The last couple days I was looking for
ways to incorporate digital technology into the children’s play. They are used
to playing with cameras but I wanted to do something different. Since the
children explore another box, made it into a fire truck, I had the fire truck
come to visit our centre and wanted to incorporate digital technology into
their experience. While the children
were sleeping one afternoon I took the laptop to write some learning stories. A
child woke up and come to sit with me. Instantly hit me, since I didn’t know a
fire truck song, I quickly you tube one, I look through it and it was
appropriate for the children to watch. After a while there were more children
awake, I laid down on my tummy with the children on the floor, the laptop in
front of us and we look and listen to a fire truck sing along book on you tube.
This was a great experience for me and the children, at the same time we learnt
a great fire truck song. You tube clip
of the fire truck song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emv-Yn6g1r4
The song ended, the children wanted to
it again, I showed one boy how were really interested in the laptop which
button to push to replay this clip. He were so excited, after a while he
pointed to a button, ready to push it and looked at me, I realised he wanted to
push some buttons, minimising the song I opened up a empty work document. The
children now had the opportunity to push buttons. They took turns; I encouraged
them to look up onto the screen after they pushed a button.Wow this is amazing I thought to myself, if I think a laptop is awesome, what are the children thinking right now, every time they pushed a button they go crazy and get really excited.
I thought
this is such a great opportunity for the children to start recognizing letters
and numbers, developing their early literature skills. This was also a great
opportunity to extend on their hand and eye coordination and they are exploring
technology. Experience with some of the technology and resources
for mathematics, reading, and writing. (Ministry of Education, 1996).
Having these technology opportunities
for children at preschool age will be benefiting in school years were they
mainly use computers now. (Arthur & Beecher, 2007).
In McNaughton and Williams it states
preschoolers gain increasing competence in using their fine motor skills by
doing a wide range of activities such as drawing, pasting, sewing, cutting and
using the computer keyboard. In the preschool years children need many of these
skills to complete tasks and solve problems. Gaining new technical skills can
enhance children work on particular project and as children become older there is
a wider range of techniques they can use to express their meanings to each
other.(McNaughton & Williams, 2009).
I do have an old non working laptop,
key board, mobile phone, phone and more for the children on the shelve. I
revisited that area and move a table into the area, place some photos of
digital technology onto the wall and made it into a little technology area for
the children. Now the children keep bringing the laptop up to me telling me it
is not working. They want the real deal now.
I will certainly keep providing the children with technology
opportunities. We are developing a technology room in our centre at the moment,
which I think the children will really enjoy even my little 2-3 year olds.
References:
Arthur,
L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (2007). Programming and planning in early childhood
settings (4th ed.). South Melbourne, Australia: CENGAGE Learning.
MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2009). Techniques for teaching young children:
Choices in theory and practice (3rd ed.). Frenchs Forrest, Australia:
Pearson Prentice Hall.
Ministry
of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He
whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa : Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning
Media.
Ministry
of Education. (2007). The New Zealand curriculum.
Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Photo references:
Girl lying on the floor with the
laptop.
hmi.ewi.utwente.nl
hmi.ewi.utwente.nl
Women and two children.
123rf.com
123rf.com
Girl sitting at the table with the
laptop.
cartinafinland.fi
cartinafinland.fi
Kia Ora Chantel,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading through this evolving learning that was occurring through your reflection. In both your reflections you evidently showed child directed activity. You allowed the children to express their interest and follow through with how you could extend their learning. I wonder what software you could load onto the laptop for them to play? Paint is also a great programme which enables creativity whilst learning how to use the laptop. How would you extend their curiosity of wanting to use the key board? I liked how you included other non-working digital technology devices your centre provides. This is great for their imagination and pretend play. You have a wide range of communication devices; maybe see what other types you could provide such as egg beater, waffle maker, hair dryer or eftpos machine. It was great to see another Youtube clip and showing it to the children incorporated different learning. Tumeke on a great second reflection, Chantel. Can’t wait to read your final reflection about a piece of non-digital technology.
Megan
Hello Chantel,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about this spontaneous activity that was rich with digital technology. The children really did show an interest in the laptop. I wonder how you can next further this learning with the children and what activated you could do. I also enjoyed reading that from research, the children and yourself discovered a new song in the centre, which is based on your previous reflection. You are making some great links and I can see that this was really beneficial for the children as they discovered the actual process of using a laptop and how it works. I also believe that many different age groups of children can benefit from this digital technology and I really enjoyed how you covered a range of groups so that your readers could also understand your thinking. Keep it up Chantel, great reflection!
Hey Chantel
ReplyDeleteReading though your reflection on the laptop I could see the children and, yourself really enjoyed this experience in the centre through the reactions that were expressed. Where these experiences are so important for the children, because this generation is based on technology we need to prepare the children with the basic technology skills to set them up in life. Where I can clearly see your experience is starting to help children explore and gain understanding the use for technology by using the laptop. A way to help children use the laptop can be opening up a word document for the children to see the letters come up on the screen and start to type their name, or did you do this with the children? Overall Chantel I thought your reflection was clear and interesting to read :)
Hi Chantel
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog on laptops. It was really great to see your development and the children’s development through this was child initiated activity. I really liked how you noticed that through this activity the children were beginning to recognize numbers and letters as this showed me that you were thinking about and noticed the development of the children’s numeracy and literacy skills. I also really liked firstly started off with fire trucks and the fire truck clip but then adapted this experience to cater the child’s interest within laptops. It showed me that you noticed, enhanced and observed this interest within technological devices. From this experience have you thought of any ways of how you can further the children’s interests and experiences with laptops? Are there any programs you can use to help the children with this? Overall this was a great reflection and I am looking forward to seeing your last one.