Preschool Technology Readiness Mission

The purpose of this blog is to explore the use of technology in the preschool classroom, considering different ideas, research, and methods, and to build a community of educators, parents, techies, and anyone interested in technology in preschool, where we can share our ideas and knowledge. We, the authors and contributors, are Early Childhood Education students, currently studying ECE Curriculum. Our textbook, The Creative Curriculum For Preschool (Diane Trister Dodge, Laura J. Colker, and Cate Heroman), is the foundation of our site, specifically with its chapter on computers (chapter 15).

We invite you, our readers, to reflect upon the importance of computers in preschool and consider the questions involved. Also, to share your experiences, knowledge, and resources with us, and those who frequent our blog.

Thank You!

The Preschool Technology Readiness Team

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Computers at home

The Family Computer
Make Yours a Learning Tool for Your Child
From Kimberly L. Keith, former About.com Guide

Family Computer Definition: a computer system with Internet access that is located in a common area of a home with children. Usual locations include family room, kitchen, home office, or parent bedroom.

Child Computer Definition: a computer system without Internet access, or set to a strictly controlled, child-safe Internet environment, that is located in a child's room.

Home computing has grown up, and we've learned a few lessons. Number one, we must protect our children in the online world. A child computer should not have Internet access; or, access should be limited to a restricted, child-safe Internet environment. The family computer should be in an openly supervised area of the home where the child's Internet activities are observed and discussed. The family computer has a multitude of uses so it is normally the newest, most powerful computer in the house. Often a replaced computer is given to a child for play in his bedroom. This is a great idea for games and homework; but again, Internet access is not a good idea in the child's room. You'll find plenty of software programs to make a computer in your child's room engaging and useful. The Perfect Family Computer Today you don't have to spend a fortune on your family computer system to have a great experience. But, powerful multimedia technology is the standard and the future of family computing; so, get as much horsepower in your system as you can afford. When making the decision about enhanced features for your system, go with more RAM, hard drive space, and multimedia connectivity. Think digital video, music, and pictures because if you haven't yet, you will get hooked on these trends in family computing. But, save some money for software and peripherals for your family computer because that is where you'll personalize it to make the perfect learning tool for your child and an indispensable addition to your everyday life.

http://childparenting.about.com/od/familycomputer/a/familycomputer.htm
Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)