Most educators can agree that technology is here to stay, and that 21st-century classrooms and schools cannot afford to pretend otherwise, or they risk letting their students fall behind in an increasingly tech-integrated world. Yet the magnitude and the role of technology in learning--especially when it comes to preschoolers--are not always clear, and experts often have differing ideas about how much tech is too much tech for the earliest learners.If you're interested in exploring some of the issues--from studies about the impact of screen time on early brain development to a list of best technology integration practices for educators working with early learners--then take a look at this article from Education Week: "Proper Role of Ed Tech in Pre-K a Rising Issue." It surveys some of the questions and challenges surrounding ed-tech and early learners, and offers links to some helpful resources.
Here are a few more places to read up on the issues:
- The nonprofit group Sesame Workshop offers a list of research-driven BEST PRACTICES for tablet use with preschool children.
- Check out the POSITION STATEMENT from the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media.
- Take a look at the FAQ PAGE on CHILDREN AND MEDIA from PBS.org.
These are important questions to be asking as educators--start exploring the research and the ideas, and get involved in the conversation!
