The Teacher's Role in the Use of Computers in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

The subject of computers places many parents in a quandary over what is best for their children while dealing with a subject they know very little about. One source of information about the educational uses of computers is their child's teacher. Eighty-four kindergarten and special education early childhood teachers in 31 districts of a two-county area in Illinois were surveyed to identify teachers' computer experiences, attitudes, and recommendations concerning the use of computers with kindergarten children and children ages 3-6 in special education. The findings are presented with attention to (1) the state of public school computer use with young children, (2) the training, experience, and unmet needs of teachers with respect to computers, and (3) the advice and guidance a parent could expect from an early childhood teacher about computers and educational software.

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