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Does technology in the classroom help your children or not?

4 replies

Daniwing1 · 13/10/2014 15:20

Hello :)
My name is Dani, I am 17 and am currently in my last year of sixth form. I am doing an extended project looking into the effects of technology on children within the classroom.
If anyone could please respond with how they find they're children are coping with using technology at school, and the type of products they use, I would be very grateful.
Thank you, Dani :)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
sunnyrosegarden · 13/10/2014 16:12

Hi Dani

As a parent of primary school age children, I can tell you that they have computer lessons at least once a week, and cover coding, powerpoint etc. A lot more coding this year for all ages - they are using Scratch.

They also use My Maths for occasional maths lessons, and homework.

Lots of topics are researched online - National Geographic's website.

There is technology in the classroom, such as interactive whiteboards etc, but no idea now they work. May be getting ipads in the future (one of my children uses GarageBand at musc school).

Any help?

Ferguson · 13/10/2014 18:38

I am a retired male TA, and spent over twenty years in primary schools.

Obviously, in that time things advanced from the BBC Micro, to Acorn RiscOS computers, (still my favourite system, if I had a choice), to PCs, and networks, and today to things like whiteboards, digital cameras etc, that seem like 'magic' compared to the early days.

Things have improved now that virtually ALL adults are computer literate, but in the early days many teachers avoided using computers, and had no understanding of how things worked.

When PCs and our school network were introduced, I provided computer training to our other 19 TAs, many of whom said it was the best ICT training they had received. I did have a background in office computing, before working in education, so I understood what the TAs needed, and could explain things that were relevant and in a way they understood. (Some outside consultant trainers can be over-technical.)

I have been out of schools for a few years now, so am not aware of current activities, but I used to run a Yr6 lunchtime computer club, and also used to teach touch typing to Yr2 as a club activity.

Ideally, besides using 'tech' for its own sake, it can be used to enhance, extend and record in many other subject areas.

One of the best things I did in an infant school, was with a Yr1 Down's boy, who was fascinated by computers, but had such poor motor skills he could not use a mouse or keyboard. I found a web site for people with disabilities, that only needed the SPACE BAR to be pressed at the right moment to activate various functions. He could manage this, and was delighted with his new skill. I think it also helped improve his motor functions, and he soon progressed to using a special small mouse, and keyboard.

[ I don't mean to be rude, but check your spelling and grammar: "how they find their children are coping." ]

Good luck with your project, and come back if I can be of any more help.

Ferguson · 16/10/2014 21:53

Sorry to see you haven't had much response to your request.

Maybe you could email direct to your local primary schools, particularly ones you had attended previously, or know children who do attend. Probably ask the school secretary, or deputy head if they can assist; perhaps the Parents' Association will be prepared to help. The Head will be too busy to deal with you at first, though may need to authorise it at a later stage.

Coolas · 16/10/2014 22:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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