#5 Challenge Based Learning

While it seems as though Challenge Based Learning is not really applicable to the early childhood field, it is in a smaller way possible.  I am taking the ece family class, and we discuss at length how to create an anti biased classroom.  I remember Professor Chu telling a story that took on a project approach to create.  She started by describing that the classroom atmosphere she had helped to create  was one of inquiry and wonder.  The preschoolers questioned the world around them and sought answers in the community.  The issue that these preschoolers were addressing in the classroom happened to be look related.  There were recognizing the differences among each other: hair color/texture, eye color, skin color, height, etc.  The class recognized that everyones skin was a different color and that it made them unique--it was truly anti-biased.  Well one day the kiddos were coloring and one happened to use the color 'flesh'.  The preschoolers looked for other colors also labeled flesh that better fit friends whose skin was not the same color as the first crayon found.  They had no success.  The teacher supported the class to figure out how to solve the issue and the class ended up writing the Crayola company to that labeling one color as flesh is untrue because everyone comes in different colors.  

Challenge Based Learning definitely has a place in ece classrooms.  As long as the children are taught to inquire about the world around them, they will uncover challenges in the world that must be solved.  This 'Project Approach', as referred to in ece, is not so much technology based and the teacher does have a larger part in the project: helping to guide the students through problem solving.  None-the-less, young children can also accomplish challenge based learning as it "is collaborative and handson, asking students to work with other students, their teachers, and experts in their communities and around the world to develop deeper knowledge of the subjects students are studying, accept and solve challenges, take action, share their experience, and enter into a global discussion about important issues." (p. 1)

This article tied in perfectly with the debate that has been taking place at my work.  We have had an IT guy come in and fix the problems that we are having on our computers, however we also got into a long discussion with him about the uses of technology in the classroom.  He feels like technology can revamp nearly everything that takes place in the toddler classroom.  The teachers who are less comfortable with the technology disagree, saying that the tried and true methods are the best.  It left me wondering how technology can best be used in the classroom.  After this debate, the program director left an article that discussed both the potential uses and hazards of technology.  I began to form the opinion that maybe technology can be integrated into the pre-established teaching methods in the classroom, but maintaining that face-to-face contact is still important. Then in my language development class we talked about how people are beginning to use technology as a replacement rather than an additive to a lesson.  The professor stressed her concerns with this as language absolutely is learned through social situations.  Hearing the words that someone is speaking in front of you, and relating this to how their mouth is moving is necessary when leaning language.  She continued to say that the research shows that if you video record the same situation and play it back to the child on a screen they will have difficulty language.

To relate the former tangent back to the article, I think what I am trying to say is that technology and therefore iPads have a place in the classroom to further teaching, but not to be the sole teacher. I guess this article makes me a little weary because I feel like it can be easily misunderstood.  I had the opportunity to go on home visits this quarter, and the home visitor stressed with the parents that screen time should not be apart of the child’s life before the age of 3.  She supported her opinion, and the opinion of Early Head Start with articles to show what the research has found.  While I think that iPads can be a great tool for reinforcement, I think it is important to really look at research based studies before bringing in the technology to your classroom.