References

Reference List

 

Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (2012).  Programming and Planning in Early Childhood Settings. North Shore, New Zealand: Cengage Learning.

 

Best Start Intranet. (2016).  Digital Citizenship.  Best Start ICT Policy.  Tauranga. New Zealand.

 

Computer History (n.d) Retrieved from:

            http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/computers/

 

Flavell, L. (2006). Investigating the place of ‘T’ in ICT in Early Childhood Education. Retrieved from:                                                                           

https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/education/about/research/images/Paper%202%20Linda%20Flavell.pdf

 

Hilkemeijer, M. (2015, November 2). Key issues using ict in early childhood education. [Blog post]. Retrieved from:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-issues-using-ict-early-childhood-education-michael-hilkemeijer

 

Invention on the Personal Computer. (n.d).  Retrieved from:

http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/invention-of-the-pc

                       

Jones, N. (2015, June 30). Controversial cyberbullying law passes. New Zealand Hearld. Retrived from:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11473545

 

Kaye, B. (2014, December 1). How the ipad affects young children and what we can do about it. [Blog post]. Retrieved form:

            http://ictece.blogspot.co.nz/

 

Khoo, E., & Merry, R. (2013). Young children using iPads: iPads N Kids. Retrieved from:

www.waikato.ac.nz/wmier/research/projects/young-children-using-ipads-ipads-n-kids

 

Ministry of Education, (2016).  Digital technologies for teaching and learning. Wellington, New Zealand. Retrieved from:

www.education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/specific-initiatives/digital-technologies-for-teaching-and-learning.

 

NetSafe. (2015, September 16).  Digital citizenship and digital literacy. Retrieved from:

            https://www.netsafe.org.nz/digital-citizenship-and-digital-literacy/  

 

Sticks’n’stones. (2016). Retrieved from:

            www.sticknstones.co.nz/ourproject/

 

Wallace, K. (2015, October 6). Pediatricians to tweek ‘outdated screen time recommendations for kids.  CNN.  Retrieved from:

            http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/06/health/screen-time-rules-change-pediatricians/

 

Zimmerman, K. A. (2015, September 8). History of Computers: A brief timeline. Retrieved from:

            http://www.livescience.com/20718-computer-history.html

Teachers responsiblity around ICT

"ICT is not only the future of our Children's education it is the present; and we need to make the investment in ICT now!"

Walter Lockhart (Naace, 2013).

After reading 'Developmentally Appropriate Technology in Early Childhood (DATEC) final report - also reproduced in Siraj-Blatchford, I. and Siraj- Blatchford, J. (2000) More than computers: Information and Communications Technology in the Early Years, London, Early Education.  There where several interesting ideas bought to light by this report.  They have given Seven general principles to identify the effectiveness of ICT applications in Early childhood education

1.  Ensure an educational purpose

2.  Encourage collaboration

3.  Integrate with other aspects of curriculum

4.  Ensure the child is in control

5.  Choose applications that are transparent

6.  Avoid applications containing violence or stereotyping

7.  Be aware of health and safety issues.

As a teacher we need to ensure the technology we use is empowering children's learning and they are in control. 


So how can the teacher do this.


1.  We as teachers can show that children become empowered and control there own learning, showing instant documentation of achievements, able to search information spontaneously and giving parents instant access to learning stories depending on the media used.


2.  By videoing, taking pictures, with written text the children are able to instruct the teachers to the way they are learning.  This provides genuine moments of learning.


3.  Integrating ICT into everyday learning will become the 'norm.'  It helps to extend the child's literacy by helping the teachers write stories with the teacher.  Helps the child build the links between picutres/videos and written text on subjects that interest the child.


4.  Children learn how to use the Technology with the teachers.  This empowers the child by taking control of their own learning.


5.  By choosing easy to use application the children are able to design their own experiences.


6.  Violence and stero-typing can be avoided by follow the centre/governing board policy.


7.  Under current guidelines 10 - 20 minutes of computer time for a 3 year old.  By allowing ICT to be used only under the supervision of a teacher we can ensure that Children stay within these time limits.  ICT should never be used at the expense of outdoor learning experiences.


It has been interesting to me to find that this list is almost the same in every article, Blog, and research that I have read over the last several weeks.


ICT in ECE blog
smooth broad air
Key issues in using ICT in ECE


Through looking into this I have found a really interesting article by Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand.  The relevance is New Zealand based research using our own curriculum.  You can follow this link to the article.

Waikato study on young children using I-pads.
The results of this article showed that children learning with I-Pads where able to explore and interact to extend their knowledge and interest while working in collaboration with others.  Favell (2006) found the same findings as the Waikato study but had gone further concluding it is the teachers professional responsibility to refine and define meaning to avoid confusion as the child learns this media.




"Children are competent users of technology, active agents in their own learning and aware of the world beyond their family (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett and Farmer. 2012)  So if this statement is true then we should be making sure that we in-still strong messages around safety regarding  computer access for young children.

All the articles I have read talk about Digital citizenship


This Ven diagram shows that through our curriculum we have an obligation to teach children about the safety of the internet and how to practice using it safely.  This should also include teaching children that what they post on the internet is there forever regardless of being deleted from their account or history. 
 


So where do I now stand?


After all my readings the conclusion that I have personally come to is


ICT in ECE should be strongly monitored by the staff.  But by using I-Pads etc, within the centre and at home it can strengthen the relationships and foster communication between all parties regarding the child's learning.

Policy and legisation

Over the years there has been many changes of policy and legislation in regards to ICT depending on the government in charge.


CNN has bought the latest offerings for the American Paediatricians.  Screen Time rules are about to change.  New Zealand doctors follow this guideline and are waiting to see what the new suggestion is.  Unfortunately we still have a few more months to wait.  So why the change.  Well the current guidelines were set up in 2009 this was before I-Pads and tablets where common place in nearly every home.  But on average a child between the ages of birth to five should currently have no screen time or very limited.  As a parent and teacher I know that this is normally not followed and many people haven't heard of the guidelines.  Follow the link below to the article.
American Pediatricians about to change the rules for Screen time.


The Ministry of Education brings us their policy through the below link.
Ministry of Education digital policy
It states that all educational services will by the end of 2016 have 'high quality, high capacity, ultra fast internet access' (Ministry of Education, 2016).
It is not directed at early childhood but across the broad for the education sector.  The above statement is still a wait and see.


Being in the Early Childhood sector each centre whether it be private or part of a corporation should have a digital policy.  This will be signed by parents when they enrol the child and should cover photos, internet access and if the centre uses Story Park or other online formats. Part of this policy should be giving parents information on Netsafe.
The New Zealand Government they have just passed into law about harmful messages and pictures.   People can now be prosecuted if it is found that the message or pictures where upload with intent to harm.   This is considered cyber bullying.  It has only become a problem in the last few years with more access to the internet and smart phones.  Although this is for older children and adults.
Controversial cyber bullying law passes.

Sticks'n'Stones is a New Zealand site designed to address the growing Cyber bullying problem around the country. This is a concern worldwide not just in New Zealand.

History

This was a harder topic to look at the history of ICT in Early Childhood Education
After a lot of discussion I have done and thinking outside the original topic I have come up with the


HISTORY OF COMPUTERS


Lots of reading later I can now give a time line of computer history with points that are relevant to Early Childhood Education.
 


1939 - Hewlett- Packard was founded.  The first product they produced was used in 12 movie theatres the showed the Disney movie "Fantasia"

The First Bombe computer.

1942 - The first Bombe is completed  -  This machine was used to decrypt the Nazi ENIGMA based-military communications during world war II.

1943 - ENIAC used panel-to-panel wiring and switches for  programming, occupied more than 1,000 square feet, used about 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighed 30 tons.  Because the ENIAC was electronic it was 1000 times faster than any computer of it's time.

1944 - The Harvard Mark 1 is completed -  This machine was a room sized relay-based calculator.


1948 - First computer programme to run on a computer.  It had seventeen instructions and ran on June 21st at the University of Manchester.


1951 - The first Univac 1 was delivered to the U.S. Census Bureau.  This machine used 5,200 vacuum tubes, weighed 29,000 pounds or roughly 11,600 kilos.  Forty six of these machines where sold costing over $1 million (U.S dollars) each.   

. 

1955 - The first key-board was used for direct input  in February. Five months later MIT confirmed that the keyboard input device was both convenient and  useful.

1958 - MIT reseachers built the first TX-o this was the first general-purpose programmable computer built with transistors. For easy replacement, designers placed each transistor circuit inside a "bottle," similar to a vacuum tube.

PDP-8

1965 - This computer was designed to monitor the reactor in a nuclear lab.  It was a compact general purpose computer.  Later the PDP-8 was made for commercial use and sold thousands to manufacturing plants, small businesses and scientific laboratories.  The cost for the PDP-8 was $18,000 (U.S. Dollars)

1967  - The first electronic typewriters were available. for roughly $700.   These were considered the first micro computers.

1970 - Digital Equipment Corporation designs the Nova mini computer.  It contained 32KB (kilobytes) of memory and cost $8,000.  This computer later influences the systems like Xerox Alto and Apple 1.

The Dover Laser Printer.

1973 - Xerox invented the first Laser Printer.  It was a light sensitive machine. This has the worlds first laser printer which has generated billions of dollars in revenue for Xerox

1977 - Apple-I was completed.  Becoming the first in the Apple company line

1977 - Apple-II was introduced.  This was the first of personal computers.  Apple gave away thousands of these computers to schools.  Millions of these computers were sold between 1977 and 1993.  This is the longest lived personal computer sold to date.

Commodore 64 (C64)

1981 - Commodore computers introduced the C64.  It sold for $595 and was sold for 12 years and  over 22 million were sold.  In 2006 it entered the Guinness Book of World Records, being the greatest selling computer of all time.

1982 - IBM introduces it's Personal computer. 

1984 - Apple launched the first Macintosh (mac)  computer during the superbowl in 1984.  Priced at $2,500  It included a mouse and came included  programmes MacPaint, MacWrite.

First Macintosh portable computer

           IBM introduced the PC Jr. as a home computer selling for about $4,000.

1986 - Compaq introduced  it's Deskpro 386.

1989 - Macintosh introduces the first portable computer.  It was considered heavy at sixteen pounds or 6.4 kilograms.  Was expensive at $6,500 (U.S. dollars).  It did not sell as well as expected and was withdrawn from the market after 2 years.  

1992 - Apple releases the first  hand held computer. It had handwriting recognition software but did not work as well as anticipated again being discontinued after a few years.

Early 90's - The cell phone arrived.  By 1992/3 these where part of most businesses including in New Zealand

From here on the computer explosion starts.

1996 -  First palm pilot was sold.

2000 - First camera phone was introduced.  It was 0.11 megapixels and had 256-colour display.  Camera phones became a significant part of all cell phones within a few years.

Apple iPhone

2007 - Amazon released the Kindle.  An electronic reader.  Later versions include an audio reader.  It was also capable of having increased storage.

2007 -  The release of the iPhone.  The first web browser, music player and cell phone.

2008 - Apple introduced the MacBook Air.  It light, thin  laptop with a high-capacity battery.

2011 - The I-Pad is released.  It has wi-fi, audio-video capabilities.


2013 - Kidicorp/Beststart roll out 16 centres in a trail with I-Pads.
By 2014 this is released to all centres if they can complete the modules.  By 2016 several centres have taken this offer and now have I-Pads for every teachers. 

Above is the time line of relevant points.
 

What does this mean for Early Childhood Education?

While reading about the history of  computers I found it interesting that it did not mention software as much as I though it would.  Personally I think it is interesting that in our centres or the ones that I have worked at, you will find window systems in our offices which we are expected to do our work on but they are now introducing the Apple iPads which are not compatible with these.  So does it mean that we will be changing to Apple computers in the future?


You can find more by going to the links below.

Computer History

Invention of the Personal Computer.


Since posting this page I have found another timeline that is in simpler language which also talks about the software systems that are used.


Live Science computer history