Technology in the classroom is a controversial topic in United States schools. Most educators and parents would agree that technology should be incorporated in the curriculum. However, what age group/grade should technology be incorporated? The article “The Role of Technology in Early Childhood Programs”, written by Francis Wardle, is focused on integrating technology in early childhood programs.
In the beginning of the article, the author favors the idea that it would depend on an early childhood programs overall program goals and objectives for each student. It would also depend on how computers are incorporated into the early childhood curriculum. The author also discloses that most experts believe computers are not developmentally appropriate for children under the age of three, however, these same experts believe children three years and older can begin to successfully explore and use computers. I disagree with this statement. I believe age three is an inappropriate age to begin exploring computers. At that age, most children have not developed reading skills. I believe at that age, children can continue to learn by educational toys or watching age appropriate educational videos/ television shows. I believe that technology should be integrated in the classroom at a young age; however, children should not learn how to access computers until the ages of 4 or 5. This would be around the preschool and kindergarten grade level. At this period, children should know, or learning the alphabet and numbers. This stage is also known as Piaget’s pre-operational stage.
The pre-operational stage is considered as the concrete learning stage. This is when children are interested in using newly learned symbolic representation, such as speaking, writing, drawing and using numbers. Children have difficulties sitting still and need frequent changes in learning. This is also the stage when children are continuing to explore their language. I believe due to this, it is appropriate time for children to begin learning the fundamentals of using technology in the classroom.
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