Early Age Computer Education: Increasing Child Exposure On IT (Part One)

Early Age Computer Awareness Reports

As we look forward to implement basic structure that will enhance the exposure of our young children, teachers, guardian, parents, and fosters are at an important crossroads regarding the role computers will play in young children's lives. Two events support the importance of establishing a clear vision about the future of technology in young children's lives. 

Recalling on the report gathered in 1994, were President Clinton signed the Goals 2000 Educate America Act (PL 103-227). It established eight educational goals and directed the Secretary of Education, in cooperation with other agencies, to develop a long-range plan to encourage the use of technology to improve teaching and learning. 

In 1996, NAEYC adopted a Position Statement on Technology and Young Children: Ages Three to Eight. This document, published in the September 1996 issue of Young Children, states, "Early childhood educators have a responsibility to critically examine the impact of technology on children and be prepared to use technology to benefit children" (NAEYC, 1996, p. 11). The position statement emphasizes the importance of teachers using computers in developmentally appropriate ways. If computers are going to be used in early childhood, it is important that they be used in developmentally appropriate ways.

Computers are a learning resource and should meet the same high standards of all the equipment, materials, and resources need to be provided for young children. To use computers in developmentally appropriate ways, Six components emerge as important: computer placement, software selection, teacher interaction, supporting activities, connecting basic learning with other resources around them and teacher training/support.

Creating Awareness And Exposing Other Computer Resources

Early age computer education is a branch of educational theory which relates to the teaching of children up until the age of about eight, with a particular focus on education, notable in the period before the start of compulsory education.

Imploring Supports and Resources

“If we don’t apply what we know to helping our kids…are we really going to be able to attain the change we envisioned for Africa?”  Says Seunsmith Richard.

Early childhood education is a branch of educational theory which relates to the teaching of young children up until the age of about eight, with a particular focus on education, notable in the period before the start of compulsory education Early childhood education focuses on children's learning through play, based on the research and philosophy of Jean Piaget. 

This belief is centered on the "power of play". It has been thought that children learn more efficiently and gain more knowledge through play-based activities such as dramatic play, art, and social games. This theory plays stems children's natural curiosity and tendencies to "make believe", mixing in educational lessons. Researchers and early childhood educators both view the parents as an integral part of the early childhood education process. Often educators refer to parents as the child's "first and best teacher".

From our research reports gathered few months back, we believe that, creating awareness of and the potential for real progress in early age computer education demands the following research and advocacy, including: 

• Building on the science of early brain development,
• Parents should provide the basic resources and tools they need to optimize learning and development for their young children.
• Acknowledging the importance of early learning and early health from birth through age 5 

Conclusion

Experiences with computers, like all the other materials, equipment, and resources we provide young children, need to be developmentally appropriate. When computer experiences match children's developmental needs, they provide a valuable, unique learning resource. Developmentally appropriate software provides children a world they are eager to manipulate, experiment with, and discover. As teachers integrate computers into their classrooms, they begin a journey with children, exploring together how children learn and discover the world.