Friday, 30 March 2012



Final reflective blog post on personal blog

In the beginning of the project of this blog assessment it seems to me would be a challenge.  During the project we do learn from each other a lot.  We share the feelings; support each other by technical help.  It is real AKO teaching and learning process (Tamati, 1999).  We should teach children about the using technology in early learning centres at the same time we were learning by ourselves through observation, reading and thinking.  I do agree with authors that teaching should focus on “the importance of helping children identify what they are expected to and why, rather than assuming that all children can work out connections for themselves” (Arthur, Beecher, Dockett, Farmer & Death, 2008, p.330).
I think we learnt even more during making comments for other students’ reflections.  We found how using digital and non-digital technology can help children with growing experience in solving problems together, how technology can help with literacy, numeracy and colour learning, how it is affect the early learning environment and teaching and learning process.  We knew it now not only from the literature resources but from real people our colleagues.  We can prove now to ourselves, parents and staff our own view for the usage of technology and its importance for future development of the new generation.  The New Zealand Curriculum states that technology is proposes for ECE students in “a variety of contexts”, where teachers provide for them the range of opportunities “to recognise links and develop generic understanding” (Ministry of Education, 2007, p.34).
Many centres use the cooking process for teaching children technology, math, literacy, fine and gross motor skills, sharing and problem solving, but when we do it, not all of us aware that we are teaching the technological process.  Now after creating blog for using technology in ECE we can say that “growing experience in solving problems together develops children’s understanding of how technology can help them and others” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 96).  Lucky have the same experience at her centre during the cooking activity, we do trust our experience and can prove it is works.  As Lucky notices and the Te Whariki states during this activity our “children develop non-verbal ways of expressing and communication imagination idea" (Ministry of Education, 1996).  Yes I do agree with Lucky the non-verbal communication takes significant part in creating the positive learning attitude and to learn very important social skill as well. 
Both Hyun and Youri were impressed with the sewing technology for the children and also think that it is the good idea for learning technology and lifelong skills.  Youri mentioned the needle movement and noise during process might attract children’s’ interest, rise up their curiosity and learning interest for this wonderful technological process.  From Youri’s comments - “Children can develop and be interested in repetitive sounds and words and enjoy non-sense stories and rhymes during their play (Ministry of Education, 1996)”. Good suggestion, thank you Youri.
Hyun’s recommended in her comments that it would be better if children can use real devices instead of pretending games, where the phones and cameras made from LEGO.  She wrote “if not available, teachers can use photos of the objects and encourage children to think about convenience of technology by using them in the real life”.  I can partly agree with this because our children use the real phones and cameras only occasionally.  Very soon it might be change because now in my centre the management starts to organise the technology room for the children’s practice on the regular base. Hurray!
I like the challenge and the good outcomes from my learning.  Gradually with the help of my group mates and lecturer I am closer to the end of the project.  (620)
Reference list
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Dockett, S., Farmer, S., & Death, E. (2008). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4th ed.).  Melbourne, Australia: Harcourt Brace.
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand Curriculum http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/the_new_zealand_curriculum
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga  ngā mokopuna Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Tamati Tamati, A. (2005). “Mā tōu rourou, mā tōku rourou” the concept of AKO: co-construction of knowledge from a Kaupapa Māori perspective. Early Education, 37, 23-32. 


Friday, 23 March 2012


The links list for Larissa’s comments for 12 Reflection



Youri
Reflection 1
Reflection 2
Reflection 3
Kathryn
Reflection 1
 Reflection 2
Reflection 3
Hyun
Reflection 2
Reflection 3
Hannah
Reflection 1
Reflection 2
Lucky
Reflection 1
Reflection 2


Thursday, 22 March 2012

Group Blog. Project for Technology with Children
Reflection 3
SEWING with preschoolers


Recently there was the exploration in the sewing technology in my center.  The centre bought new sewing machine and one of the parents brought pieces of cotton fabric.  The children decided to sew the blanket for the matt time, like quilt, to be connected like the pieces of quilt in their friendship with peers and teachers.  Mainly girls were enthusiastic to do sewing properly, boys wanted to explore the sewing machine and just view the process.  I can see that children learnt sewing with enthusiasm and have fun.  Something as simple as pushing the pedal with a foot got them to see the transformation of the object in front of them.  It’s amazing!  It is our main goal; the process of learning basic skills should bring satisfaction and eager to learn more. 
I was sewing from my childhood (it was the mechanical model –Singer), than teach this skills at primary school, but I never thought that it is possible to teach preschool children to use the sewing machine.  As I notice children like to be involved in sewing and don’t scare of the moving with the high speed needle (it more scared me) even I knew that they have some experience and knew the rules very well.  


During this activity children use “their knowledge about process and problem solving (technology), science, reading, mathematics” (Smarty, 1999, p.6).  Learning the technology is an important area of the early childhood curriculum within the principles, standards and goals of Te Whāriki, which supports ‘the full range of skills that children will need as life-long learners’ (Ministry of Education, 1999).

For me sewing is in a way much like engineering: you're building something; you have to plan ahead, and visualise the finish project.  Through the designing children can solve problems and understand how each and every step creates the foundation for the next step.  The mental exercises involved are far more important than the fine motor skills involved.  Fine motor skills would be more an issue for fine needlework or knitting, which also requires a lot of the planning and forethought.  Children sewing also lead to understanding of the concept of where our closes came from and how we can dream, visualise, design, make pattern, cut and sew the new model, combining our thought and desire.  It gives children huge experience in technological process understanding.  According New Zealand Curriculum it is technology, because “in technology, students learn to be innovative developers of products and systems and discerning consumers who will make a difference in the world (Ministry of Education, 2007, p.17).
I believe any child can develop a lifelong love for sewing it will help them in future to find their professional interest.  One of the educational goals of The New Zealand Curriculum (2007) is “to respond to the recurrent and emerging economic and social needs of the nation and to prove those skills which will allow students maximum flexibility and adaptability in their future employment and other aspects of life.  The discipline taught by sewing can and does extend itself into other areas of life.  I knew that sewing teaching very important key life skills: discipline, patience, eye hand coordination skills, the ability to follow instructions, planning, organisation, problem solving, creativity, fine motor skills, mechanical skills – diagnostic and repair skills, balance of left-brain/right brain activities, independence and self confidence, textural stimulation, reading an designing, processing method and consequence of process of sewing.  Concentration and attention, the ability to recognise the pattern and create a new one is “a fundamental process in developing visual memory and it helps with visual representation of data” (Tally-Ongan & Ap, 2005, p.218 & p.223). 
Now days children have to start to learn sewing with electric connected device, next generation might to start use the Hi-tech sewing machines with pre-programmed sewing process and I would be the one in the position of learner.
Dear visitor have a look on their creative and happy faces.  As you see technology “emphasizes creative and productive aspects of solving problems and answer questions” (Smarty, 1999, p. 6).

Reference list
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand Curriculum http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/the_new_zealand_curriculum
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga  ngā mokopuna Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Talay-Ongan, A. & Ap, E. (2005). Child development and teaching young children. Southbank, Victoria,
            Australia: Thompson Social Science Press.



Group Blog. Project for Technology with Children
Reflection 2

Reflection 2. Cooking Cup-Cakes
On 2nd of March
Cooking the chocolate cupcakes was one of the recent technological experiences for our preschoolers.  Leading by the teacher who prepared ingredients at the kitchen and brought them on the tray, first group of children were waiting with excitement around the table.  There was a huge difference from usual atmosphere at that morning; I can see it from their sparkling eyes and eager to start.  It was not the first time when our children participated in baking process.  For them it was continuity of learning opportunity for several reasons.  One of the reasons was “an increasing awareness of the technological world that we live in, a world that people have created and changed through technology” (Smarti, 1999, p.3).  The other reason was helping people (children) solve the problems and as part of early childhood curriculum vowed into the Te Whāriki’s goals, strands and principles (Ministry of Education, 1996).  The cooking/ baking “technological activity” using ‘a cooking process as “an adaptation in the modern world” is the most powerful for children development “to meet children’s need” (Smarti, 1999, p.5). 
Our identity we learn from our culture, the food takes the significant place in “popular culture, media and technology” helps children to build their identity (Arthur, Beecher, Dockett, Farmer, & Death, 2008, p.13).  During the process cooking the active learning occurs.  Now days even the cooking is different from the one generation before, we haven’t heard about microwaves with special features, toasters with infrared heating or digital stove, our children will use this technology in maybe next ten years.  Now days some members of the technological society even can’t cook the very simple things.  The people who did not get an opportunity to gain this skill in their childhood now learn from the TV programs organised for them.  To become confident and active members of society children should have opportunities for “a variety of technologies…as they explore the world” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.98).  This very close to my own thought and feeling about life and teaching requirements.  Now they have a choice how they will use this knowledge in future?  Here is the image of the future trends kitchen


Looking after the process of dough making I was thinking it was great that children learn this technological process, what else?  Yes, the physical skills, communication around the table, the language development and much more.  We can extend their knowledge by scaffolding their knowledge through the next activity promoting “experiment with materials, to play around with ideas and to explore actively with all senses” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.88).  We can plan to show to children the same activity at Botanydowns Kindergarten and how they do cooking organising the video session on the skype.  Now I am realise how many things children could learn about the technology just during one cooking process, I never think about this part of technology learning before.
The creative thinking is the other side of the same medal.  During the cooking process teacher took the photos from digital camera to support children’s learning, for documentation.  We will print photos on colored printer and add to children’s portfolios.  I would recommend to buy few digital cameras for the children too.  This project proved to me and I will share this information with my colleagues, that children can use such expensive resources.  I noticed that it is possible that “children can make their own audio or video recordings”, the suggesting for the technology involvement from Arthur, Beecher, Dockett  Arthur, Farmer & Death,  (2008, p. 275).  Children knew why we do the photos and wanted to see the images prior they would be printed. 

 The whole process of technological experience would be reviewed in the learning stories and wall’s presentation for parents.  As I noticed our children are familiar with process of reloading images from camera to the teacher’s computer first, where the children have a preview and later can tell the story to other peers, family member or even send the learning stories to overseas relatives through the internet.  One of the girls asked about this possibility.  All learning in technology involves the designing, making and appraising strand (The New Zealand Curriculum, 2007) what we can now be sure was presented at the cooking and baking activities.

You are welcome to participate too.

Reference list
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Dockett, S., Farmer, S., & Death, E. (2008). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4th ed). Melbourne, Australia: Cengage Learning
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand Curriculum http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/the_new_zealand_curriculum
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga  ngā mokopuna Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Smarti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, 19, 5-10.
Santrock, J.W. (2009). Lifespan development (12th ed., International). Boston, United States of America: McGraw-Hill.





Group Blog. Project for Technology with Children 
Reflection 1
Technology in my Early Learning Centre for preschool children. LEGO
When I started this assessment I thought that children in the centre where I am working do not use the any technology, especially High-Tech.  But gradually when I learnt more about the subject I did realised they do it in their symbolic play, practically every day.

For example:  Two boys from preschool group made the cells phones and talked to each other.  One was even complained that his friend sent him a text, but he can’t read.  What he can do?  Teacher advised to dial to his friend.
Other pair.  One of the boys A. gathered “super flat camera” from the LEGO with the hole in the middle.  His friend C. was playing on pretended laptop computer (he opened the book and connected the keyboard by the cord).  A. came to his friend and asked to show him the images he got in his camera.  They put the cord through hole in the camera and connected it to the “laptop”.  Together they were looking at the book’s images pretending that it is the images from the camera.  Later they wanted to print the best images they choose, to show to their parents.  We use the centre printer and copy one picture for each boy.  They do surprise me again, the children knew what to do and pick up printed copy as if they do it each day.
The girl L. was playing with magnetic board, pretending that it is iPod.  She arranged LEGO small blocs around the board and wanted to send the picture she draw to her mum, but didn’t know the “a special word” to do so. 
 Children learn though play, but only in the preschool age children start to play the symbolic play where “children use objects to pretend, or take on roles themselves” (Gonzalez-Mena, 2008, p.100).
Children can see from home environment the conversation between people in opposite site of the planet by using Skype.  It is their everyday life where they learn just observing their eldest brothers and sisters in using iPod.  In early learning centre our teachers use the laptop computers, digital cameras, than show the photos to children.  


It has been argued that the development of ICT has not only influenced the form of play, but has also brought play, as a concept, more visibly into the lives of older children (Sheridan and Pramling-Samuelsson, 2003).  Now days our life are been changed dramatically from the point of technological view.
The New Zealand curriculum (2007) defined the technology as “intervention by design: the use of practical and intellectual resources to develop products and systems (technological outcomes) that expand human possibilities by addressing needs and realising opportunities.  Adaptation and innovation are at the heart of technological practice. 
 “Constructive play occurs when children engaged in the self-regulated creation of product or solution” (Santrock, 2008, 305).  
Last generation been born in ICT world where “most children now experience a range of technologies as part of everyday life” (Arthur, Beecher, Dockett, Farmer, & Death, E 2007, p.12).  For them it is not surprising that mum and dad use the cell phones to text or to talk at any place and time. 
When I took in account all these pretending plays I do realised that children from my centre can use the High-Tech even if they have them only in their imaginative world, but they already familiar with the concept of technological world and they do use it without thinking.  They didn’t realise that ten-twenty years ago it was the problem to call to someone if person not at the particular place with phone line.  We were only dreaming about the possibility to talk to people and see their faces, now it is Skype and even four year old knew about it.



The life makes the changes not only in our adults’ world but also reflected in the children’s play.  Do we want it or not it is unavoidable strikes us.  Therefore as the NZ Curriculum states children should know ‘a broad technological literacy’ to be knowledgeable and free in society, through learning “practical skills as they develop models, products and systems” (Ministry of Education, 2007).. UNESCO, the United Nations Education, Social and Cultural Organisation, defines technology as:"...the know-how and creative processes that may assist people to utilise tools, resources and systems to solve problems and to enhance control over the natural and made environment in an endeavor to improve the human condition." (UNESCO, 1985).

Reference list
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Dockett, S., Farmer, S., & Death, E. (2008). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4th ed). Melbourne, Australia: Cengage Learning
Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2008). Foundations of early childhood education: Teaching children in a diverse society (4th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.
Noirin S, D. Hayes Brian O’Neill.  Play and Technology for children aged 4-12.  Centre for Social and Educational Research Dublin Institute of Technology Centre for Social and Educational Research. Dublin Institute of Technology
Santrock, J.W. (2009). Lifespan development (12th ed., International). Boston, United States of America: McGraw-Hill.
Sheridan, S. and Pramling-Samuelsson, I. (2003) 'Learning through ICT in Swedish early childhood education from a pedagogical perspective of quality', Childhood Education, Vol. 79, No. 5, pp. 276-77.
UNESCO. (1985).The United Nationals Education, Social and Cultural Organisation. Author.  Retrieved from: http://www.pa.ash.org.au/tefa/wite.html