Some of the
girls inspired by child J decided to make fairies pictures this morning. At the
beginning the girls asked me to draw fairies for them. I reminded them that
maybe the internet will be a great place to discover their needs. So the girls
were eager to go to the internet, I help them typed the key words on the Google
Image Search, then heaps of example were coming. The children felt so excited,
they chose the design they wanted. And I showed them how to save the pictures,
print them off, and laminated the finished product. After my introduction, I
offered the children to do their own stuff. At that time, you could not help
admiring the children's memory and ability to learn new technologies--they were
doing so fast and so well-- they produced amazing work!
As
technology increasingly finds its way into mainstream culture, the types and
uses of technology in early childhood programs have also expanded dramatically
to include computers, tablets, e-books, mobile devices, digital cameras,
electronic toys, multimedia players for music and videos, digital audio
recorders, interactive whiteboards, software applications, the Internet and
more. These technologies are increasingly expanding the tools and materials to
which young children have access both in their homes and in their centres,
affecting the ways in which young children interact with the world and with
others. In the process of using ICT, children can extend their social,
physical, cognitive learning and manipulative skills as they grow.
By the way,
about using computer in early childhood setting has been a controversial topic
for decades, and both parents and educators have concerns about the potential
benefits or harms to young children.
Critics argue that introducing technologies in schools will only waste
time, money and childhood development itself by speeding up the pace and
cutting down on essential learning experiences that children must face (Cordes
& Miller, 2000; Healy, 1998).
On the other hand, proponents to the idea suggest that children should
take advantage of what the newest technologies has to offer.
In my
opinion, computer has become an indispensable tool in
people’s life. And 21 century
is high technological competition; it largely is computer knowledge competition.
Children will be the master of the future society, in order to adapt future
lift, being familiar with computer is necessary for them. As learning any kind
of knowledge and skills children learn computer technology is faster than
expected. I’m sure after you finish watching the following video you may agree
with me.According to Jones (2011) children actually learn best when they are exposed to technology and are using it themselves on a daily basis. I agree that educators in early childhood education should understand, broaden and scaffold children`s learning through technology as it is an important area of the early childhood curriculum (Smorti, 1999). So I would like to see children can acquire new technological knowledge and skills more and more. And I will continue to try my best to instil children the knowledge and skills of technology.
Cordes,
C., & Miller, E. (Eds.). (2000). Fool’s gold: A critical look at computers
in childhood. College Park, MD: Alliance for Childhood. Retrieved September 18,
2000, from the World Wide Web: www.allianceforchildhood.net/projects/computers/computers_reports_fools_gold_contents.htm
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te whāriki, he whaariki mātauranga mo
nga mokopuna o Aotearoa : Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education (2004). The
Role and Potential of ICT in Early Childhood Education: A Review of New Zealand
and International Literature.
Wellington: New Zealand Council for Educational Research.
Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early
Childhood. Early Education, No.19
Autumn 1999.
Hello Hui
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post about use of computers with children in early childhood centres. I appreciate the way you introduced computer to children to search fairies photos. I think ICT is a critical part of children’s learning. Reading through this blog I realized that using through ICT children extend their manipulative skills as they grow. In these days computers are part of children’s everyday life. I am totally agree with you as you said children learnt best when they are exposed to technology and using themselves on a daily basis. Hui you are a wonderful teacher and I think any child would be lucky to be in your care.
I am curious; do you have to pre-look up sites to make sure they are safe before you take the children on the computer? Are there any rules in place for teachers and children about computers? Thank-you for another great blog Hui! I have learnt lots through reading your blog and hearing about your experiences and learning.
Kia Ora Hui,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great learning journey! I really like the way that you went on with the children to promote and enhance their interest in fairies. I presume that you may remember the olden days, where we would have been searching encyclopedias or the library for information! But nowadays the easiest way to get the information is to access the internet. The internet provides such a momentous source of multimedia resources. Therefore information is easily accessible with the touch of our finger tips. You had a responsive, reciprocal and respectful relationship with children as I read through the blog. You searched the internet and let them to print their favorite pictures and laminate them. It was great that you were able to have the one to one quality interaction with the children. The way you have created co construction in between children and internet which provides an environment that encourage sharing the knowledge. I think in your blog you described a wide range of technology tools with us.
I observed from your blog that you followed the children’s interest and supported their learning. You have very good ICT knowledge which enabled you to enhance children’s learning. Children develop data extraction skills with your instructions and supervision. The children were able to see images of the fairies which show how the internet is a valuable learning resource. The children become very capable to use key board and mouse. I agree with Morrison’s view that computers should be used in moderation. As an early childhood educator, we need to teach the children to be cybersafe and how to use ICT (Morrison’s, 2009). Technology has become a major influence in our daily lives, therefore it is our responsibility that we not only introduce technology but also keep up speed with the latest technology so that we can offer our children an environment that reflects the world that we live in today. Keeping the children up to date with the latest technology is a vital role for today’s generation. If we are unable to upgrade our self we will be outdated.
Reference:
Morrison, G. (2009). Early childhood education today. 11th (ed). New Jersey: Pearson Printing.
Hi Hui
ReplyDeleteI liked your blog very much especially the fact that you used the teaching technique of demonstrating and instructing. It seem to me that more and more often now teachers are worried to used these teaching techniques because they feel that it inhibits children’s learning but i appreciate the way you actually took the time out and explained the procedures of what and how to print pictures and laminate. I think sometimes the most powerful tools teachers can provide children is, the knowledge and technique of using resources. I also absolutely agree with you that there are very mixed feeling about the value of technology especially digital technology in early childhood education. I myself often face the same dilemma because on one hand I want children to enjoy the outdoor but at the same time have knowledge and keep abreast with technological information as well. I like the way your supported your argument with lots of valuable and meaningful literature. I felt the same when I first started people, places and things but now my perception is changing, I mean why does it have to be either technology or outdoor why not a mixture of both. Children need a wide range of learning experiences to enable them to develop holistic personality and I find that people only view digital technology as useful, I think if people actually pause and look around they will realise that technology is all around them and I think the debate about indoor and outdoor play opportunities will stop because non-digital technology is very practice based and can easily be explored in the outdoor. You could maybe even encourage the children to make their own fairy story books. This will be a great memento of their learning and make it more personally to them; it might even help their parents notice that technology had a lot of learning opportunities to offer.
Hi Hui
ReplyDeleteI liked your blog very much especially the fact that you used the teaching technique of demonstrating and instructing. It seem to me that more and more often now teachers are worried to used these teaching techniques because they feel that it inhibits children’s learning but i appreciate the way you actually took the time out and explained the procedures of what and how to print pictures and laminate. I think sometimes the most powerful tools teachers can provide children is, the knowledge and technique of using resources. I also absolutely agree with you that there are very mixed feeling about the value of technology especially digital technology in early childhood education. I myself often face the same dilemma because on one hand I want children to enjoy the outdoor but at the same time have knowledge and keep abreast with technological information as well. I like the way your supported your argument with lots of valuable and meaningful literature. I felt the same when I first started people, places and things but now my perception is changing, I mean why does it have to be either technology or outdoor why not a mixture of both. Children need a wide range of learning experiences to enable them to develop holistic personality and I find that people only view digital technology as useful, I think if people actually pause and look around they will realise that technology is all around them and I think the debate about indoor and outdoor play opportunities will stop because non-digital technology is very practice based and can easily be explored in the outdoor. You could maybe even encourage the children to make their own fairy story books. This will be a great memento of their learning and make it more personally to them; it might even help their parents notice that technology had a lot of learning opportunities to offer.
Hi Hui
ReplyDeleteFeedback for the Reflection 2
I C T using in our centre.
I like the way you introduced the computer to the children in your centre. Very good, for reminding them about the internet. And giving them the positive attitude towards the technology by saying “Great place to discover”. I have seen in the class that ICT is your strength and you are making best use of it by sharing with the children. The children are fortunate to have you their teacher.TeWhāriki states that children should experience an environment where they are able to participate in a range of social settings, and they develop a sense of responsibility for, and trust in, other people. I agree with smorti (1999) that technology is a tool that can provide another way for children to learn and make sense of their world” I also agree with you with this point that ICT is very important part of early childhood curriculum. I like the way you demonstrated the whole process like research, save, print and laminated and showed them the product. I have realised the children love the computer and be sure it is safe. You can encourage children write words and read them. They can work in a group and can help each other. By doing this we can develop their language and literacy, and working in a group will develop their social skills.