| I remember feeling very progressive when I | | | | that these centers also include a variety of |
| purchased my daughter her first educational | | | | educational DVDs and videos for those students |
| software, Reader Rabbit, in the early 1990s. Now | | | | who learn best with the added audio visual |
| a 22 year-old college graduate, she and many like | | | | element that these mediums provide. Because |
| her have never known a world without | | | | children learn differently, at different rates, |
| computers. Not only does she use an | | | | requiring different stimuli, when integrating |
| internet-enabled phone to constantly | | | | technology into the lessons, it is important to plan |
| communicate, but her job as an emergency room | | | | to use all forms of technology - not just a few. |
| nurse requires computer skills as well. So, needless | | | | When creating such a technology center, here are |
| to say, I am a strong proponent of using | | | | some things to remember.o Technology is not a |
| educational technology, both in the classroom and | | | | replacement for the teacher. Technology |
| at home. Whether we like it or not - it's a part of | | | | elements, whether computers or educational |
| our daily lives now. | | | | DVDs and videos, are merely tools designed to |
| But that is only the first of a couple of reasons I | | | | help children learn. The teacher is still the guide.o |
| support the use of technology with young children. | | | | Consideration the applicable students' age, |
| A second reason is that the use of educational | | | | developmental levels, and individual needs when |
| technology in early education programs tends to | | | | selecting software, videos, and other technology.o |
| level the educational playing field between those | | | | Don't forget the parents. Collaborate with them |
| who have this access at home and those that do | | | | and impart the importance of their involvement |
| not. Being able to use computers and other | | | | when their children are watching an educational |
| technology at school can help all children develop | | | | television program or playing/working with |
| the necessary life-skills needed in our | | | | computers.o Monitor children's use of all forms of |
| technologically focused society. | | | | technology that use earphones. Some research |
| Many experts recommend that all early childhood | | | | suggests that the volume at which children listen |
| classrooms have an educational technology center | | | | to the music can be extremely harmful. |
| that includes a computer, a printer, a digital | | | | In other words, what educational technology |
| camera, age-appropriate educational software, and | | | | needs, to be properly integrated into the |
| access to the Internet. We would like to suggest | | | | classroom is a good old-fashioned lesson plan. |