When to start the technology learning process

For elementary school teachers...when do today's children start learning about computers and technology that they would use for the rest of their lives (especially Microsoft word, powerpoint, excel). Or are they simply taught at home?

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Schurkamp on April 13, 2011 at 8:46am

We just started a class called Digital Literacy this year in our district. It's another "special" class along with Gym, Library, Art and Music. Only our 1st-3rd grades attend (our elementary buildings are K-3). In first grade they are taught basics but are not heavily taught specific programs like MS Word, Power Point, etc. They do some minor things in there, but I believe 1st graders have potential to do more than most teachers expect. Our 2nd grade team is very tech savvy and students are using Apple's Keynote and Pages (similar to Power Point and Word) and apps on iPads that allow students to create class projects and then email the images, pdfs, sound files, movies, etc to their teacher.

Many students see their parents and teachers using these programs, but if you allow them to try it out for a simple project, they catch on quick. It's great because you only have to teach them once and then they take off with it! After our 2nd graders learned Keynote, they use it as an option for a project during centers to create a Keynote on the book they are reading or something they are learning in other subject areas.

All districts are different in how they use technology. It goes further than that, too because even with a Digital Literacy class students attend each week, their teachers are all at different levels so one 3rd grade class could be very well versed on Glogster or Pages while the rest of the 3rd graders are not.

Permalink Reply by Sandra Logan on June 20, 2011 at 10:32am

I think that it is never too early to learn about technology and I agree that teachers especially those who don't see the value on technology greatly underestimate students. When teachers haven't embraced technology advances themselves, they will not be able to teach their students to be prepared for 21st Century Learning.

In my school, we have a Computers Special (similar to Art and Music) where the students have the opportunity to work in a computer lab. When I pick up my students, they seem to be playing games each week. I'm not sure what they do the rest of the time but I'm looking to change this practice next year.

When I look at what my 5 year old could do when she was 3 and 4 on a computer (practice typing word families, loading her favorite web pages, shooting video saving it and playing it back on my smartphone) I know there is a GREAT potential for 1st and 2nd graders to do so much more than what they are allowed.

Permalink Reply by Lindsay Raya on November 2, 2011 at 1:10pm

I believe a lot of students are learning about technology at home, but we should not assume that they all have access to technology. I believe they learn a lot from TV shows as well as toys. Toys these days have technology imbedded in them, which teaches students how to use technology. I believe many students know how to do simple tasks, such as go to their favorite website, type their name, change the volume, etc. I do think that teachers have a big role in teaching them more about technology.

Permalink Reply by Margoflower on November 2, 2011 at 11:03pm

I have taught computers K-7, although it was a few years ago. We started with the productivity software in grade 2. Nowadays, we need to spend lots of time on digital literacy / internet safety. My 7 year old signs up for websites. When he was 6, I put him on garage band and walked away. An hour later, he had created a song with several "tracks" or layers that he had to play for everyone. Personally, I think so many skills are transferable. Even though things like PowerPoint may be dinosaur-ish in another 10 years, the skills used to "create" in this or any medium transfer. If we count on kids being taught at home, there will be a huge gap/divide. So many things to teach, so little time. Those are my thoughts. Others may not agree. Would love to read other thoughts... PS I think making whatever tool you teach part of an authentic task makes it a more meaningful learning activity than just the technology alone.

Permalink Reply by Debra on November 3, 2011 at 7:44am

I teach in a K-5 lower school of a PK-12 independent school. For the last 3 years, I had computer classes where I saw kids once a week. Depending on the age group, I did different things but all of the classes learned to create various presentations from Kid-Pix slideshows to animoto to I-Movie. I used to log in to the computers for each child and for the younger ones I got the site open before they got there. This year we moved to flex schedules and every child from K-5 has their own log in. If you could see what the K and 1 students are able to do, it is unbelievable. They all are able to log in, follow multi-step directions to open a particular folder, application or website. The younger ones have been using Pixie 3 to create presentations, the 1st graders have been using Garageband to make podcasts of stories they can read, the 2nd graders have been using Kidspiration, and have been taking digital pictures and uploading them to i-photo for a noun book they are making, 3rd graders began with Glogster, etc. I teach online awareness to all grades K-5. Basically, if you give these students the opportunity, they will rise to the occasion.

Permalink Reply by Garrison Daily on November 3, 2011 at 9:56am

Permalink Reply by Steve Ruddy on November 4, 2011 at 5:47am

Hi Kelly,
We start in Kindergarten here at the Antrim School and get into Microsoft Word and PowerPoint in 1st grade. We continue with both in 2nd grade and add some Excel in. After that we continuously expand and refine our skill sets. If your looking for more detailed information, let me know.