit when used for enrichment and as a tool that leads to the development of higher level information-seeking and problem-solving skills, although not at the exclusion of lower-order cognitive skills (i.e., rote learning). When computer access is sufficient and computer technology is employed appropriately, child development is improved. But it has become increasingly clear that learning FROM technology does not hold the same promise as learning WITH technology. Learning with technology to facilitate critical thinking and higher-order learning allows children to use technological tools to analyze the world, access and interpret information, and represent what they know to others. Cognitive tools are learner-centered and controlled, and as such, facilitate learner-centered child development, again positively impacting child well-being.”