One morning
in my centre one of the children brought in a chrysalis for show and tell. He
was very excited about the chrysalis and he told me that it was a butterfly. I
asked him if he knew what insect turned into a butterfly. He didn’t know the
answer so I went and to get the laptop out so that we could research it together. When
I returned with the laptop he had told two of his friends that he was going to
use the computer, they all seemed very excited about this and wanted to join
in. He was happy to include his friends in the experience. He seemed quite
familiar with the laptop and knew that the mouse was below the keypad. We used
google to search for the life cycle of the butterfly. All three children seemed
very excited to learn that his chrysalis was once a caterpillar and spoke about
going to find more. After we were
finished they all went off around the centre to tell their friends what they
had just learnt. They also went searching to see if they could find any
caterpillars in the garden and then drew pictures of caterpillars and
butterflies.
I believe
that computers are an extremely important technological tool to use with
children and it seems to be becoming an important resource for children’s
development. This is supported by Donohue (2003) which states “The
use of computers and other digital technologies continues to rise in early childhood
programs, and technology is being used as a tool for improving program quality
in many interesting ways” (p.17). However teachers must take the right precautions to ensure that it is safe for all the
children who use the computer. The laptops at my
centre have internet access so that we can research children’s interests with
them, however the laptops are not on the floor and a
teacher must always be with the child or children using it. I believe that
having computers in centres are very beneficial as they are always going to be
part of their lives as they grow up. I believe that it is the way in which they
are used in the centres that is most important.
I believe that
the use of technology in the early childhood setting is a great tool and is already
proving that it can facilitate children’s development and learning. This is
supported by Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett and Farmer (2007) which states “Most
children now experience a range of technologies as part of everyday life”
(p.12). I believe that children are able
to learn a range of new skills by being given the opportunity to use technology in
early childhood centres. Ministry of education (2007) states that “The aim is for students to develop a broad technological
literacy that will equip them to participate in society as informed citizens
and give them access to technology-related careers” (p.32). I also believe that
by incorporating technology, especially the computer we are enabling the
children at our centre to answer questions and find information themselves with
guidance and therefore we are giving them independence. This is supported by
Ministry of Education (1996) which states “Children develop an expectation that
they take responsibility for their own learning” (p.84). I also think that it was great that he wanted his friends to be
involved in the learning with him and it allowed them to have social
interactions with each other and all seemed very happy with their new found
knowledge and wanted to share it with everyone. This is supported by Ministry
of Education (1996) which states “Children develop the expectation that verbal
communication will be a source of delight, comfort, and amusement and that it
can be used to effectively communicate ideas and information and solve problems”
(p.76).
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.
Google images. Children on computer. Retrieved from
Google images. Two girls on a laptop. Retrieved from
Google images. Laptop. Retrieved from
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.
This is an excellent example to show how technology of computers can help extend children’s learning. This links to Vygotsky’s ZPD theory that children acquire skills through scaffolding. I agree with you that the computer is becoming a vital tool for teachers and students in early childhood education. Computers can make a teacher’s job so much easier and faster. For example, the learning story, documentation and finding appropriate activities.
ReplyDeleteI think the use of computer technology is essential in the children’s lives now and in the foreseeable future. This connects to the Ministry of Education’s ‘A pedagogical approach to using ICT’ that, children need to learn how to appraise, find and use the information in a correct way.
Maybe one area you want to think about is the use of computer technology in communicating with the children’s parents. I think setting up a blog for the parents to follow their children’s progress in the centre will be a great idea.
Hey Annalicia.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog on computers, and fully agree with you when you say “the way they are used is important”. I believe computers have a valued place in our centres but children should not be able to sit on them all day, because they are comfortable there, children need to explore their world to find interests and have the benefit of other areas of learning which I believe relates to the Ministry of Education (1998) who state we need to assist “all children to be: healthy in mind, body and spirit” (p.6).
You talk about the laptop giving the children independence to find out information for themselves, I think this is a very important skill for children to acquire, and one that teachers need to support, children should not just be spoon feed information, but actively seek it as I feel this aids the learning.
I’m glad you mention safety for using the internet, but do you think the centre could do more about teaching the children to be safe such as visiting sites like hectors world?
Glad to see that you have clearly emphasized the importance of learning about butterflies through laptop as a technology. You started from the child’s finding of a chrysalis, extending upon the idea by questioning the child on which insect the butterfly turned into. As he was unsure the laptop was used to clear his doubts to which his friends joined. By helping the children find out that butterflies transformed from a caterpillar I believe you were able to relate to Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory which says “the guidance and support of adults, or others more expert than the child, are significant influences in the cognitive development of the child” (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, 2008, p. 95). I understand that an educator should be able to scaffold the children’s learning and ensure that children try out new things which will help them reach the next level (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, 2003). I agree that the use of laptops within early childhood centres should increase as it is an important learning tool which will become necessary as years go on. Thank you for your blog.I had a good time reading it.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Dockett, S., Farmer, S., & Death, E. (2008). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4th ed.). Melbourne: Thomson.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. (2003). Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory. Retrieved from http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=26925&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.
Hi Annalicia,
ReplyDeleteI love the use of the lap top out on the floor where all children have access to it. I like how the children are able to use the internet to further their learning in ways that we could never have imagined. I like the idea of the teacher encouraging the child to further their own knowledge and encouraging the child to go that one step further. This is supported by Ministry of Education (1996) which states that “Children develop: an expectation that they take responsibility for their own learning” (p.84) Children these days are so experienced with the computer and the programmes within them. It is a great safety precaution to have the laptops off the floor and staff supervising the use of the internet with the child. I believe that this is of high importance when you are working with children and technology. In Arthur, Beecher, Death, Docket and Farmer (2007) it states that “While most children used a computer at school, interestingly home was reported as the most common site of internet use” (p.12). This being the case it is of high importance to be able to teach the children while they are in the centre safe ways in which to use the internet. What other strategies do you have for monitoring internet or computer safety in the centre?