The article, Technology in Early Childhood Education: Finding the Balance, validated much of what I am seeing and encouraging in my classroom. Technology, even during indoor recess, can serve as a catalyst for interaction among students who at other times have little interpersonal contact. I have witnessed a shared technological interest ignite passion in researching a topic as part of a team, laughter during the sharing of game and drawing programs and story swapping of at-home computer experiences. I have also enjoyed seeing students who, at times, can be off task and/or play the role of class clown, don the hat of computer expert. These students take seriously the responsibility of computer trouble shooting, (helping out others having difficulty), and maintaining system procedures, (such start-up and shut-down, the opening of appropriate language arts or math program for the session, etc.).
Have you used the classroom computer in varied ways to support not only student academic growth, but also to support social/interpersonal skills? Please share.