Technology is part of life and today, since they are born, children are in contact with it. It is not surprising that at three years they know how to dominate the mouse as authentic experts.
For study the impact of new technologies on children's learning, Toshiba and the La Salle Bonanova children's school (Barcelona) are carrying out the Mátic Plan, the first European project on the subject.
Children as young as three years old have a tablet PC, a tool halfway between a PC and a PDA, with a touch screen and a special stylus to handle it. Thanks to its wireless connection, it can be transported throughout the classroom without danger of cables or risk of breakage as it is resistant to any type of shock, even spillage of liquids.
If it comes to replace the sheet and the pencil of a lifetime, I don't believe it. I think it brings a new way of learning. Essential materials for early childhood education such as modeling clay, finger paints and colored sheets will not cease to exist, but more advanced systems are incorporated.
Of course, the digital whiteboard is equipped with software adapted to children's themes, currently focused on mathematics. They can color, underline or select what they see on the screen and computers can recognize their own writing to turn it into computer writing.
Computers have already become an essential part of school material and as we see, it is increasingly incorporated at an earlier age. Abuse or adapt to the times? I think the second. As I said before, I don't think it replaces but adds.
