The Importance Of ICT In Preschool
Knowledge and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) should be encouraged from an early age. It is for this reason that it is important to use ICT also in preschool age.
The preschool phase, or early childhood education, is that phase of the educational project that concerns children between the ages of birth and six years of life. It is organized in two cycles. The first concerns children up to three years of age and the second those between the ages of three and six. It is in this second cycle that children must have their first contact with ICT.
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
ICTs are all those resources, tools and programs used to process, manage and share information. This is done through various technological media such as computers, cell phones, televisions, game consoles and other similar devices.
Nowadays, ICTs have a fundamental role because they offer all the services that users are used to using in daily life. We refer to emails, chats and web browsing to find the information you want.
ICT provides us with a large amount of information and data for which it is necessary to develop certain technical skills related to the use of technologies. It is also necessary to have specific skills regarding the interpretation of such information, because what we find on the net is not always complete or truthful.
The importance of ICT in preschool age
Knowledge and use of ICT in preschool age is important because it allows children to develop different skills and abilities. First, the skills related to the use of a computer or tablet , such as tactile, auditory and visual skills.
Later, children will be able to develop skills that derive from the use of the programs, games and educational applications that they will find themselves using.
The use of ICT allows and accompanies the cognitive development of preschool children. Always under the control of the teachers, having contact from an early age with a computer, mobile phone or other technological devices facilitates and improves learning skills.
The use of technologies in the classroom motivates them, allows them to search for information and implement strategies to filter, choose and select it.
Contributions of ICT in preschool education
- They stimulate creativity.
- They allow experimentation.
- They allow children to progress according to their learning pace.
- They develop research strategies.
- They awaken curiosity.
- They develop autonomy.
- They motivate learning.
- They help in the development of hand-eye coordination.
ICT in preschool age: aspects to take into consideration
So far we have talked about the benefits and importance of ICT in preschool age. However, we cannot fail to consider those aspects that can be negative if they are used improperly or excessively.
In the preschool stage, an education based on play and real experience with objects should prevail. Being in contact with others and with nature, reading fairy tales and promoting emotional and social development.
Although the use of technologies can foster social contacts and promote cooperation and collaboration, nothing compares to socialization between people, physical contact and direct interaction.
The use of ICT in preschool age must be limited. Prolonged use can be harmful to posture and promote a sedentary lifestyle and antisocial behavior.
Any use of technologies in preschool and later stages of education must always be supervised and mediated by educators.
On the one hand, the masters have to teach how they work and how to use new technologies. On the other hand, they must educate children in a critical and responsible use of the information they can find.
ICTs offer endless possibilities for immediate access to information. Children must learn to use and interpret the large volume of data they are exposed to. Many times the information is not complete or biased and you need to be able to contextualize it.
