Kindergarten students training on computers

A group of kindergarten students excitedly file into the technology room at P.S. 46, the Alley Pond School, and sit on a carpet in the middle of the room as they hear about how they are going to make a pumpkin on the computer. It's all part of a new technology class that was created this year.
&#8220Every year we revise our technology goals and that was one of my goals - that I wanted to have kindergartners in computer class,” said Janet Elias, the school's technology facilitator.
This marks the first year that the school has offered technology to its kindergarten students. There are now three classes serving a total of 60 students.
Elias said that, when the class first started, the children found it difficult to use the mouse. After some &#8220mouse aerobics,” they have learned how to do tasks such as click and scroll. They have also used Simon Says to learn parts of the computer.
Each day, the children are given a different task to do. Elias said that, by the end of the class, the goal is for them to produce the product and be able to follow the steps that she demonstrates at the beginning of the period.
After learning how to make circles in Microsoft Paint the week before, the students spent one class in October designing their own pumpkins. They are encouraged to add special touches, such as glasses or a hat.
&#8220I like to teach the children this program early because of its simplicity and the fact that it's bundled with every version of Windows,” Elias said. &#8220Therefore, parents do not need to go out and buy this software.”
Twin 5-year-old sisters Colleen and Claire Crinno have been exposed to computers before at home and both like to use the painting program in class.
Brain Hsiao, also 5, said that his favorite part about the computer class is making a calendar, which is done on the website www.starfall.com. The students put in the month, dates and pictures and can mark down special occasions such as birthdays.
&#8220The kids love it, they absolutely love coming,” Elias said of how the young students have responded to the class. &#8220I try to make it really fun and creative for them to make it a happy environment.”
Another aspect of the class teaches the students online safety. Elias said that, through pbskids.org, the children will receive online safety licenses. They will begin this part of the class after Thanksgiving.
In January, the class will begin doing more advanced work, such as learning jump-start typing, along with learning how to use other programs and do more projects.
Elias said that, since technology is everywhere, it is good to start familiarizing children with it at a young age. The students are also encouraged to help one another.
&#8220It's important to start them so young because computers are an integral part of our lives, everybody's life,” she said. &#8220And this is not going away.”
Along with giving children a head start when it comes to using technology, Elias said the class can also show students something about themselves.
&#8220One thing I stress to the students is that the computer is not smart and that they are the ones that are smart. I teach them that the computer can not think like they can or be creative like them,” Elias said.
&#8220I teach them that the computer can only follow a list of instructions and do as it's told and they are the ones telling it what to do. They are the real intelligence behind the computer.”