Computers in Kindergarten :: Argumentative Persuasive Education Essays

Computers in Kindergarten Perhaps you are skeptical as to the benefits of using technology with young children and you’re not unsure about using computer technology for your own purpose. Some questions frequently asked are, Does using computers in the primary grades stifle young children’s natural inclination to experiment and explore and hamper the development of independent thought? Will hardware turn primary classrooms from environments that nurture young minds to labs that merely mesmerize them? I will answer these questions in my paper. My opinion on the topic, at hand, is that I think there should be computers in Kindergarten rooms but students wouldn’t benefit very much from them. Students in Kindergarten rooms don’t have enough time to really get into a program and benefit from it. Many researchers do not recommend that children under 3 years old use computers.[1] Computers simply do not match their learning style. Children younger than 3 years of age learn through their bodies: their eyes, ears, mouths, hands, and legs. Although they may return over and over again to an activity they are full of movement, and they change their focus frequently. Computers are not a good choice for the developmental skill that these children are learning to master such as: Crawling, walking, talking, and making friends. Children need plenty of time to experiment and explore, computers would occupy much of their time. Before a child even starts playing on a computer they need to understand how a computer works, how to use disks, how to start and use a particular program, and how handle CD ROMs. Borgh (1993) states that once these skills have been established, children should then be give opportunities to interact with the computer. Papert (1998) stresses that computers have an impact on children when the computer provides concrete experiences, children have free access and control the learning experience, children and teachers learn together, teachers encourage peer tutoring, and teachers use computers to teach powerful ideas. In addition, computers enhance children’s self-concept, and children demonstrate increasing levels of verbal communication and cooperation with others. Children share leadership roles more frequently and develop positive attitudes toward learning.[2] The potential gains for kindergarten