Young Children's Interaction with a Microcomputer

While research on the effects of computers in classrooms and the effects of teaching computer languages is burgeoning, the question of how children interact “naturally” with a computer has not been researched. In order to observe children's interaction with a computer, an Apple II was placed in a university laboratory school classroom. Thirty‐nine children were allowed free access to the computer during center time and detailed observational logs were kept of the children's interaction with the computer. It was determined from this base study that computer play for young children is an initial step in computer literacy.