Cult of Mac has a feature on a kindergarten in Maine which has equipped over 200 students with iPads.
My comment:
Technology isn’t going to turn a child into a genius any more than strict adherence to the three Rs and paper and pencils turned anyone into a genius.
Exposure to technology has many benefits – including important socialisation. I notice this because we have a split family, together at the weekends. The children who live here 7 days a week are exposed to every type of technology and are confident to try. The children who do not are nervous about new things and have less well-developed reading and manipulation skills (for their age).
I help my eldest with his homework but it’s not hard to see how little homework engages the child. We’re living in the most distracting era the world has ever known but we’re still expecting children to learn by scratching carbon sticks onto dried wood pulp?
Our learning tools have to be competitive with the leisure tools that kids have access to if you want them to want to learn. Back in my day, books were extremely compelling but still made of ink and wood pulp. I appreciate them due to my age. Kids need to have an experience of learning that compares to the other distractions in their lives.