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How to maximize your child’s development with the use of technology

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Today, let us explore the role of parents in maximizing their children’s development in the use of technology and how to set guideline to give children the freedom to seek information and become independent learners.

Most parents are afraid of letting their precious little ones being exposed to the computer and the Internet. Their reasons can be summed up in two distinct areas:

  1. There is a health issue
    It can damage the eyes with the prolonged staring of the computer screen. It can cause bad posture, with kids slouching in their chairs and of course, the most common being, it promotes anti social behaviour.
  1. The content is not suitable for children
    The Internet exposes kids to a world without boundaries. As much as there is so much to praise, the amount of violence and sexual content o the web is definitely frightening and parents strive to protect their children from this.

So, let us see what we can do as parents, to get past the above and focus on how parents can introduce children to the world of computers and the Internet without any negative results.

  1. Set rules
    This has to be done as early as possible. The sooner the rules are put into place the easier it is to enforce them. Let is realize that the problem is not with the technology but with parents not being able to set rules and stick to them! For a young child of the kindergarten age, I would allow the child to use the computer for half an hour and not a minute more. I would set an alarm if I have to just so the child knows when to stop. For older children, I would give them a slightly longer period depending on their age.When there are two or three children involved, set a simple timetable and there will be no quarrelling in the near future. Parents need to understand that children need rules like this. It gives their world some form of structure and security. They know what they are entitled to and this gives them some for of control of their life.
  1. Make sure your hardware is child friendly
    These include not only the computer but also the table, chair and the lighting. The table and chair has to be suitable for the child’s height. Do not allow young children to slouch on the bed or the couch. Practice discipline early and you will be screaming less in the future! Try to have a study area in your home if you can. I would strongly discourage the dining table for this purpose unless there is no other space available.In my home, I have delegated one room as the Study Room where I have shelves for books and my husband, my children and I have individual tables for ‘work’. This was the best decision I made. Today, this is the most used room in our home and a lot of quality time is spent here. We are also closer to the children because of it. Computers/laptops are not allowed in the bedrooms and are only used here. If your children are young, do not spend too much on hardware. State of the art laptops and computers will be a waste as children can be careless and can damage things. Instead, ensure that the children sit at a proper distance from the screen and if they are using a mouse, make sure it fits their little fingers. If you are going to up grade your computer, give them your old one. Let them trash it and no one will be upset!
  1. Check content
    Most systems today come with some form of parental control. Check your system and get this one running. Look at the settings and the preferences on your computer and change this according to your needs. When it is your child’s turn to use the computer, you have to be with them. Never leave the child alone. Giving a child a task to do and then disappearing into the kitchen or running off to have a bath is wrong. To help you child achieve the best you have to make sacrifices. This is a fact. From my experience as a teacher for more than 27 years, I can state with confidence, that the most successful children are those whose parents invested their Time on them. It is easy to invest money on our children but are you willing to invest your Time on them? Think about it. Make time to be with your children during Study Time. You will have to have done some form of ‘homework’ on your end to know what you want your children to do. Let us not forget that the computer and the Internet is not merely a source of entertainment but information as well. There are many web sites that cater for this and there are CDs for different age groups and different purpose. Do your research.

Next week let us explore the software and activities that parents can do with their children using the Internet.

This article was written by Madam Kalai Lingam. Madam Kalai has 27 years of teaching experience in government secondary school. She opted for early retirement in 2013 to pursue her love of writing, and is currently writing a book. Madam Kalai is well versed in the Malaysian Education system, having been a senior English teacher and school administrator for many years.

Parents, Technology and the New Primary Curriculum

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The new primary curriculum or KSSR puts a great emphasis on the use of technology in the teaching and learning process. The rationale for this is that we need our students to be technology savvy to be able to not just stand abreast but to move ahead in a highly competitive world.

The use of technology improves learning. When used correctly, it improves the speed of learning and increases the scope of learning. It can also increase the amount of time spent learning as it supports twenty-four hours of learning everyday.

On the part of the learner, the use technology introduces the learner to new skills. Technology is constantly evolving and learners need to know how to use these materials. There was a day in the past when the pen was seen a technological marvel and today computers, smart phones and e-‘just about everything’ have taken over the world by storm. Our children have to know and be confident in using these items to benefit from them. The world is constantly on the move and our children have to be taught to embrace positive changes in the world around them.

The use of technology is good in the process of learning as it increases student’s involvement and engagement. When we look at the computer and the Internet we can see the benefits at once.

  1. Information is lateral and vertical
    Say for example, when a teacher uses an online text on building airplanes to teach the English Language, a student who is interested in building airplanes will be able to use this text as a platform to seek more information on this topic. It provides the scope for students to pursue their interests or be introduced to many new areas that they may have an interest for.
  1. Learning is interactive
    Learners get instant feedback of their understanding on a particular subject. When a learner keys in a wrong answer, the learning portal will immediately point this out and the learner has to try again. A right answer will move him/her to the next level. This interactive feature is very effective in learning, as mistakes are instantly corrected. Furthermore, the ‘game like’ features in these portals are able to capture the learner’s attention for a longer period. The use of sound and colour and the ability to move from level to level each time the learner is able to do the given task correctly, makes learning fun and effective. Technology is often successful in removing boredom from the teaching-learning process. Students will be motivated to sit for longer periods and learn while having fun. This in turn accelerates the learning process.
  1. Learning at your own pace
    Our children are all different. Their family background, the social economic status, their previous learnt knowledge and of course, the genetic factors will all affect how quickly the absorb new information. With the use of technology, learners will move from stage to stage at his/her own pace. Those who are able to grasp the content quickly will be able to move on to other things while those who are slower will move at their own pace. Let us also not forget, that children generally are better in some areas and weaker in others and this will allow a more comfortable learning platform.
  1. Weaker students can have more teacher time
    Technology encourages independent learning and the teacher will be able to focus on some learners more than others. Some learners, depending on the many factors mentioned above, still need their teacher to hold their hands and show them how it is done. They need to hear their teacher’s voice and a ‘one to one human interaction’ to help them understand content. Sometimes, pair work can be conducted, where peer teaching is encouraged. It is a fact that one of the best ways to learn is to teach. By getting students who understand the content to guide the weaker once, both learners benefit and a greater sense of accomplishment is achieved.
  1. Students become independent learners
    Technology allows students to taught how to seek and validate information. Most lessons that are linked with technology require students to do research independently and present their work. This often takes place in the form of independent presentation or group presentation. Students learn to look for information, evaluate the information, present and give their opinions on the given topic. On a higher order scale of learning, this leads to reasoning and decision-making skills that are life skills that each individual needs to have.

Parent’s Role
Based on the above, parents should understand that technology is something that is good and can enhance their children’s learning and performance in school and in life. Of course, on the flip side, the use of technology, meaning computers, without any supervision can be damaging for the child’s health and learning process. Eventually, it all comes down to the parents. You have to have the knowledge on how to make the most of what you have, how to supervise, how to motivate and how to give your kids the confidence to use these instruments for their benefit.

This article was written by Madam Kalai Lingam. Madam Kalai has 27 years of teaching experience in government secondary school. She opted for early retirement in 2013 to pursue her love of writing, and is currently writing a book. Madam Kalai is well versed in the Malaysian Education system, having been a senior English teacher and school administrator for many years.