johnhendron.net: hendron’s digest - a weblog

I have read several articles this past year that suggest computer use by children in school should be limited. The articles point out that at a certain age, closer to the fifth-grade level, computer use can be regular and be a productive component of education. However, with young children in grades K-2, especially, “screen-time” can do more harm than good.

What do you think? The idea behind this suggests that children in American society already spend far too much time in front of screens: TVs as babysitters, video game consoles, and computers. The point raised is that children should be, instead, spending time being active children, not “plugged in.”

No matter your position, the fact remains that finding appropriate activities for young children on a computer is a challenge. Some of the best options include specialized software with a premium cost. It’s tough to use in the classroom many times because educators do not have the time or resources to evaluate CD-ROM titles, etc.

I believe the answer to some of these concerns will come through portable-computer uses–small devices, microscopes, cameras, etc. While computers technology may play an active role in the early-childhood learning classroom, it may not be predominately used by the students themselves. I hope to work at this issue more in the upcoming weeks.

I haven’t finished yet, but am reading A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink… I recommend it. Poises the differences between right-brained and left-brained thought and consequences for the future.