Posted by
Cliff
on from the improving-the-K-experience dept.
andres32a asks: "I currently run a private preschool located in Latin America. I have been always interested in finding new ways of giving kids a legitimate educational advantage through fresh applications of technology. What technology would you like to have seen applied in your kindergarten?"
If you have loads of money, then hire somebody to put up a Windows or Mac box loaded with all sorts of commercial software, which is exactly what many here will suggest. But since you are writing here and asking about it, I will assume that you are not Bill Gates. Instead, use Linux/BSD and there are a number of good applications out there. I am currently having my 3 y.o. use ChildPlay and gcomperie (sp). She is learning all about the mouse and loving it. There are a number of educational type games out there that encourage this behavior. And in general, you can even run the Windows apps in wine (keep in mind that these are simple apps). Check out some of the memory games. In addition, check out the site for TuxPaint. It is geared towards kids. In fact, just thinking about it, there are several distros geared for education. Ubuntu has a derivative called edubuntu.
-- I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
The irony
by
michaelmalak
·
· Score: 4, Informative
It's ironic to see "kindergarten" and "technology" in the same sentence, since Frobel invented Kindergarten in the early 19th century as a "garden" for children where they can learn through physical manipulation of materials and practical life activities. This description sums it up best:
Friedrich Froebel's enduring significance was through his formulation of the 'kindergarten system' with its emphasis on play and its use of 'gifts' (play materials) and 'occupations (activities).
Friedrich Froebel believed that humans are essentially productive and creative - and fulfilment comes through developing these in harmony with God and the world. As a result, Froebel sought to encourage the creation of educational environments that involved practical work and the direct use of materials. Through engaging with the world, understanding unfolds. Hence the significance of play - it is both a creative activity and through it children become aware of their place in the world. He went on to develop special materials (such as shaped wooden bricks and balls - gifts), a series of recommended activities (occupations) and movement activities, and an linking set of theories. His original concern was the teaching of young children through educational games in the family. In the later years of his life this became linked with a demand for the provision of special centres for the care and development of children outside the home.
For those wondering how this fits in with Montessori, Maria Montessori independently rediscovered much of the same nearly a century later, but as part of a much more comprehensive and cohesive system of education.
Legos... and LOGO!
by
mrchaotica
·
· Score: 2, Informative
I had great fun (and learned a lot) by playing with Legos as a kid, but I can also say exactly the same thing about LOGO too. Sure, it teaches you about geometry and programming and whatnot, but more importantly it was the coolest thing since Oregon Trail!
--
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
Re:Legos... and LOGO!
by
TheRaven64
·
· Score: 2, Informative
Actually, Logo isn't a procedural language, it is a functional language complete with closures (that's blocks to Smalltalk programmers) and is semantically very similar to Lisp. Of course, most of the time it is just used for teaching geometry, so people tend not to be introduced to the advanced features.
I would still recommend Squeak as well, but please don't underestimate Logo.
Re:I am curious
by
mgb68
·
· Score: 2, Informative
How much experience do I have? Just mine and what I have seen with my little sister. As soon as she got an account on the family computer, she wanted to IM and email the kids next door instead of just walking over there. I know that my personal experience is that I end up spending more time sitting in front of the computer and less time mountain biking than I would like.
The question is asking for our opinions. If the person already knew what technology to have in the classroom s/he wouldn't have bothered asking.
I agree that technology is coming to saturate our lives more with each coming year but my opinion is that kindergarten is too early.
some Open Source resources
by
cwgmpls
·
· Score: 2, Informative
This site has about a dozen free software titles for Linux that are good for kids. I've used a few of them with my kids. They've been great, and the price is right.
The Incredible Machine
by
KlaymenDK
·
· Score: 3, Informative
"Back to basics" - check "Something to keep lego's and lincoln logs out of the plebians' mouths" - check "runs on cheap equipment" - check Actually learning something useful - check Great big fun! - check
Slashdot Mirror
If you have loads of money, then hire somebody to put up a Windows or Mac box loaded with all sorts of commercial software, which is exactly what many here will suggest. But since you are writing here and asking about it, I will assume that you are not Bill Gates. Instead, use Linux/BSD and there are a number of good applications out there. I am currently having my 3 y.o. use ChildPlay and gcomperie (sp). She is learning all about the mouse and loving it. There are a number of educational type games out there that encourage this behavior. And in general, you can even run the Windows apps in wine (keep in mind that these are simple apps). Check out some of the memory games. In addition, check out the site for TuxPaint. It is geared towards kids. In fact, just thinking about it, there are several distros geared for education. Ubuntu has a derivative called edubuntu.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
I had great fun (and learned a lot) by playing with Legos as a kid, but I can also say exactly the same thing about LOGO too. Sure, it teaches you about geometry and programming and whatnot, but more importantly it was the coolest thing since Oregon Trail!
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
How much experience do I have? Just mine and what I have seen with my little sister. As soon as she got an account on the family computer, she wanted to IM and email the kids next door instead of just walking over there. I know that my personal experience is that I end up spending more time sitting in front of the computer and less time mountain biking than I would like.
The question is asking for our opinions. If the person already knew what technology to have in the classroom s/he wouldn't have bothered asking.
I agree that technology is coming to saturate our lives more with each coming year but my opinion is that kindergarten is too early.
This site has about a dozen free software titles for Linux that are good for kids. I've used a few of them with my kids. They've been great, and the price is right.
The Incredible Machinen e
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Machi
"Back to basics" - check
"Something to keep lego's and lincoln logs out of the plebians' mouths" - check
"runs on cheap equipment" - check
Actually learning something useful - check
Great big fun! - check
"Good news, everyone!"