COMPUTERS AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT Presented by David Silverman

AGENDA 1.A Brief History of Computers and Child Development 2.Problems for Society caused by Computers and Child Development 3. How I would solve these problems 4. Future of Computers and Child Development 5. References

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  First vacuum tube-based computers developed;  Little technology used in schools, primarily TV;  Transistor-based computers in use;

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  Elementary and Secondary Education Act brings new money into schools for technology.  Mainframes and minicomputers are put into place in some schools  But most are used for administration or for school counseling

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  Intel's first microprocessor developed  The first microcomputers (PCs) are developed  Mainframes and minicomputers are in wide use in business  A few software companies begin to develop mainframe and minicomputer-based instructional programs

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  The Apple I computer gains popularity in small business.  Million PCs estimated to be in use worldwide;  PC-based spreadsheets developed,  Mainframes and minicomputers still in wide use.

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  Apple II computer finds widespread acceptance in education  The Apple Macintosh computer is developed  % of high schools use PCs for college and career guidance  K-8 schools mostly bought Apple II and Macintosh computers  High schools mostly bought DOS-based clones.

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  Most US classrooms now have at least one PC available for instructional delivery.

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  The Internet and the world wide web began to catch on as businesses, schools, and individuals create web pages  The Internet is widely discussed as businesses begin to provide services and advertising using web pages  Many schools are rewiring for Internet access  A few schools install web servers and provide faculty with a way to create instructional web page

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  Child Development and Computers Time period – 90s  Most children have seen computers in the classroom by 1994  In Elementary school, many had hands on experience with computers  Most of the computers used in schools K-8 were Apple Computers  Children of the 90s became the first children to ever interact with the internet, as well the first to interact with truly user friendly computers

Apple Macintosh Classic (Introduced in 1990) One of the first computers that many people of our generation interacted with

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS + CHILD DEVELOPMENT  The Web  Experienced widespread popularity in the mid – late 90s  It quickly showed potential for education, making resources available to everyone who had internet access  Many schools taught children how to access the web and use

Geocities (Introduced in 1994) Allowed users to make their own basic webpages for free, without coding knowledge

Treasure Mountain! (1990) One of the first mainstream educational games for PCs Required a whopping 4MB of ram and 20MB of HDD space!

Oregon Trail (Introduced in 1970s – Remade several times) Classic game which attempted to teach kids about history as well as encouraging problem solving and critical thinking

 Fast Forward  Over the next few years, computers would only become more and more prevalent and easily accessible to children.  Laptops were made smaller, lighter, and cheaper. They also began appearing in many classrooms by the early 2000s

 Touch screen devices  While computers become smaller and more mobile, it wasn’t until touchscreens became prevalent that pre-K computer interaction became mainstream  This is a new frontier, and we don’t know how this will affect the children in the long term (we remain hopeful that it is for the best)

WHICH BRINGS US TO TODAY Is this a problem?

COMMON CONCERNS  Kids are spending too much time on their devices

COMMON CONCERNS  Use of the Internet may be linked to increases in loneliness and depression [in children]

COMMON CONCERNS  Kids are choosing digital interaction over in-person social interaction

COMMON CONCERNS  Digital devices may be contributing towards childhood obesity

COMMON CONCERNS  The internet, and video games both have addicting potential

HOW WOULD I SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS?  The internet, and computers are both powerful tools  Like any powerful tool, they should both be used properly  We need to control how we expose our children to both  Children need a protected environment, but it shouldn’t hinder their learning or ability to use either tool for good

HOW WOULD I SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS?  I would propose government backed guidelines for exposing children to the internet and computers  How to expose kids to internet to the first time, suggesting device to do so  Define what age is appropriate to expose kids to full internet  Provide information for identifying risky internet behavior  Tips for tracking kids internet usage (to be used before high school age)  Tips for identifying potential internet / video game addiction  Part of the answer is better, more responsible and involved parenting.

GOING FORWARD  Computers in the classroom are here to stay  Investment in technology in the classroom has never been higher  Many classrooms make use of iPads, IIT gives “free” iPads to freshmen  Computers continue to be integral to the educational sector, even this very PowerPoint is an example!  The government will catch up, eventually  For now, we are still stuck with many politicians who brag about never having used or a cellphone, these will not be the politicians that define proper guidelines for internet and/or computer usage for our children or even us as adults.

REFERENCES  The Impact of Home Computer Use on Children’s Activities and Development, Princeton University,  Pros and Cons of Computer Technology in the Classroom, Kathleen Patrice Gulley, ons%20of%20Computer%20Technology%20in%20the%20Classroom.pdf ons%20of%20Computer%20Technology%20in%20the%20Classroom.pdf  History, the History of Computers, and the History of Computers in Education, California State University,  Negative Effects of Computers on Children,