Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in six preschools in Iceland

1. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in six preschools in Iceland NERA 2004 Kristín Norðdahl Svala Jónsdóttir 12. march 2004

2. Research questions • What inspired teachers to begin to use ICT in the preschools? • How did they begin to use ICT in the preschools? • What do the teachers see as the advantages and disadvantage in using ICT in preschool education • What kind of support does personnel that will start to use ICT in the preschool need? • How do teachers use ICT in their work? • How do teachers use ICT with children?

3. Research methods • Selection of preschools • Preschools that have shown interest in using ICT • Data collecting methods • Interview with teachers • Field studies in the preschools • Material concerning use of ICT in the preschools examined

4. Advantages and disadvantages according to the teachers • Advantages of using ICT in preschool • Children gain computer ability • Make childrens access to computers equal • Good for childrens coordination of eyes and hands • One more toy for children from which they can learn different things • Possiblity to work on tasks in diverse ways • New way to communicate with other people • Gain informations via internet to use in divers projects

5. Advantages and disadvantages according to the teachers • Disadvantages in using ICT in preschool • Expensive and fragile equipment likely to break down • The software available is not in agreement with ideas on preeschool pedagogy • Other issues in preschool more important • Possible risks ? • Children spend to much time working on computers • Some children take over the computerwork • Bad physical position when working on computers • Seeing the computer as something of greater og less importance than other things in preschool

6. Computerization in the preschools • Inspiration • Support • Policy • Involvement of the personnel • The personell skills and education

7. Personnel using ICT • In preparing the work with children • In description of the childrens work • Internet • In parents cooperation • E - mail • Making the work of the children visible for others • The school website

9. Using ICT with children • The location of computers • The children’s cooperation • Gender differences

10. Childrens work in the Computer • To use ICT to learn and play • To use ICT as a tool to create things

11. Childrens work in the Computer • To use ICT as a tool • Drawing in computers • Integration • Story making • Written guides

13. Equipment connected to the computer • Printers • Microphones • Scanners • Digital cameras • Video cameras • CD-writers • Microscopes • Web eyes

14. Childrens use of ICT for communication and gaining information • E-mail • Children sende-mail • to their parents from the preschool • to other children in the preschool • to the preschool from home or holidays • Parents or other familymembers send e-mail to the children in the preschool

15. Childrens use of ICT for communication and gaining information • Worldwide communication project - Kidlink • Who am I? • Dictionary • Jigsaw puzzle • Website with games • Information on the Internet

16. What do children gain from using ICT in preschool? • Make childrens access to ICT equal • Children learn how to use ICT in diverse ways • Children communicate and help each other when using ICT • Using ICT can promote childrens reading and writing skills • ICT can give children glimpse of other childrens live, culture and environment