Victory for the ACT Student Text 15e

436 • A PPENDIX A: A NSWERS AND E XPLANATIONS

TIMED QUIZ (p. 183)

Sample Essay—Above Average Response With educational games on computers and tablets, technology can enhance students’ learning experiences in Pre-K classrooms. Pre-K programs should foster a balance between technology- based and technology-free learning to develop different forms of creativity in children. Computer- based learning can make academic concepts fun for students and can make technology use intuitive for them, and technology in the classroom can be made more affordable through grants and educational discounts. However, it is important that they learn to appreciate other forms of entertainment and learning. Learning basic concepts such as numbers and the alphabet may frustrate or bore children, but computer programs can make this process seem like a game. While parents may complain about their children’s addiction to video games, educational games can harness the addicting nature of technology for a useful purpose. As Perspective 2 argues, when students are engaged with the graphics, characters, or story of a computer game, learning will seem like play, rather than a chore. Furthermore, computer games can be easily adapted to students’ abilities, which can help teachers with a range of skill levels in the class. As a child, I enjoyed learning independently with computer games, which stimulated my curiosity and love of learning. Games helped me work with numbers and learn new words, and when I was a little older, they also introduced me to different historical periods and parts of the world. In addition to engaging children in academic subjects, computer programs teach students another important skill: the use of technology. While I disagree with the idea of preparing four-year-olds for the workplace, as Perspective 3 mentions, children may have an educational disadvantage if they enter elementary school without basic technological skills. At the Pre-K level, it is more likely for technology use to become intuitive and habitual for children. One objection to technology in the classroom is its price, as Perspective 1 argues, but schools may be eligible for government grants, and companies often offer educational discounts for computers and software. Although technology changes rapidly, schools could invest in versatile devices such as desktops, laptops, or tablets that are still useful even if one does not own the latest version. However, I also think preschools should give children time away from technology so that they do not become dependent on it for entertainment or creative stimulation. I have seen children who become bored or even angry when they do not have access to laptops or tablets. Although the addicting nature of computer games can be used to promote learning, children must also be able to put down their games and focus on other activities. Technology may stimulate children’s minds, but it is important for their physical health to exercise and play outside, and they should also be offered more hands-on creative activities, such as art projects. If used in moderation, technology can expand students’ educational opportunities and make them excited about concepts such as numbers and letters. If schools have access to funding, the skills that students gain can outweigh the cost of computers. However, it is important to remember that technology can be “too much of a good thing” and that students must learn to function without it.