Part 1
There are various pros and cons for using internet in early childhood classrooms. The Internet gives people the opportunity to exhange ideas and information quickly throughout the world. For example, students could become pen pals with other students on the other side of the world. The students across the world would get the e-mail instantly, compared to through the postal service which would take weeks. Also, i think sometimes we underestimate the abilities of young people to learn the basdics of computers and the Internet. Most students can learn new languages quickly. The Internet is kind of like another language. It can serve the students in many areas of their lives for years to come. The Internet gives students audio, visual and kinesthetic experiences. They could potentially develop sophisticated search and retrieval strategies as they explore new topics. It also can help with students critical thinking skills amd problem solving skills. As a teacher, I think I could create challenging, appropriate projects for my students. It would be convienient as well, because time and space are not as relevant on the Internet, since Spain is as close as our neighbors. A con of the internet is that, there are few child-friendly sites. Visiting boring, uninvolving or irrelevent sites discourages the value of using the Internet. The teacher of course can select a few good sites in advance for the students to use so that they are not just searching aimlessly. Another con is that for a lot of schools there are not enough computers to accommadate all the children. Although, this is an issue that can be fixed.
The benefits of using the Internet in an Early Childhood classroom, I briefly described earlier. I feel that giving children the opportunity to connect to the world through the Internet would be a beneficial experience for them. By using the Internet students have audio, visual and kinesthetic experiences. Also, as a teacher I could create activities revolving around interesting sites that I provide for the students. I personally believe that the Internet is useful in these ways.
Part 2
This website is www.funbrain.com which is a program encourages creative behavior and fun ways of building knowledge through math games, english games, reading activities, a "playground", short tales, and lots of fun stuff!
1 comment:
You come up with some great ideas on internet use in the classroom! I have similar feelings, and also agree that we underestimate the abilities of young children to learn the basics of a computer and the internet. They really do have amazing powers and have the ability to do more then we realize! The internet is a whole new world available for children to explore and receive information on all kinds of amazing things. Their skills, as you mentioned, will be greatly improved upon if using the internet. Brains will be worked out in different ways, if appropriate sites are visited and explored. Great site that you recommended, toO!
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