A place to share information regarding the "Quality Counts - Broward" program and associated professional development information for early childhood education practitioners.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Computer as free choice
If there is a computer in the classroom and the teacher uses a rotation schedule, does this meet the requirement of free choice activity as long as it is used on a daily basis? (#27, 5.2)
This is a tricky one. Ok. Free choice means that the children have a choice to use the materials or not, therefore it's ok for the teacher to have a "fairness" rotation schedule. However, if the child does not wish to participate in his chosen timeslot, then that opportunity should go to another child if they so choose. Other activities need to be offered as well as the computer. Free choice means it is the 'child's' choice, not the teachers. Computer time should be part of center rotation and hopefully the majority of the children have that opportunity.
The major issue with computers is the time allowed. Make sure the rotation is for no more than 20 minutes. And like Lisa said, it should be available the same way the interest centers are, even with limited numbers of children allowed at one time.
2 comments:
This is a tricky one. Ok. Free choice means that the children have a choice to use the materials or not, therefore it's ok for the teacher to have a "fairness" rotation schedule. However, if the child does not wish to participate in his chosen timeslot, then that opportunity should go to another child if they so choose. Other activities need to be offered as well as the computer. Free choice means it is the 'child's' choice, not the teachers. Computer time should be part of center rotation and hopefully the majority of the children have that opportunity.
The major issue with computers is the time allowed. Make sure the rotation is for no more than 20 minutes. And like Lisa said, it should be available the same way the interest centers are, even with limited numbers of children allowed at one time.
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