Toddlers with new technologies have always fascinated Kim Maslin.
Key points:
- Educator Kim Maslin says there is a gap in research on how digital technology can help young children learn
- Some believe that young children should not use digital technology at all
- Perfecting best practices could have great benefits, especially for those in remote areas, confinement, or war zones.
This distinguishes the WA educator from many parents and teachers who see iPads and smartphones in the hands of anxious elementary school students.
After all, the warnings about everything from screen time to social media and cybersecurity are coming strong and fast.
But Ms. Maslin believes that, when used correctly, digital technology can fundamentally improve education for a whole range of children, from those who do distance education to those forced to marry by blockades or in disaster or war zones.
The question is: how?
Surprisingly, given the global anguish over the issue, Ms Maslin said the area had been largely neglected by investigators.
He is now researching how digital technology can influence early childhood education.
“They have incredible potential”
Many believe that the gold standard when it comes to raising children is to keep them as far away from technology as possible.
Associate Professor Karen Murcia says digital technology can enhance children’s creativity. (Provided by: Twitter)
But Karen Murcia, an associate professor at Curtin University and chief researcher at the National Center for the Digital Child, attributed it to a “dated” study that investigated the impacts of young children watching television.
He said it could not be applied to current interactive digital offerings.
He pointed to studies in which he had participated that showed that three- or four-year-olds could understand coding and operate robotics.
“If we really open our minds to what kids are capable of doing with these digital technologies in a creative way, they have incredible potential,” he said.
A few years ago, Ms. Maslin began publishing a series of children’s books called The Tweeting Galah, which aimed to educate children about online safety and digital citizenship.
He recently began working with an electronic security provider that turned stories into live performances delivered to virtually thousands of children across the country.
He has now embarked on a new research project to examine, in detail, how the use of digital technologies can help and influence the educational outcomes of young children.
‘So many nuances’
Kim Maslin is researching how technology can improve young children’s learning outcomes. (ABC Esperance: Emily Smith)
While the shift to e-learning during the pandemic ignited a flurry of research on e-learning, Ms Maslin said much of it lacked the detail that would make it useful for educators. .
Instead of looking for the best ways to teach first-year science or fourth-year math online, for example, he said researchers often grouped all forms of “online learning” into a single study.
“As an educator … there are so many nuances between different aspects of teaching and learning, and it’s amazing that research still doesn’t delve into those nuances,” she said.
Her research project, which is expected to be completed by 2025, will focus on fostering creativity in science, technology, engineering and math, and will assess how children develop and demonstrate these skills differently online compared to other learning environments. .
Amber Patupis did elementary school through the School of the Air, now in the 12th grade through distance education. (ABC Esperance: Emily Smith)
Freedom to create an extraordinary life
Amber Patupis School and Equestrian School is a shining example of the success that online learning can have.
It has given him the opportunity to build an extraordinary life in the country of Australia.
The 17-year-old completed her first studies at the Eucla Air School, where morning classes left her free in the afternoons to fall in love with riding.
He spent three years at a general high school in Esperance, but is now completing his 12th ATAR through the School of Isolated and Distance Education because he prefers the more focused learning format.
It gives him time to train to represent the nation in equestrian events one day, as well as to stay on the farm at his Esperance home in the far south of Western Australia.
Amber Patupis says the structure of her online education program gives her more time to train. (Supplied by: Amber Patupis)
Her mother Rasa said Amber’s computer lessons, online lectures, and virtual whiteboards made a big difference in the tools she used as a child.
In the early 1970s, Rasa’s distance education in Eucla relied on rotary dialing telephones and an infrequent mail service to deliver worksheets.
“And my parents, their first language was not English. They are from Lithuania,” he said.
“So he found it quite difficult for his mother.”
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“The more research, the better”
Rasa Patupis is eager to see how research on e-learning expands.
Although she believed that distance education had been a great benefit to her daughter, she said that it was not suitable for all children, especially those who needed more interaction and social support.
He noted that focusing on “fun things” online can help children learn and participate socially.
And he said that offering more creative subjects would help, and he noted that he had found it almost impossible to access music classes.
“I think the more research, the better,” he said.
Amber also noted that improving online learning outcomes would require improved telecommunications, with connectivity issues causing Esperance problems.
Posted 16 hours ago 16 hours ago Sun, June 12, 2022 at 10:59 PM, updated 5 hours, 5 hours ago, Monday, June 13, 2022 at 9:22 AM