Does learners benfit in the use of ICT?

I sat yesterday watching my two nephews in front of my sister’s, a remedial education therapist, computer. Neither can read nor write, yet they were debating whether the game they were playing requires them to read.

The one stated emphatically that it is his opinion that they can get to the stage 10 without reading one word: “We just have to click on the correct places and perform each activity as required by the computer program.”

Although this was the opinion of a five year old, he proofed in his innocence that user friendly software can support learning without having all the ability to read.

ICT - achieving more than just learning outcomes

Today my four year old downloaded and installed an educational game from the intenet without any assistance.

This once again supports the theory that ICT natives do not have a fear of ICT. They do not hesitate to use ICT to satisfy their curiosity. It is almost as if ICT and the acceptance thereof is not an option for natives. They have a built-in urge to use ICT in obtaining knowledge and life skills.

I learnt once again today that exposure to ICT is the only way digital immigrants would be able to understand the need that exists in digital natives to use ICT instead of traditional teaching methods to reach learning outcomes.

Suzette