Using Technology in the World of Play

Child development experts have been raising alarms about the increasingly didactic and test-driven path of early childhood education as many programs eliminate play from their schedules. This limits the potential of technology use in play which is a natural combination for young children as play technologies become globally accepted as leisure time and learning activities. Play and technology both have their unique place in society and are often thought of as two separate entities. However, in today’s technology driven world, the separateness of the two is no longer as apparent as the two are beginning to blend. This blend is exciting but leaves educators with questions. Specifically, questions related to the following: (a) How do educators ensure that the child is challenged in every developmental domain and (b) How do educators create and facilitate opportunities for exposure to the traditional stages of play while also making sure that the child stays abreast of the latest and greatest technological advances? This chapter begins with the history of play and walks the reader to the issues educators are facing when technology and play merge.

Historical Perspectives of the Concept of Child and Technology Innovation

Technology has and does influence the social-cultural development of any population. Some see environment, social, cultural, or philosophical factors as the catalyst for the concept of child and technology innovation. Others view the concept of child and technology as the catalyst for change in social-cultural environments. In order to better understand the relationship of child and technology in a historical context, we must first understand the historical significance of technologies’ influence on culture and the development of child as a social influence. Often, as technological advances increase, the generation gap grows, as the concept of child changes to become a driving influence on educational environments. This chapter provides the historical context for the changing educational power structures influenced by technology and how the role of child has evolved from that of a small adult to a major social-cultural influence through the innovations of technology.

Socrates and Descartes Meet the E*Trade Baby

Personal Epistemology is the study of an individual’s beliefs about the nature of knowledge and the process of knowing (Hofer & Pintrich, 1997). The study of epistemology has been debated for centuries from Socrates to Descartes; it was later revived in the field of educational psychology by William Perry (1970). Technology plays a significant role in all aspects of children’s life today, and this role will only increase in the future. The potential benefits of technology for young children’s learning and development are well documented (Wright & Shade 1994). Therefore, parents and teachers of young children have a responsibility to critically examine the impact of technology on children and be prepared to use technology to benefit children. When it comes to technology the generation gap is undeniable; what does this gap mean for teaching and learning in early childhood? Further, what does it mean for teachers and parents while our youngest learners tip the scale as their worlds are enmeshed with information, communication, and media technology? Does the E*Trade baby represent our future children?

A Parent’s Guide to Support Technologies for Preschool Students with Disabilities

Parents encounter many challenges when facing the need to raise and support a child with a disability. Many find technology to be of assistance, first turning to the Internet as a source of information and later turning to assistive technologies to directly support the needs of their child. This chapter outlines the multiple uses of technology related to the raising and support of young children with disabilities. The information provided serves to give an overview perspective while simultaneously providing actual specifics related to technology that can be useful to parents throughout the journey of raising a child with special needs.

Inquiry and Technology

This chapter will provide research about the intuitive and developing inquiry reasoning in young children, how their teachers perceive science, and ways technology can play a major role in supporting inquiry investigations. Activities will include intentional applications to support inquiry thinking, development and indicators of children’s development of inquiry reasoning to help teachers scaffold thinking, and shared experiences of teachers.

Technology and Social-Emotional Development in the Early Childhood Environments

The research about the importance of social and emotional roles in learning has increased the focus in many early childhood programs on the social-emotional domains of development. The perceptions of the effects computers and other technology tools have on social/emotional development of young children may influence the acceptance and use of technology in these classrooms. This chapter discusses the research related to technology and social-emotional development, parents’ perceptions of what social interactions are important in relation to child-to-child and child-to adult realm, theoretical influences on educational environments, and approaches to intentional use of tools to support these important domains. Technology has changed the socio-cultural environment globally and we, as educators of young children, need to change how we approach social and emotional support for our children.

The Epistemology of Young Children

The purpose of this chapter is to raise questionable doubt about young children’s abilities to engage in more sophisticated thinking; and the impact of technology on children’s early epistemological development. The theoretical framework is rooted in Piaget’s theories of cognitive development, and is typically applied to college students and adults. However, Piaget is criticized for seriously underestimating young children’s cognitive ability. Moreover, scholars including Chandler, Hallet, and Sokol (2002) and Burr and Hofer (2002) have proposed an early predualist phase of epistemological development in which children between the ages of 3-to-6 may demonstrate more sophisticated ways of thinking and knowing related to theory of mind development. How does technology influence young children’s beliefs about knowledge or how might teacher’s and parent’s beliefs about knowledge affect young children? This chapter explores the answer to this question by discussing the research on epistemology and young children in relation to cognition and cognitive development.

Using Technology in Self and Peer Reflective Assessment

The use of technology in classrooms is influenced by teacher attitudes. This is particularly true about classroom elements relating to teacher assessment. The issue with technology and assessment has two parts: teachers may resist technology, and teachers may consider assessment a personal attack on their abilities rather than a constructive analysis of teaching and learning. The increasing accountability required in educational environments puts even more pressure on teachers to accept assessment and evaluation of their performance. Technology can be used to ease teachers into a stronger analysis of their own and peer evaluations, which are one key to improving teaching. Assessment must be internalized if teachers are to accept suggestions for improvement and create an environment of change.

iPods, Internet and Apps, Oh My

This chapter explores perceptions about technology and young children and includes results of a survey answered by Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) and Early Childhood Education (ECE) professionals in relation to age appropriate technology for young children. Integration of technology into early childhood programs has two major obstacles: (a) teachers’ attitudes towards and beliefs about technology and (b) perceptions of what is developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in their classrooms. The issue of what constitutes developmentally appropriate practice for young children in relation to technology in early childhood education classrooms is one that may influence technology use in educational environments. The framework for this chapter explores perceptions of early childhood and instructional technology practitioners and their views of what is and is not appropriate technology for young children.

Internet Safety

Preschool and young school-aged children use the internet at high rates, and with this access, parents and educators worry about safety issues. Reports of cyberbullying, child predators, inappropriate internet content, and violations of privacy, such as identity theft saturate the media (Dowell, Burgess, & Cavanaugh, 2009). This chapter will explore the roots of cyberbullying, including relational aggression and bullying in early childhood, will examine issues in internet safety that pertain to young children, and will differentiate the issues with young children from those that plague older children. Resources for working with children, parents, and educators will be reviewed, and future safety issues of internet and other mobile technology will be discussed.