I have been thinking about studying a Master degree in ECE, and one of my interests is to find out the relevance of ICT in supporting the learning of young children.
Almost every family has ICT devices, such as digital camera, laptop, computer, tablet, mobile phone and so on, access to ICT is part of the everyday experience of the child. Te whaarik, the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum states that the starting point of the curriculum is the learner and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that the child brings to their experiences. Furthermore, the early childhood programmes should play a significant role in extending early learning and in laying the foundations for successful future learning. I believe this apply to ICT.
Colbert expressed similar view, as she acknowledged that computer is a tool to support children's learning and it is the teachers' responsibility to notice, recognise and respond to this learning. If you are interested in ICT, follow Colbert as she has been an ECE e fellow since 1995.
Lisa Terreni has conducted a research on the use of interactive whiteboards by young children in relation to the promotion of art. Her observations confirmed the value of IWBs as an effective learning tool for young children.
Very inspiring, Brian Puerling has published a book detailing his thoughts about teaching in the digital age. You may want to go to YouTube and watch some videos before buying the book.
