How to set up your ECE learning area with ICT?
Michael Hilkemeijer
Technology integration in Early Childhood Education & Primary Education membership
The computer area in preschool should always be recognised as a learning centre and as an educator or adult, part of your role should be to determine the physical characteristics of these learning spaces. This will help to take the focus away from the technology and it would make it part of the other learning centres.
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What are some Do’s and Don’ts?
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If children are working in pairs, you will need to put the seats for them in front of the monitor as well as a seat placed to one side and slightly behind for the adult.
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Your role as the adult is to observe, listen and facilitate. Never take over control of the keyboard or mouse from the children unless there is some physical danger to them. Don’t sit too close to the children or the computer that they are inhibited in their talk and actions.
Computers should always be centrally located in the early childhood learning environment as these invites other children to pause and participate in the computer activity. This arrangement will also help you as the early childhood teacher to participate at an optimum level as they are nearby and allows for supervision and assistance if needed.
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Having a ratio of 10:1 of children to computers will help you to encourage computer use along with cooperation, and equal access to girls and boys.
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While cooperative use of computers raises achievement it is important to maintain a balance between the mixture of use as pairs and individual work. Research also indicates that to encourage young children to connect on-and-off computer experiences, you will need place print materials, manipulatives, and real objects next to the computer as this provides a good activity for children observing or waiting for their turn.