Technology for toddlers’ scheme risks creating a screen-addict generation

[elsiegee40]

Technology for toddlers; scheme risks creating a screen-addict generation - Times Online

 

I read this in The Times on Saturday and groaned...

 

What little surfers will have to know

 

The Government’s computer literacy goals for children aged 22-36 months

— Acquire basic skills in turning on and operating some ICT equipment

— Talk with carer about what it does, what they can do with it and how to use it safely

— Use the photocopier to copy their own pictures and other equipment such as karaoke machines

 

Children aged 30-50 months

— Know how to operate simple equipment

 

Children aged 40-60 months

— Complete a simple computer program

— Use ICT to perform simple functions, such as selecting a channel on TV remote control

— Use a mouse and keyboard to interact with age-appropriate computer software

— Find out about and identify the uses of everyday information and communication technology and use it together with programmable toys to support learning. Click on icons to cause things to happen in a computer program

[broc]

I know plenty of adults who would have difficulty in mastering any/all of these stages of ICT development, I work with quite a few

[torledo]

getting used to a photcopier and karaoke machines i can see will prepare them for what they have to look forward to later on in life,

 

the monotony of the office and making a tit of yourself on a night out.

[elsiegee40]

I know plenty of adults who would have difficulty in mastering any/all of these stages of ICT development, I work with quite a few

 

 

We've a few teachers who'd fail this too...

 

I just feel that testing kids technological knowledge at pre-school age is not the right way to be going. These kids should be learning to interact with people and experiencing life outdoors; not becoming technological whizzkids by the age of 4.

 

I'm waiting for an ear bashing from our Pre-School now about what they NEED to comply with this.

 

and as for our Secretary letting the kids near our photocopier (which is temperamental at best)...!

[joe90bass]

I've posted a response to this on the Times site! I believe that it's better for this age range to be normal toddlers playing (okay structured play, but still play!)and socialising, not being forced IT, etc..................

[Guest kerrymoralee9280]

Complete a simple program

 

What language? VB, C++, python?

[Guest Guest]

I believe that it's better for this age range to be normal toddlers playing (okay structured play, but still play!)and socialising, not being forced IT, etc..................

 

But you've got to remember than 90% of kids in that age group will probably spend a good few hours a day watching some fluffy blue w@nker in a bear suit singing silly songs on TV, or the teletubbies making silly noises, like thats going to teach the kids anything.

 

I dare say the vast majority of kids will be able to do most of the tasks without needing to be specifically taught it. I persaonally think IT is more important than english and maths to a big extent. If you cant spell or count a pc will do it for you, but if you cant use a PC then you will be quite stuck for a job unless you want to work in a factory.

 

But i do agree we should not be testing kids all the time!

[torledo]

But you've got to remember than 90% of kids in that age group will probably spend a good few hours a day watching some fluffy blue w@nker in a bear suit singing silly songs on TV, or the teletubbies making silly noises, like thats going to teach the kids anything.

 

I dare say the vast majority of kids will be able to do most of the tasks without needing to be specifically taught it. I persaonally think IT is more important than english and maths to a big extent. If you cant spell or count a pc will do it for you, but if you cant use a PC then you will be quite stuck for a job unless you want to work in a factory.

 

But i do agree we should not be testing kids all the time!

 

What?!!! IT more important than english and maths...we're in a bad enough state as it is with literacy and numeracy.

 

English and Maths will normally end for most at GCSE at which point the decision is to pursue IT, a trade, business mgmt or whatever discipline.

A few will choose English lit or Further Maths to continue studying at an advanced level...but for most of us that's it, the old 2 C's at Maths and English. hurrah!!!

 

Up until that point english language and maths should be the priority subjects.

I think it's important for young children to develop practical skills and reasoning, but children at nursery age learn best by playing and building things...teaching them how to operate photocopier is a practical skill but building something from duplo blocks or completing a jigsaw puzzle is a more valuable skill in they're development at that age. ALthough i'm not an expert on child development so what do i know.

[apoth0r]

You don't simply say to a child of that age - press the button on a remote control and it will turn on/off, tick their name off and that's that one done. It's important to incorporate these kinds of activities in their 'play/investigation' to take that article as printed it may sound nutty, but it is in no way as complex as it sounds. The simple programming of a Bee Bot to move forward completes half of those on the list. To be honest this has been going on for years I have been personally teaching these topics to children for the past 18/20 months.

 

I even remember being taught it myself in Infant school and that was 20 odd years ago. It doesn't make obese children, it purely gives them an insight into how things are controlled which they build on over their school life, doesn't mean we won't have any sports stars coming up though the ranks does it?

[elsiegee40]

I persaonally think IT is more important than english and maths to a big extent. If you cant spell or count a pc will do it for you, but if you cant use a PC then you will be quite stuck for a job unless you want to work in a factory.

 

What?!

 

In order to be able to do any task, you need to understand what you want to achieve.

 

There's no point giving someone a calculator, if they don't know what calculation they expect the calculator to perform. And they'll have no idea whether the answer they've got is anything like right unless they have a basic understanding of the process behind the calculation.

 

Similarly all the spell checkers in the world won't correct words used inappropriately. Everyone know that a spell/grammar can pass a sentence as correct when an incorrectly typed word is actually another word spelled correctly. The resulting sentence could be wildly inaccurate and potentially dangerous!

 

In summary: Literacy and Numeracy are FAR more important that IT... and I still think kids of this age are better off learning nursery rhymes and climbing trees!