How the pandemic has increased the importance of tech in early childhood education?

A number of years ago, I highlighted in a blog a?number of reasons why digital technology in early childhood education is important . It continues to be a significant discussion between educators and families.

?

However, the world has now changed to a place where it is no longer practical to ignore or avoid technology use in early childhood education and care.

?

For a long time now, we as educators have been witness to the level of capabilities in digital technologies young children already possess even before they enter our early childhood learning environment. They are omnipresent in their lives as society continues to develop new and emergent technology at an astounding rate.

Subscribe now!

?

In the words of?Dr Chip Donohue , an expert who I have had the pleasure of co-hosting my online workshops with,?

“These are tools of the children’s world, these are tools of their culture, these are tools that will be critical for their school readiness and success. We don’t have a choice to say, ‘we choose not to’?”.

?

It is time to once again re-evaluate the importance of technology in early childhood education.

?

?

What is the importance of technology in early childhood education?

Significant changes to the world’s global environment and climate have occurred over the past 2 years with the Covid-19 pandemic teaching us how important the role of digital technology is. This unprecedented event has changed the world and has refocused society on technology.

?

Throughout this pandemic, we have all seen the rise of online classrooms and discussion forums such as Zoom. Online learning has really taken off since then and digital classrooms are being considered more now than ever.

?

All this while in the past few years there has been a move towards more tangible interfaces such as robotics, STEM learning and coding in the classroom.

?

According to?Dr Kate Highfield , another scholar who I have had the pleasure of meeting,

“There are now a number of tools where children can create and design their own technologies or create new ways of interfacing with the technology.”

?

She goes on to state…

“Of course, the use of technology should always be integrated within a holistic learning experience’ she continues, ‘but in order to succeed in our digital information age, childcare professionals of today need access to technology that supports children’s individual learning goals and brings their daily program to life.”

?

What are the benefits of Technology in preschool and early childhood care today?

In light of this, the importance of technology in early childhood education remains to be the following:

?

Use of technology as a tool

It is vital that young children view of technology use in early childhood education as a tool. This is an important reason for employing an integrated approach to technology. So that they understand that it is a tool that is designed for particular purposes when required. However, it is only through effective planning for integration that will this happen.

?

Environment exposure

There is no doubt that young children are increasingly exposed to digital technologies in their lives by the people and environment that surrounds them. They will inevitably enter your early childhood learning environment with various degrees of capabilities whether you like this fact or not. Most young children know how to swipe using an iPad touch screen or have played with a smartphone.

?

By integrating digital technology into the curriculum you are demonstrating your own capabilities as a responsive educator by valuing and building on their technical expertise and also helping them to better understand their technological surroundings.

?

It aids School Readiness

Many curriculums around the globe such as the Australian Primary and Secondary curriculum, are now supporting the integration of digital technology in meaningful contexts. In fact, they recently changed the general capability associated with this – ICT capability – to what it is now called the Digital literacy capability.

?

It is therefore, the responsibility of early childhood teachers to prepare young children with the use of digital technologies that will support their learning and aid them in their transition to primary education and so forth.

?

Additionally, as educators you have access to more innovative?and improved teaching methods that allow you to promote learning and create an active learning environment for the children in your care.

?

It supports a well-rounded curriculum

When digital technology is used in an imaginative way to deliver the curriculum and is threaded through your early learning goals, whether it may be from EYFS or EYLF, the quality of what is taught and learned is further developed and the effectiveness of the learning process for young children is increased.

?

Technology use in early childhood education can the learning and play experiences tremendously. Digital whiteboards, researching using the Internet and specific innovative and creative apps and software can support many opportunities for creative, social, personal and emotional development. Additionally, through the simple of a word processor children’s literacy, language and communication development can be achieved in a more effective manner.

?

Dr Kate Highfield states…

“We’re not talking about the overuse of the device; we’re talking about using it in balance. It’s the same as the idea of a healthy diet, where we just use a little bit of digital play, and a lot of physical play.”

?

It inspires collaboration

Digital technology has the natural ability to bring children together and this encourages collaboration amongst them. In turn, through collaboration language and communication skills are further developed along with important social skills.

?

It encourages connectedness and education

Children can collaborate on digital projects not just in the classroom but in other classrooms in other early childhood learning centres too.