Computers and Kids
My mom mentioned this article to me, and after reading it, I just had to write. It discusses the Intel Classmate PC that is distributed to disadvantaged children overseas.
The Classmate PC lacks a modem, hard drive and CD-ROM. It uses flash-memory. It has an Ethernet port, two USB drives, and ports for a microphone and headphones. It is a wireless-enabled computer designed for poor schools, used for web and email access.
The article shows a picture of two children with the computers. They look to be elementary school aged.
Personally, I just don't get it.
My professional and educational backgrounds are in computers. I think that there are amazing uses of technology. But I don't agree with their proliferation in the early-childhood and elementary environments.
I guess I am a traditionalist at heart.
The Classmate PC has web and email access. Why is this needed for young children? What 7 year old really needs to be able to access a world of information? What about books? What about traditional learning? When I was growing up, we did not have computers, and we all learned just fine. We went to the library. We wrote letters and requested information. Our country is where it is today based on the accomplishments of individuals who did not have computers in elementary school.
And email. Why does an elementary school child need email? How about hand-written letters? With hand-written letters, not only is a child learning how to write, but they are also learning to spell and compose sentences without the aid of spell-check and grammar-check. Sure, you say, but it takes so long to get a response back! I say so what! Why are we such an immediate gratification society that we think we must have everything now?
I agree that in the higher grades, perhaps even as early as middle-school in areas that do not have good libraries, that the web can open up a lot of resources for learning. Especially in the areas of science and social studies. But they are just not necessary any earlier.
So what do we do at our house? The boys have never seen a video game. Neither on the television or on the computer. We read books to them, not websites. Yes, they have pushed some buttons and sent gobbly-gook off in an email. But only a couple times. Yet they have written and drawn probably 100 letters to people.
I know that the modern educational system disagrees with me. But in raising my children, I aim for them to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic before worrying about surfing the net.
The Classmate PC lacks a modem, hard drive and CD-ROM. It uses flash-memory. It has an Ethernet port, two USB drives, and ports for a microphone and headphones. It is a wireless-enabled computer designed for poor schools, used for web and email access.
The article shows a picture of two children with the computers. They look to be elementary school aged.
Personally, I just don't get it.
My professional and educational backgrounds are in computers. I think that there are amazing uses of technology. But I don't agree with their proliferation in the early-childhood and elementary environments.
I guess I am a traditionalist at heart.
The Classmate PC has web and email access. Why is this needed for young children? What 7 year old really needs to be able to access a world of information? What about books? What about traditional learning? When I was growing up, we did not have computers, and we all learned just fine. We went to the library. We wrote letters and requested information. Our country is where it is today based on the accomplishments of individuals who did not have computers in elementary school.
And email. Why does an elementary school child need email? How about hand-written letters? With hand-written letters, not only is a child learning how to write, but they are also learning to spell and compose sentences without the aid of spell-check and grammar-check. Sure, you say, but it takes so long to get a response back! I say so what! Why are we such an immediate gratification society that we think we must have everything now?
I agree that in the higher grades, perhaps even as early as middle-school in areas that do not have good libraries, that the web can open up a lot of resources for learning. Especially in the areas of science and social studies. But they are just not necessary any earlier.
So what do we do at our house? The boys have never seen a video game. Neither on the television or on the computer. We read books to them, not websites. Yes, they have pushed some buttons and sent gobbly-gook off in an email. But only a couple times. Yet they have written and drawn probably 100 letters to people.
I know that the modern educational system disagrees with me. But in raising my children, I aim for them to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic before worrying about surfing the net.
posted by Susan | 8:34 AM
1 Comments:
You make an excellent point. After all, what good is computer "literacy" to the functionally illiterate?
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