I am thinking about focusing my research paper on literacy development using technology in an early childhood classroom environment. I had the opportunity to interview a teacher who has been teaching in this country for two years. Before the interview, I wanted to get a little background information on how teaching was different or the same in her country. She is originally from the Philippines. This teacher explained to me that teaching is a little different because of the children’s SES. Most of the children are from parents who are economically stable and most are college graduates. She sees an improvement in the learning of students as when they can work on computers that have programs that incorporate the children to be interactive. In the interview she stated that children have access to the newest technology and with the knowledge programs are enhanced to develop learning as students master one program after another.
Some of the related topics that she found interesting is that children in her classroom now do not have enough time to work on programs and she notes that it takes a one-on-one effort to help students to achieve more learning skills. Another issue is insuring that basic programs are available to students who are ELL in order to slowly incorporate learning.
In discussions with other colleagues, she commented that there seems to be a disagreement of the amount of time students need in order to master programs. It has been noted that teachers feel that they do not have enough time to sit with students on a one-on-one basis. With a classroom of 20 students, it can be a little overwhelming to help individual students. Some teachers have up to 25 students in the classroom with no paraprofessional.
Advocay effots that are currently underway in the area in the field of technology are teachers advocating for appropriate training, newer computer in classrooms, teachers who are using blogs, and comic creating software to help students to become more creative in their use of new technology on computers.
“All issues that on technology that will give students the opportunity to work effortlessly and creatively with computers are issues that I will advocate for”
Interview completed by Y. Tuitt 4/20/11
I think technology in classrooms is a great topic. Will you be focusing on elementary ages or preschool ages? I work with 4 and 5 year olds and in my current job we do not have computers in the classroom. In the future my goal is to have computers available for children to access additional information so they can leanr more facts and details as they do projects and explore topics. I look forward to reading more on this topic. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYvette I am so floored at the topic you chose. It seems like the topic will be exciting to reasearch and in this day and time so much information for you as well. I look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteYvette, your blog described a frustration observed in the teachers within the school I have been doing my Internships. Technology would be such a tremendous asset to many of these children in advancing their skills. Unfortunately, the funding for these tools is not there and the teachers are strapped in their ability to give one-on-one attention to many of these children. The classrooms that I have observed have an amount of children ranging from 20 to 27 per classroom, and with very little, if any, aide availability for the teacher. Myrna
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