A child born in the 21st centuary will not bother to know the definition of computer or how to explain the meaning of a computer; guess what! Such child would have first hand knowledge of how the computer works and can possibly operate the machine with little or no assistance; confidently teach a computer illietrate how to operate the computer.
This saddles a bigger reponsiblities on teachers (adults, guardian, older generation....) to explain what a computer is to such a child. With the knowledge of what the computer is, the child would develop an instinct to explore the world of computer properly and using it becomes cordinated with meaningful fun.
I have been teaching young mind ICT for more than 2 decades and I have come to discover that when a child understands a concept, such child will be able to build on it faster than ever.
Then come the question! what is a computer to a child? If you are going to teach a child how to define a computer, you will have to break it down into parts for easy assimilation; "an elephant can be eaten by an individual if broken into parts" You must start from what the child knows to what He/She is not familiar with. (From know to Unknown).
You may want to establish the following facts as you commence the journey of teaching computer definition to a child.
1. The computer is an electronic machine: This indicates that a computer needs electricity to work
2. The computer can accept data: This indicates whatever you press on the keyboard, scanned through the scanner or downloaded into that computer is data.
3. The computer can process data: This indicates that it brings whatever you send into it together to make a logical sense.
4. The computer can display result: This indicates that the computer can give out result of the total things you have sent into it, out to be seen.
When you bring the facts together to an average child you can define a computer as:
AN ELECTRONIC MACHINE WHICH HAS THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT DATA, PROCESS IT AND DISPLAY RESULTS.
Once a child understands the concept of the definition, you can now broaden the mind of the child, on hw such child can extend the definition to make more meaning.
Plaese note: for kids of ages 5-7, KS1, year 1-3, you could simply define a computer as:
AN ELECTRONIC MACHINE WHICH WORKS WITH DATA AND CAN DO MANY WORK.
But when your child starts developing and has master that definition, then move to explain further, especially for children ages 8-10, KS2, Year 4-6. You need to let them see things wider, so they can have a higher horizon, then expose them to defining the computer as:
AN ELECTRONIC MACHINE WHICH HAS THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT DATA, PROCESS IT AND DISPLAY USEFUL RESULT AS INFORMATION.
At this point you are beginning to teach your child to "fish in the world of ICT instead of begging for fish whenver HE/She is hungry" You can possibly encourage such child to explore wider view of the meaning of computer; but not lossing the essence of what a computer is.
I'll explore meaningful parts of the computer in a child perspective, watch out in the next blog---- HOW TO TEACH A CHILD COMPUTER PARTS!
Let your child have a goal at this ICT WHIZZO QUIZZES (Suitable for KS1)
1. The computer never changed they are the same
A. YES
B. NO
2. The computer is just in one place
A. YES
B. NO
3. The computer is not useful at home
A. YES
B. NO
4. In the past the computer was very __
A. Big
B. Small
C. Tiny
5. The computer used in the past are very ___
A. Fast
B. Slow
C. Sluggish
Let me know how your child did!
