TEACHING COMPUTER TO CHILDREN: MOTIVATING LEARNING

Abstract

The use of computers in childhood education makes it possible for them to acquire knowledge in a fun way through games. This paper describes the experience of implementing the course “Computers for Children”, which is part of a University Extension Program at the School of Dentistry at UNESP - Araraquara. This course is offered to children aged 5-7 years old and it aims, not only, to offer children, via computer, a direct contact with new teaching technologies, but also, to help them develop both their motor and logical thinking abilities through educational games. The children that participated in this course are from the Children’s Center “Casinha de Abelha” at the UNESP -Araraquara and also from the Municipal Recreation and Educational Centers also in Araraquara, SP, Brazil. The software resources used in this course to teach computer skills are the 1 Professora Assistente Doutora de Informática em Odontologia, do Departamento de Odontologia Social 2 Aluna de Graduação em Odontologia 3 Professora de Bioestatística e Metodologia Científica, do Departamento de Odontologia Social 4 Professora de Ergonomia em Odontologia, do Departamento de Odontologia Social 145 DOTTA, E. A. V. POLLO, N.F. CAMPOS, J. A. B. B. GARCIA, P. P. N. S. O ensino da informática para crianças: um estímulo a aprendizagem. Rev. Ciênc. Ext. v.8, n.2, p.144-154, 2012. educational games “Coelho Sabido Maternal”, “A Estrela Cintilante” and “Festa dos Dentinhos”. The children’s learning and the level of difficulty in using the computer as a tool were evaluated. It was possible to conclude that the course has been contributing to the digital inclusion of children aged 5-7 years old, in addition to training their visual and audio perception, their motor coordination and memorization, hence developing skills that are essential to the children’s literacy process