Linda Kilcoyne
SLM 521 Summer 02
6/3/02
Article Critiques
http://electronic-school.com/2001/06/0601f1.html
How Young is Too Young?
In
the article, "How Young is Too Young" by Kathleen Vail, the early use
of computers by young children is discussed. The article looks at both
sides of the question of when children should begin using the computer.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) takes the
position that computers are great motivators for learning and their use allows
students to become comfortable with technology. NAEYC believes that
students with poor, fine motor skills, benefit from composing stories on
computers. And how exciting for a child to have the computer read back the
newly written story!
The Alliance
for Childhood, a Maryland based alliance, opposes the use of computers by
preschoolers and kindergartners. The Alliance says early computer use
"stifles imagination, encourages social isolation, increases concentration
problems, can cause repetitive stress injuries, and does little to improve
language and literary skills. Their advice is that children should spend
time in imaginary, hands-on play, with peer interaction. Larry Cuban, a
professor of education at Stanford University, has conducted studies on early
computer use by children. His finding have found computer use to be
"mostly benign", but feels money spent on hardware and software would
be better spent on those things proven to improve student achievement such as
smaller class size. The
author recognizes that teachers will continue to use computers, but they should
be aware of the limitations of technology.
While I don't have experience in the classroom with young
children and computers, I do think young children, under careful supervision,
can benefit from early computer use. Since we require earlier and earlier
writing from our children, I can see where some children might find typing more
satisfying than trying to write. I think the act of typing (using the hunt
and peck method) requires a great deal of concentration for a child.
Anything we can do to encourage concentration can't be all bad. I have
found in my third and fourth grade classes that some reluctant illustrators who
can insert clip art or use a drawing program feels more comfortable adding
artwork to their projects than if they had to draw the art by hand. I do
think computer use in schools is so new that it requires a great deal more
study. The push to use computer technology will not let up, and it's up to
teachers to use them wisely and purposefully.