Embedding Computer Activities into the Context of Preschools
Résumé
Computer activities are all too often employed in preschool (and kindergarten) activity rooms with little regard for what is going on beyond the computer. Consequently, in those circumstances computer time is lacking appropriate context that could help link computer activities with the educational themes surrounding non-computer activities. Providing technical computer training to preschool and kindergarten teachers is often not sufficient to originate activities that embed that context beyond simple connection such as: drawing food in the computer when the non-computer activities deal with healthy eating habits; playing a math game when the activities are math-oriented; etc. At the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, in north-eastern Portugal, the authors have been working since January 2000 in the contextual integration of computer activities in preschool and kindergarten, devoting special attention to activities with powerful educational features, such as computer programming. These efforts also included different ways of presenting the overall idea of full context for computer activities to future preschool teachers and developing with them sample activities where those ideas are implemented. This paper aims to provide work samples that serve as examples of how a powerful environment, such as a computer-programming or customizable computer environment can be embedded in the overall context of the noncomputer activities.
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