Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The Use of Computer Assisted Instruction in Preschool Education: Making Teaching Meaningful

  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Computers are increasingly a part of preschooler’s lives. The purpose of the present paper was to discuss research avenues employing computers as a learning tool and to analyse the results obtained by this method at the preschoolers’ learning level. Specifically this research was to determine if computer assisted instruction (CAI) was a useful tool to enhance cognitive, emotional, linguistic, and literacy skills in preschool children. CAI programmes may never replace the book and the blackboard but one should be aware that they were more accessible by young children, who learn better with pictures and sounds, and the proper use of appropriate programmes could make a considerable difference.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brown D., (1996). Kids, computers, and constructivism Journal of Instructional Psychology 23:189–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson S., White S., (1998). The effectiveness of a computer program in helping kindergarten students learn the concepts of left and right Journal of Computing in Childhood Education 9(2): 133–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Chera P., Wood C., (2003). Animated multimedia ‘talking books’ can promote phonological awareness in children beginning to read Learning and Instruction 13: 33–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clements D. H., Sarama J., (2002). The role of technology in early childhood learning Teaching Children Mathematics 8(6): 340–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Din F., Calao J., (2001). The effects of playing educational video games on kindergarten achievement Child Study Journal 31(2): 95–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliot A., Hall N., (1997). The impact of self-regulatory teaching strategies on “at-risk” preschoolers’ mathematical learning in a computer mediated environment Journal of Computing in Childhood Education 8: 187–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Escobedo T. H., Bhargava A., (1991). A study of children computer-generated graphics Journal of Computing in Childhood Education 2(4): 3–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher-Flinn C. M., Gravatt B., (1995). The efficacy of computer assisted instruction (CAI): A meta-analysis Journal of Educational and Computing Research 12: 219–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haugland S., (1992). Effect of computer software on preschool children developmentally gains Journal of Computing in Childhood Education 3(1): 15–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinzie M. B., Sullivan H. J., Berdel R. L., (1992). Motivational and achievement effects of learner control over content review within CAI Journal of Educational Computing Research 8(1): 101–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein P. S., Nir-Gal O., Darom E., (2000). The use of computers in kindergarten, with or without adult mediation: effects on children’s cognitive performance and behavior Computers in Human Behavior 16: 591–608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulik J. A., (1994). Meta-analytic studies of findings on computer-based instruction In Baker E. L., O’Neil H. F., (Eds.) Technology assessment in education and training LEA Publishers Hillsdale, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • McKethan R., Everhart B., Sanders R., (2001). The effects of multimedia software instruction and lecture-based instruction on learning and teaching cues of manipulative skills on preservice physical education teachers Physical Educator 58(1): 2–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Moxley R., Warash B., Coffman G., Brinton K., Concannon K., (1997). Writing development using computers in a class of three-year-olds Journal of Computing in Childhood Education 8(2–3): 133–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Passig D., Levin H., (1999). Gender interest differences with multimedia learning interfaces Computers in Human Behavior 15: 173–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reitsma P., Wesseling R., (1998). Effects of computer-assisted training of blending skills in kindergartners Scientific Studies of Reading 2(4): 301–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segers E., Verhoeven L., (2002). Multimedia support of early literacy learning Computer & Education 39: 207–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shute R., Miksad J., (1997). Computer assisted instruction and cognitive development in preschoolers Child Study Journal 27(3): 237–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer M., & Baskin L. (1997). Microcomputers and young children. Urbana, IL: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 327295 83)

  • Wilson-Gillespie, C. (2004). Seymour Papert’s Vision for Early Childhood Education? A Descriptive Study of Head Start and Kindergarten Students in Discovery-based, Logo-rich Classrooms. Available at: http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v6n1/gillespie.html [2004, spring]

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicholas Vernadakis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vernadakis, N., Avgerinos, A., Tsitskari, E. et al. The Use of Computer Assisted Instruction in Preschool Education: Making Teaching Meaningful. Early Childhood Educ J 33, 99–104 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-005-0026-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-005-0026-2

Keywords

Navigation