36 Role of Information Technology in Play

P. Jagathambal

Introduction

We live in a smart era. In this era of technology, everyone have access to electronic gadgets. It has become status symbol for all to possess one with them. Though we speak about the disadvantages of electronic gadgets, we can’t deny the fact that they also equally possess useful qualities which can be tapped for the betterment of our lives.

As all of us aware children enjoy playing and it is the basic necessity of childhood. Priority should be given to play way method of curriculum. Play includes all sorts of activities which allows the children to enjoy and relax. Play is recognised as a critical process in childhood, closely related to development.

Traditionally we have wide variety of play materials which serves the purpose of contributing to the overall development of children. But today’s technological era provide the opportunity of using technological advancements in play. A child’s best attraction in the recent times is the gadgets, be it a smart phone, I – pad or computer. The technological age has become an era of knowledge providing by means of exchange of information, communication and exploration to strengthen the teaching learning process mainly for young children. This is because children love those electronic gadgets.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this session, the learners are expected to get enlightened about

• Concept of children’s play
• Concept of information technology
• Information technology in educational perspectives
• Information technology and early childhood education centers
• Integrating information technology and play
• Factors to be considered in using information technology in early childhood education centers
• Contribution of information technology in children’s play
• Role of early childhood educator in integrating information technology and play

Concept of children’s play

Play can be defined as any activity that is freely chosen , personally directed, intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child. Play is any activity engaged in for the pleasure it gives for the person. Among children play is considered as an effective process through which many key skills like cognitive, social and emotional are developed and through which imagination and creativity find expression. Through play, children develop the social skills necessary to negotiate their widening world, the problem-solving strategies that facilitate success in school and life. Play affords a means of checking theories, exploring options, testing limits and fostering social and relational skills. It is characterised by common features, including pleasure, spontaneity and intrinsic motivation, and is a natural form of learning. Play can be individual or social, and is the process whereby children find the opportunity to exercise freedom of choice

Concept of information technology

Information technology can be defined as “anything which allows us to get information, to communicate with each other, or to have an effect on the environment using electronic or digital equipment”. Information Technology is usually defined as any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information processing needs of an organization. It includes computers and its related technologies; WWW, Internet and Videoconferencing. Information technology refers to digital and analog materials, including soft-ware programs, applications (apps), broadcast and streaming media. It also include some children’s television programming, e-books, the Internet, and other forms of content designed to facilitate active and creative use by young children and thereby encouraging social engagement with other children and adults.

In this technological era, Information technology can be used to promote the opportunities of knowledge dissemination. It enables the early childhood educators to have up-to-date information and knowledge. Information technology generally refers to computers and computer networks. But it also includes other information distribution technologies such astelevision and telephones. Several concepts are associated with information technology, including computer hardware, software, electronics, internet, telecom equipment, and the like.

Information technology in educational perspectives

Knowledge is regarded as the main source for socio-cultural and politico-economic development of countries across the globe. Information rich societies are developed and they are dominating and controlling the accession of information throughout the world. Information encompasses the use of different channels of communication, presently called information and communication technologies. These technologies should be incorporating better pedagogical methods to cope with the emerging situations in the teaching learning process.

One of the main functions of education is to prepare students for life. The children in early childhood years are considered to be in their formative years. An early childhood educator has the prime responsibility of equipping the children to face the challenges in future. That too in early childhood centers it should be accomplished through play. The 21st century rich in technological advancements provides an information rich society. Therefore it has become inevitable for any educational center to provide the necessary knowledge through play incorporated with technology.

Information technologies have made an impact on every aspect of human activity and have a potential role to play in the field of education and training, to transform it into an innovative form of experience. Especially in the field of early childhood education, the need of new technologies in teaching learning process grows stronger and faster. As we all know Early childhood education is imparted predominantly through play way method, need for information technology is envitable in play of children. The information age becomes an era of knowledge providing sound and unmatched feasibility for discovery, exchange of information, communication and exploration to strengthen the teaching learning process.

Information technology and early childhood education centers

Pre-school education is an interesting area where the use of information technology is much needed. Pre-school environments offer opportunities to integrate the different forms of teaching learning processes – the relationship between formal and informal learning, the balance between learner-centred and adult – directed activities, and the use of computers by children who are unable to follow text – based instructions.

In today’s world of scientific inventions, a child’s environment is one in which technology is important for living. You can witness children using electronic gadgets more easily than adults in their everyday lives. As children use blocks, put on a warm jumper, look through a magnifying glass, clamber on to a climbing frame, or travel by a toy train, they also use video games, animation graphics and internet surfing as a medium of play . obviously in an early childhood education center certain amount of consideration should be given for technology as a part of teaching learning process and also in play.

The information technology can utilized for enriching children’s learning through various equipment like audio–visual resources including interactive smart boards, television, CD players, and the like. It may encompasses “smart” toys, and everyday technologies, such as remote control devices and computers and toys that simulate appliances such as mobile phones, laptops, i- phones and i- pads. But care should be ensured by the stack holders of early childhood education centers that the these equipment or gadgets should serve the purpose of enriching the children’s experience. They should hinder their physical development and make them sedentary learners.

Integrating information technology and play

Information technology occupies an important position in play. Gone are the days when children used indigenious and traditionally available materials to play. The toy market is loaded with toys and play equipment with modern technologies in wide varieties. These type of play equipment and toys range from simple remote operated cars and vans to complicated softwares which helps in creative activities. These technology has helped the children to express andcommunicate their ideas, thoughts and feelings using a widening range of materials and suitable tools. As these reflect children’s own lives they will help create a stimulating environment in which creativity, originality and expressiveness are valued.

Information Technology in children’s play does not mean the use of computers or video games. Researches over several years have proven that developmental impact is found to be greater when the information technology is used as a support to active learning, not as an end goal in and of itself. Information Technology also assist the early childhood educator in imparting the knowledge effectively among children and to empower children to learn and grow. It was proven time and again that when appropriately used, Information technology can enhance children’s learning and encourage purposeful and exploratory play behaviour, inculcate collaboration and co-operation, among children, enthuse them to be creative and innovative, develop problem solving, risk taking and flexible thinking among them.

•  Information technology can be used with a wide range of age groups and various settings.
• Any technology used among children must be age appropriative and always safety bound
• It can be used in groups in an integrated pre-school or after school environment.
• It can be used with children in a one-to-one context where children are being counselled and supported by a practitioner.
• It can also be used in a specifically designed training course such as “Computer Characters”– the computer training programme for children.

Information technology and domains of activities

The various activities in which information technology could be incorporated in an early childhood education set up and the domains of development aided are as follows

Creative Development

Creativity is very much essential for successful learning among children. It can make children to have fun and enjoyment in an educational scenario. Creativity encourages the children to explore and discover by themselves, and helps them make links across all areas of learning and development. The creative area of learning includes arts & crafts, music, dance, imaginative play and role play. The use of information technology by the children in early childhood years greatly enhances their creative and innovative skills. It is about giving children opportunities to develop their own ideas and express themselves in many forms. Information technology resources can greatly enable and enhances this development. There are varied technological resources that can be utilized for creative activities. Now we can get oriented with them

Imaginative Play

The video recorder is an invaluable tool that can record all kinds of imaginative play, such as dressing up and puppetry. Playing back the previously recorded video gives amusement for children and also receives appreciation from audience for their creativity. An overhead projector and computer can be used to make back drop for story telling or role play. For instance a story on wild animals can be narrated using forest as a back drop projected through overhead projector. Similarly it can also be used for puppet show..

Rhymes or musical session

The CD player or voice recorder/player is a very useful learning resource. Children can compose and perform their own compositions using musical instruments and they can be recorded and played again. There are many softwares available to perform lively and attractive musical session which the children will enjoy and learn. They can also be used for the children to enjoy moving and dancing to the music

Using such software among children will enable them to listen, imitate and experiment with sounds and movement. Information technology can also help the children to explore sounds and rhythm. Tape recorders with karaoke devices encourage children in singing simple songs from memory and can also facilitate role play sessions. Music software and music used from the Internet can encourage children to enjoy music from different cultures.

Art and craft session

Though the art and craft work necessitates the use of materials , there is still need for information technology. Demonstration of art and craft can be explained through overhead projectors. Computers can be used for discovering and creating pattern and shape. An overhead projector can provide a tool to recreate the children. There are many software programmes that can be used to paint and draw.

There are many softwares that help the children to experience painting with colour and different tools. They allow children to experiment with different shapes, colours and patterns. They can help children easily copying and repeating what the children select. The computer has the added benefit of being able to save work and to return to it, or to print out more than one copy. For children with a disability, information technology provides an opportunity to draw, paint and colour as the normal children do. They are very much excited and eager to do the activity. This in turn boost their morale and gives them a sense of satisfaction and achievement. This can be an excellent self esteem booster for these children.

Outdoor play

As all of us aware that outdoor play is mainly focused on vigorous physical activity. There is a belief that use of information technology limits the physical activities of children. But in reality, it is not so. The digital and information technology can used to enhance outdoor play activities. An audio player can be played to motivate the children to do physical exercise or to play musical chair. Demonstration of physical activities can be done through information technology resources. A child will be motivated to dance on hearing songs from electronic gadgets

Role of early childhood educator in the use of IT in play

The most common information technology available in an early childhood center would be the computers and in some centers will be equipped with mobile phones. Commonly when children use electronic gadgets as medium of learning, they were referred to as “playing with the computer” both by the adults and even the children themselves. They never consider them as a medium of learning. But we should understand that eventhough the prime usuage of technology is time pass for children, they can turned into a mode of learning. Only an efficient early childhood educator could use the technology in the right to enrich children’s knowledge.

Technology can be used both for imparting basic reading, writing and computing skills, for enhancing creativity and also to inculcate listening skills among children. The same technology can also be used effectively for children as a medium of play in the same way as they play with the bricks or the model animals. An early childhood education center always stick on to a child-centered approach. The early childhood educator should be knowledgeable enough to make effective use of technology in children’s play like when to allow the children to play with the computer and which software to use and what sort of apps can be uploaded.

The early childhood educator could help the children in using the information technology in the following ways

v   explaining the method of using the available technologies

v  placing a hand over a child’s hand as he or she uses the cursor or clicks on an icon in a computer or smart board or a mobile phone

v  suggesting alternative actions to play with the same gadgets

v   motivating the children to use technology with appropriate level of difficulty;

v   offering remedial help when some mistakes or errors occur;

v   providing positive feedback on a task completed and correcting them in case of need

v   sharing pleasure in features such as animation; and

v  intervening in turn-taking and ensuring that individual children do not dominate and each child gets equal opportunities to use the technology

Factors to be considered while using information technology as medium of play

The following criteria should be followed by an early childhood educator in integrating information technology in child’s play

• The usage of information technology should enhance the learning capacity of children
• It should not hinder the physical activeness of the children because most of the children using gadgets as medium of play tend to become physically inactive leading to various health issues.
• Use of technology should ensure ways of creativity and innovations for children
• Though we survive in an era of technology equal priority should be given for traditional ways of play
• Technology should complement the educator – child interaction in an early childhood education center. It should always be kept in mind that technology can never substitute human relationship
• Use of technology should be limited so that equal opportunities are provided for active play
• The information technology used for children should be age appropriate, need based and cost effective
• In any technological advancements, both enhancing and hindering factors will be there. One should be careful to use the enhancing factors for development of children and minimize the hindering factors
• Each and every child should be ensured equal opportunity to deal with technology. It should enhance interaction among children like working as a group, asking assistance to use the technology or sharing the joy of using the technology. A vivid example for this is two or three children can be allowed to play computer games together where they could interact about the method of playing, correct each other if some thing goes wrong or share the previous experience
• Adult supervision is compulsory component in the use of information technology in play. Children will not aware of the pros and cons of technology so that they shoula always be supervised and guided in this regard. Otherwise the whole idea of using information technology could not serve the purpose for which it is intended.
• An early childhood educator should have indepth knowledge on the use of information technology among children. She should be able to guide the children in case any needed situation
• Safety of the children should always be given top priority as in any other case. Inculcation of information technology in an early childhood education center should ensure both physical and psychological well – being of the children
• It should always enhance the intellectual abilities of children and ensures emotional and social development of the children

Conclusion

Everyone loves to play – be it a real one or virtual. Traditional play methods and materials have given up for technological advancements. A ludo or chess can be played virtually in an electronic gadgets. Even outdoor games like cricket or hockey can be experienced over a smart phone or computer. Even we adults love to play video games, computer games So it is obvious that children love this kind of play

Play is central to children’s development and learning. Interactions with technology and media should be playful and support exploration and creativity. It should give way for pretend play, active play, and outdoor activities. Children’s interactions with technology and media mirror their interactions with other play materials and include sensorimotor or practice play, make-believe play, and games with rules. Therefore, young children need opportunities to explore technology and interactive media in playful and creative ways. Appropriate exposure to technology and media allow children to control the outcome of the experience, to explore the functionality of these tools, and to pretend how they might be used in real life.

As always said using information technology among children both for learning and for playing necessitates careful planning and administration for their effective use and ensuring healthy development of children

Web links

• www.answers.com › WikiAnswers › Categories › Science
• https://www.interglot.com/dictionary/en/en/translate/intellectual%20development
• https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/Internet.html
• https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/internet
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Board