Category: Discussions

Check out my conversation with two of my colleagues on the roles of teachers in a play-based preschool classroom.

Play in Preschool

I am not particularly a fan of technology and the idea of needing an online presence. I did not particularly fancy the shift because I believe handwritten letters and snail mail possess a certain charm that emails and instant messages do not. I have always been a private person and chose to nurture close and deep relationships without having to broadcast it online and consequently to the world.

But I know I have been left behind because… As we sail through the 21^st century, technology in the classroom is becoming more and more predominant. Tablets are replacing our textbooks, and we can research just about anything that we want to on our smartphones. Social media has become commonplace, and the way we use technology has completely transformed the way we live our lives.

When technology, along with the proliferation of education apps, first started to make its way into the classroom and the home, parents and educators voiced equal parts caution and enthusiasm.

The impact that technology has had on today’s schools has been quite significant. This widespread adoption of technology has completely changed how teachers teach and students learn. Teachers are learning how to teach with emerging technologies (tablets, iPads, Smart Boards, digital cameras, computers), while students are using advanced technology to shape how they learn. By embracing and integrating technology in the classroom, we are setting our students up for a successful life outside of school. Here are a few advantages of using technology at home and at school — particularly during the early preschool and primary years.

Digital literacy matters

Today’s emerging professionals — Millennials and the younger Generation Z (people born in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s) — are tomorrow’s CEOs. These groups grew up as digital natives — using devices and social media during their adolescence and apps and devices when they emerged. To them, exposure to technology is not a debate. Digital literacy is a requirement. And today’s younger children have already grown accustomed to iPads, apps, and smart boards in the classroom, at least in more affluent areas.

The debate has shifted from “should we” to “how should we?” So, at the most basic level, today’s young children need to understand how to use devices, how to safely search online, and how to be critical thinkers of what they see and hear online. As a recent article on digital literacy points out, “No longer is technology use limited to the home, but has quickly morphed into an always-connected mindset. What’s more, kids will be using technology, the Internet and social media in college and later in their careers. For this reason, kids need to become digitally literate.”

Educators also recognize the importance of developing these technological skills in students so they will be prepared to enter the workforce once they complete their schooling.

Increased engagement to accommodate different learning styles

Why is engagement for different types of learning styles so important? Simply put, it makes lessons and learning “stick” — retention. Dr. Howard Gardner developed the theory of multiple intelligences in 1983. As teachers integrate technology into their lesson plans, they can use various technological tools to reach all types of students. Creating different paths and experiences to learning is precisely what technology can bring to both the classroom and the home. Some online activities or tablet apps often use a combination of visuals, sounds, and interactive objectives which engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

It is important to note that “engagement” is key in using tech, both at school and at home. Passive use of technology — having children simply “sit” with technology and passively observe without actually interacting with a device to make things happen — is little more than a digital babysitter. Using tech to ensure that it actually adds something unique and meaningful to the child’s learning or play experience is what matters.

Sparking creativity and breaking new ground

When I was researching material for this blog, I found it interesting that experts citing benefits of tech for children did not usually cite creativity at the top of their list. I believe it belongs there. Research shows us that creativity is a cornerstone of learning and innovation, particularly for children — tomorrow’s leaders. I came across a blog post on creativity and the author, Liane Gabora, an Associate Professor of Psychology and Creative Studies at the University of British Columbia, wrote “The pace of cultural change is accelerating more quickly than ever before… [W]e need to bump up creativity levels — to generate the innovative ideas that will keep us afloat.”

What does this mean for parents and teachers of young children today?

Parents can focus on creating great, immersive digital experiences for their children at home.  There are interactive books like Sesame Street’s The Monster at the End of This Book to quality, educator-created early learning apps like Papumba Academy, that encourage parents and children to engage with technology in a unique way. It may be a good idea to give your children a digital head start.

As for teachers, ensuring that technology offers experiences that complement offline play and learning is key to ensuring that all young learners in the classroom are engaged, creative, and prepared to navigate the changing world of technology that awaits them.

Reading a colleague’s post (shoutout to: Jackson Pearce) has inspired me to write about technology in golf. I grew up with loved ones who play the sport and I find it fascinating how the sport has evolved through the years. Since time immemorial, the sport of golf has been depicted as a sport for gentlemen of high stature or older gentlemen in country clubs. However, it seems as time has progressed, and possibly due to numerous influencers such as Tiger Woods, Rory Mcllroy, Phil Mickelson and Michelle Wie, the sport has made strides in the athletics and technology scenes. It is no longer perceived as simply a leisurely game but is now revered by many as exciting, climactic and even nerve wracking. Men and women, young and old, have worked hard and dedicated their lives to becoming professional golfers.

Something that may seem new and even a tad peculiar with this slow-paced sport is the technology behind it. However easy it may look to hit the golf ball, it has been proven that discipline, dedication, a special skill set and now even advanced technology are needed to have a powerful and consistent game.

The most basic and yet most integral part of a golf game is the golf swing, which determines where the ball is going to go and land. With the help of today’s advances in technology i.e., cameras, radars, and sensors, e.g., “Flight Scope” and “Trackman” a golfer is able to see and observe every aspect of his or her golf swing down to the degree. These machines capture the swing, the speed, the direction, the angle, the projection, and the distance of the ball. The radars, cameras, and sensors are connected to your smartphones or smart gadgets and it relays all of the information. Now, the golfer can see where errors are being made with their golf swing. Research and data show that the average scoring of golfing professionals have improved by 4.2 shots since using this type of technology.

Such gadgetry has also made instructing and teaching much easier. Coaches and instructors alike are now able to distinguish exactly where their players and students are lacking and how they can improve.

Another crucial component in having a proficient golf game is mastery of the golf course. Technology has also afforded a more precise and convenient way to plot and understand the terrain of golf courses. Now, with the use of radars with the click of a button, a player can know the exact distance of an object or of the entire hole. This has helped professionals and amateurs take their games to a higher level by understanding golf courses that they frequent and ones that are new and unfamiliar.

These are only two examples of how technology has evolved the beloved game of golf. There seems to be buzz on how technological advances have revolutionized the equipment used by golfers; including but not limited to clubs, shoes and balls.

Although that is talk for another time.