I also hope to use the computer to aid in math lessons. Preschoolers have very short attention spans and the more I keep things moving, the longer they are involved in an activity. Using a computer as part of my group time gives us something other than the posters on the wall and songs to sing as a way to learn. With the use of different software programs, I can create my own slide shows, or use pre-prepared ones to present the information in other ways. While it s not essential for my children to learn their letters and numbers, like it is in kindergarten, having this early exposure gives them the extra head start that is meant to come from a preschool program.
Children are sponges, they soak up everything they can when it comes to learning.
I believe that starting the use of computers with children from an early age gives them an advantage. They already know what s out there and the basics of how to use it and can then adapt to the rapidly changing world of information technology. Part of my use of the computer in the classroom would be to give them a chance to sit and play some of the educational preschool games that are out there. My student teaching experience was one of frustration turned elation. I entered a school that lead the technology revolution in the district.