Does the Digital Microscope have a place in Foundation Stage?
The children were not frightened to use the DM, they became meaningfully engaged and were excited, focused, collaborated and motivated. This is a genuine ‘awe and wonder’ piece of equipment, well built, relevant and relatively easy to use, which offers huge learning and teaching potential to young children and their teachers. It must not remain in its wrapping in a cupboard somewhere in year 5 or 6! This very small-scale study suggests that there may be a prevailing attitude in some early-years settings that equipment of this nature is of little use in addressing Knowledge and Understanding of the World or indeed any of the other key areas defined by Curriculum Guidance (QCA, 2000). It raises questions about CPD implications for practising teachers, and the provision of appropriate ICT experiences for early years trainees during initial training. I suspect that my single sample is nevertheless typical of what is (or rather, what is not) happening, in the majority of early years setting
