A aprendizagem das crianças na cultura digital

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how children incorporate and use the Digital Communication and Information Technologies (DICTs) in their learning process, both in the classroom and outside the classroom, considering that such technologies are part of children's everyday lives, and, therefore, directly influence their cognitive development. The research was based on historical-cultural studies, from the perspective of Vygosky and from the emerging analysis of learning as network, by Siemens and Downes. We understand that the children who participated in the research are part of the digital culture. They present specificities and particularities in learning about digital technologies. In our study, we focus on some relevant theoretical concepts: digital culture, ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development), cognitive and Connectivism. The learning process of 57 children of the fifth grade at an Elementary School – a private school in the city of Maceió – was examined from May to August 2014. Their practices were observed during break and at a computer laboratory, in association with other methodological instruments: questionnaire; semi-structured interview; teachers' lesson plans. In order to understand the children’s answers in the questionnaires and interviews, we compared the theories to the reality of both contexts (in the classroom and outside the classroom). We used the following categories of analysis: technological appropriation, use of DICTs as learning and sharing strategies, creation and innovation, and network collaboration. Our study has shown that children are inserted in the digital culture and that they use the DICTs as learning strategy, in a more spontaneous and innovative way, when they are outside the classroom. The study has also shown that the DICTs alone are not enough in the learning process. The interactions, even if they are limited by means of the DICTs, are necessary and they potentialize learning.