Last week I spent many days researching and writing a research paper on the integration of technology into the early childhood classroom. I have come to two conclusions through my studies: The first is that technology has always been incorporated into the early childhood classroom, and the second is that as much as teachers would like to effectively use technology in their classes, their schools do not have the proper professional development needed to help them to meet their goal. In chapter five of Teaching the iStudent , Barnes begins by addressing how many teachers who are not as “device-friendly” in their classrooms, are only hesitant because they lack the necessary experience and training that is important when choosing to integrate new technology into their classes. He also addresses the problem of finding a balance. In today’s world there are so many different choices teachers can make when choosing technology to implement. Not only are there multiple devices to choose from, but also there are an unlimited amount of software and programs to choose from. The immensity of it all can be overwhelming, not just for new teachers, but also for teachers who have been in the field for decades. Here is where Barnes suggests a “blended learning” and offers different models to use as framework. One of his models is what he calls the “rotation model”. This model suggests setting up stations using devices in the classroom. At one station children may work independently with the teacher, where another is group research, or some other group assignment. This sort of set up works really well in classes that do not have enough devices for each of the students. In his second model, the “flex model,” each student is able to work on individualized assignments on their own devices. Though this model sounds like a great idea, I would like to remind teachers to step back from the technology often. I can’t see how staring at a screen all day will be good for children. It is clear that they get enough screen time at home, I think that adding too much of this in the school will potentially damage their eyes. I know that I personally can not sit a computer for too long or I get terrible headaches. Back to technology though; the blended classroom allows from the things that students are actively doing in class to become part of what they can actively do at home an din the world around them. According to one of Barnes’ sources, “Social media makes classroom learning about more than just what’s happening in the four walls of the classroom: the whole world can learn along with us!” Through social media sites, such as twitter, students have the ability to communicate with children from all over the world, as well as educators and research from all over the world. This ability brings new meaning to the requirement of developing a sense of multiculturalism in young children. I will end this post by quoting Barnes, “These digital natives come fully equipped with mobile learning tools and just enough know-how to be dangerous, both figuratively and literally speaking… iStudents need iTeachers!”
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