Cyber Child – A New Challenge of Modern Early School Education

Abstract

The modern times are characterized by significant technological progress, in particular within the scope of communication devices, so-called communicators. The rapid development of digital technology has caused many transformations in private and professional life of the whole society. It has also influenced changes in the field of work and family life, through revolutionary changes in the way of building family relations and possible parenthood options. Multimedia are now an important tool of upbringing and education of young generation. Therefore, the children are called “cyber children” to underline the role of technology in their life. This generation differs significantly from their peers from several years ago. Scientific publications more and more often describe changes that take place in functioning of the brain under the influence of excessive use of high technologies. These changes translate into perceptive capabilities and the ability to compre-hend, feel and predict. It makes it necessary to implement changes in educational procedures in order to adapt them to needs and possibilities of the new generation of “digital natives”. This article attempts to characterize the generation of cyber children. It indicates main prob-lems of contemporary education, which result from developmental changes of children. It also presents ways and possibilities of educational transformations. It underlines that today's school system requires transformations, so that the school can become a modern and friendly place for young generation to acquire key competencies, which are necessary to live in today’s world.