The Reasoning behind the Scene: Why do Early Childhood Educators use Computers in their Classrooms?

Abstract

In recent times discussion surrounding the use of computers in early childhood education has emphasised the role computers play in children's everyday lives. This realisation has replaced early debate regarding the appropriateness or otherwise of computer use for young children in early childhood education. An important component of computer use in early childhood education relates to the reasons why educators decide to use a computer in their classrooms in the first instance. This paper reports the findings from a pilot investigation in which 12 early childhood educators from Melbourne were interviewed to determine why they used a computer in their classroom. The findings indicated that they did so for one of three main reasons: 1) the need to remain up to date with technology; 2) the management body decided to use a computer in the classroom; and 3) the computer was viewed as providing an extra learning experience for young children. Implications regarding the relationship between the curricula and computer use are examined in light of these reasons.