Reflection 3
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.
Smarty. S. (1999).
Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, 19, 5-10
Google
images (2012). Retrieved from
http://
Google
images (2012). girl use the sewing machine Retrieved from: http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?start=225&hl=en&biw=1237&bih=646&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=yUS7q5c0km12tM:&imgrefurl=http://www.creativesewingtips.com/childrens-sewing-machines.html&docid=smYBJGzQsb5vLM&imgurl=http://www.sears.ca/wcsstore/MasterCatalog/images/catalog/Product_271/std_lang_all/41/_p/616_79041_P.jpg&w=271&h=271&ei=cI5mT-qZC6eImQWXpOCYCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=630&vpy=229&dur=211&hovh=216&hovw=216&tx=123&ty=116&sig=110190205493864820104&page=10&tbnh=132&tbnw=149&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:225
Google
images (2012). Trying new machine. Hands operation and using the pedal. Retrieved from
Google
images (2012). Boys also can sew. Retrieved from: http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?hl=en&biw=1237&bih=646&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=7BR4anSbdImVbM:&imgrefurl=http://rasjacobson.com/tag/boys/&docid=VEvvt9U6HNdzEM&imgurl=http://rasjacobson.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/crosbyjoshsews3.jpg&w=584&h=438&ei=O5ZmT9e0IovKmQWmp-SHCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=119&vpy=107&dur=385&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=182&ty=108&sig=110190205493864820104&page=1&tbnh=140&tbnw=176&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
Wow, sewing machine! It’s the biggest challenge for me, to be honest. Before I teach children technology with the sewing machine, I have to learn about how to use. As you observed the children in your centre, many girls might have interest in sewing, but teachers should encourage boys to explore the machine by learning how to sew. If not, the boys can have gender stereotype between girly and boys’ things.
ReplyDeleteI think that sewing machines are effective teaching tools regarding technology. By using the machines and hands when they make blankets or handkerchiefs, children can explore the differences between hand-made and machine-used work. Te Whariki claims that children enhance their expressive and creative skills through use of various medium and technologies around them (Ministry of Education, 1996). I think that sewing machines will support children to explore and learn about technologies by creating their own work.
Wow, sewing machine! It’s the biggest challenge for me, to be honest. Before I teach children technology with the sewing machine, I have to learn about how to use. As you observed the children in your centre, many girls might have interest in sewing, but teachers should encourage boys to explore the machine by learning how to sew. If not, the boys can have gender stereotype between girly and boys’ things.
ReplyDeleteI think that sewing machines are effective teaching tools regarding technology. By using the machines and hands when they make blankets or handkerchiefs, children can explore the differences between hand-made and machine-used work. Te Whariki claims that children enhance their expressive and creative skills through use of various medium and technologies around them (Ministry of Education, 1996). I think that sewing machines will support children to explore and learn about technologies by creating their own work.
Reference
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
what a good idea. i found bring sewing machine in to center is a very fresh idea. not many center doing this activity at the present. children are able to use there creative thinking under supervision to make things that useful in center, such as mat, blanket and handkerchief.children find it very interesting and exiting to sew. children develop motor skill and fine skill when they sewing, and it is a great idea for them to concentrate on it. According to Te Whariki strand 5, Exploration "Children develop the ability to make decision, choose their own materials, and set their own problem "(Ministry of Education, 1996).
ReplyDeleteMinistry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He Whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aoteāroā. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Wow, sewing with children~! It is a great opportunity for technology. I believe that it was an amazing and exciting activity for children as well as teachers. I can imagine that when the sewing machine was working, the sound and the needle’s up-and-down movement were great, and the children absolutely became interested and curious very much. 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).
ReplyDeleteI also think that the noise and the needle’s up-and-down movement had pattern and made stitches. Children can improve their confidence in using a variety of strategies for exploration and making sense of the world such as solving problems, looking for patterns and listening (Ministry of Education, 1996). It is a great idea that teachers give opportunities for children to develop their fine motor skills through experience with fine needlework and knitting.
References
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa : Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Yes having and using a sewing machine in the centre is an ideal way of introducing technology. I agree that sewing helps children to be able to solve problems and to understand the process from a piece or pieces of fabric to a usable item.
ReplyDeleteIt is great that both the boys and girls are interested in sewing, although the different aspects of it though. Perhaps they all could have a go at sewing, as it helps to develops fine motor skills, develops different brain functions and children learn more through practical experiences.
Sewing also brings out children's creativity, "children develop the ability to represent their discoveries, using creative and expressive media and the technology associated with them", (Ministry of Education 1996 p.88) and encourages them to express their ideas and feelings into different patterns.
I think that having a sewing machine in the centre is great; children and teachers are then able to make items for the centre and children's play.
Wow sewing what a great idea. I do not know sew so It would be interesting for me to learn at the same time! a great example of tuakana teina or teachers as learners as well. Sewing is almost an example of a lost art, which i think it is important that people know so that they can be self sufficient. It is great for the children to see technology and its practical application to doing something useful and creative. It teaches those fine motor skills and gives the children something tangible they can take home to their parents and family/whanau to show them what they did. It also gives them a sense of achievement to physically create something. I wonder whether a further extension could be showing the children a weaving loom or maybe even showing the older children how to knit. However knitting would have to be very careful due to the sharp needles and the fine motor control necessary. A Outcome in Tewhariki is “Children develop increasing knowledge about hoe to keep physically healthy.”(Ministry of Education, 1996)
ReplyDelete