Our centre was given a digital camera from our retired manager as a gift, and I thought this is a good time for me to introduce this ICT to a group of four years old who were showing their excitement about how the camera works, as we have lots of new children who are new with technology. I showed them different buttons on the camera and how they works, besides letting them hold and took photos of their activities. Some of the children speak about how our camera is similar to their mum’s camera at home, “My mum’s got same camera as this one but her one is pink”, it was good to see how children relate this to people, places and things that they see at home and the centre; this is supported by Te Whāriki that, “The curriculum is provided by the people, places, and things in the child’s environment: the adults, the other children, the physical environment, and the resources” (Ministry of Education, 1996. p. 11). This means that children were making opinion of this small technology, which is familiar to most of them.
The children had turns holding the camera and they show interest and curious about how different they see themselves in the lenses of the camera, which is why I believe it is important for educators to teach children about technology as we now live in a technological world. This is align with Smorti, (1999) saying that, “There is an increasing awareness of the technological world that we live in: a world that people have created and changed through technology” (Smorti, 1999. p. 1). We also showed and talk with children during mat time about the importance of this instrument and how it works to help them see the world around them differently.
Furthermore I showed the kids how to connect our camera to the computer so we can print the photos that they took, it was amazing how they choose the photos by themselves, and they were happy with their achievements, that J said, “I want to put my photo in my portfolios for my mum and dad to see”. They children were happy with the outcomes of what they did, and were happy to take more photos of interesting activities and events happening in the centre. Our country is a part of a world uprising in technology, freedom, communication and changes; and I believe that we need to introduce children to the world of technology so that they can be confidence to continue and acquire new skills by using technology. This is supported by Te Whāriki that, “To cope with such changes, children need both the confidence to develop their own perspectives and the capacity to continue acquiring new knowledge and skills. The curriculum provides an educational foundation that supports the full range of skills that children will need as life-long learners” (Ministry of Education, 1996. p. 18).
Technology has changed over the years, and it seems to improved over the past years. Before we use to have large size cameras but now cameras are getting smaller and smaller, example, M says that, “We use to have a big camera at home but now dad and my mum have a smaller one just like our new camera”, children in our centre develop their skill to reflect technologically about the similarity of technology they used at home and the centre, which shows how they are connecting back to their families, people, places and things. As an educator I supported the use of ICT in our centre as it gives children the opportunity of leading their own learning and gives them another way of viewing their environment. I believe that by providing opportunities like this in the centre, will encourages children to be more aware of different technological tools that we now used to improve the way we live, as MacNaughton & Williams states that, “The provision by the adult of a meaningful context in which children could solve technological problems and develop an extensive technological vocabulary through conversation with adults and each other” (MacNaughton & Wiiliams, 2009. p. 377).
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8535677992956049910#editor/target=post;postID=2388061138344032523
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa Wellington: Learning Media.
MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2009). Techniques for teaching young children: Choices in theory and practice (3rd ed.). Frenchs Forrest, Australia: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in early childhood. Early Education, 1, 5-10.
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://kids-camera.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/kids-camera.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kids-camera.net/&h=351&w=200&sz=19&tbnid=3JFWVyspbg7O4M:&tbnh=94&tbnw=54&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2Bchildren%2Busing%2Bcameras%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=images+of+children+using+cameras&usg=__9MymzZMF2b8uO-JhYAlTgHHXqP8=&docid=pR9d8nHp1n5eeM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cms3UIXMA6rBiQfClIDICA&sqi=2&ved=0CDMQ9QEwBg&dur=375
Children are able to grasp technology at very young age. I have noticed my 10 month old try to tap on the I-Pad with his finger. Moreover I believe that children copy adults and their peers and convey the concept of tukana/tenei where there is reciprocal learning. Maybe you could share the benefits of this technology with your centre and request for them to purchase more cameras. You could also use the camera to do documentation of the children's learning and their achievements at the centre which can be filed in their portfolios. At my centre, we have a safety case for the camera to prevent accidents and the children are allowed to use the cameras independently and take pictures of indoor and outdoors. They can then view the photos and with the help of teachers write a narrative of what is happening in the photo maybe next time you should try this too! Tino Pai!!.
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ReplyDeletePauline, I think that it is important for children to get an exposure to using different technology devices because the world is so dependent on technology. We as educators, use computers everyday to type out our assignments, do learning stories for our centre and we also download children’s pictures by using technology. I grew up in the Island, so when I was young I just used to play outside all day and I did not get an exposure to technology which is why I found it really hard to operate a computer or even a camera when I grew older. When children familiarise themselves with technology from the start then they keep on developing their technological skills, they also develop their cognitive and language skills when they interact with their peers by using technology. So I totally agree with you that technology has changed over the years and children like to play on a computer, I-pad and they love taking photos of their peers nowadays. I think that camera is an effective tool for children to construct their knowledge. I have really enjoyed reading your reflections. Tumeke!
ReplyDeleteKia ora Pauline
ReplyDeleteI like the way you talked about showing the children the buttons on the camera that can help them start to be familiarise with the equipment. It’s really good that you gave them the chance to hold the camera so they can explore and make them think how this small piece of equipment can do so much work. I like that the children started talking about their home experience about the camera it also helps start conversations about this technology and children with cameras at home can also teach and demonstrate to others about the types of colours and features that their cameras have. I also like the idea you mentioned in your blog about educating children about the technology, this can also teach children how to be responsible and look after their things at home and in the centre, it can also teach children about the purpose of the camera. It’s really good that children know the changes in technology, and how they identify the camera in different sizes and colours that can start conversations. It will also be good for all the children to look at the cameras that existed using the internet for them to look at and even get children to use resources in the art area to make their very own camera.
Bula Pauline
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing what we can do with a Koha (gift) that is given to a centre that can be really educational. I am also happy that you saw a ‘Teachable moment’ and you took it without hesitation, what I also enjoyed was how you showed/role modelled how to use the camera. This was a teachable moment to remember. It was also good to read that you showed them how to put photos onto the computer and they could pick any photo to print, so much technology that our children are exposed to at the moment. Showing the children how to upload pictures is another technique that they learn; I personally believe that children also learnt recall; where they look at the pictures and think of why they took this photo. Also asking open-ended questions also develop their problem solving skills. Its good to see that we all use the same technology but we all see either similar or different learning occurring within this technology. Ka pai ...