Reflection 1 – The use of a
laptop
Today one of the teachers in
my centre was working with a group of boys with the laptop. I was asked by the teacher if I could
continue with what she was doing while she went on her lunch break. I soon discovered she was searching for pictures
on the internet of Spiderman, The Hulk and Batman for the boys and printing
them off. I did as requested and
continued to do this. Once the pictures
were printed the boys were running around with them showing other children what
they had. One boy called out “I’m taking
these home to show my brother” I
encouraged them to think of another way they could use the pictures instead of
taking them home just as they were. I
used open ended questioning to help them come up with an idea. They decided to cut the pictures out and
stick them on a variety of boxes from the collage area.
I do not think the use of
the laptop in this situation was used wisely.
I feel the teacher involved was merely using it as a tool to make her
job easy and keep the children occupied instead of using it as a teaching tool.
I felt rather frustrated when asked to
continue on with this activity as this was not how I thought the internet
should be used as a teaching tool. I
decided to take charge of the situation and try and turn it into a more
meaningful learning experience as I did not think that looking up cartoon
characters and printing them off was teaching them anything educational. I used the teaching strategy of questioning. Through
asking open ended questions I encouraged the boys to imagine and create as the
possibilities of this were endless. This type of questioning helps the child
express their beliefs, thoughts and feelings without the concern of it being
right or wrong (McNaughton & Williams, 2009).
Through using technology in a creative way the
boys were able to use their skills of cutting and imagination as they
experimented with ideas to create an end result. Smorti (1999) states how technology can also
be seen as a creative process through developing products that meet the needs
of solving problems.
I believe computers have
their place in early childhood but should be used wisely to encourage and
further learning. Tsantis, Bewick & Thouvenelle (2003) discuss how misusing
the computer can undermine the benefits and advantages of using them with
children, therefore computers should be used as a positive tool in developing
skills and extending learning experiences.
As educators the use of ICT technology with
children should be encouraged as this is the way the world is moving. We need
to help children gain these skills in becoming competent users of technology
through extending their thinking and questioning so they become active agents
of their own learning (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, 2007).
This experience has made me
stop and think about how laptops are being used in my centre. I believe as teachers we shouldn’t shy away
from modern technology but embrace it to help us extend children’s knowledge. The key is in knowing how to do this. Next
time I use the laptop in the centre I will ask myself what learning is happening
and whether it will benefit the children. I think I need to encourage the other teachers
to do so as well.
It is a thoughtful reflection Kay, that we use various forms of technology everyday in our centers but have little awareness of how can we use them as a teaching tool. Taking the use of laptop/computer to an extra length is part of thinking creatively too. Teachers (including myself) need to be aware that computers are not only limited for adults use only but they can also be integrated into one of our teaching strategies. Tsantis, Cynthia, Thouvenelle, (2003) suggest, “as educators we need to understand how modern technologies can help us better meet the social, physical, and learning needs of young children” (p. 8).
ReplyDeleteI think there should be some professional development programs for teachers to gain some fundamental knowledge about technology and how to integrate it into our everyday teaching. Many of us are not even aware of what technology is? We usually confuse technology with science or have an understanding that it is only related to electronic devices. I was surprised myself to read the Smorti’s (1999) definition of technology. As she wrote, “the simplest definition of technology is about helping people and solving problems” (p. 5). Before reading this definition if someone had asked me, I would have said that, “it is about computers and other electronic devices.
After reading your reflection I am consciously trying to use it as a teaching tool rather than just as a device to help me write learning stories.
Hi Kay,
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that sometimes teacher loose sights of what they want to achieve with certain activities. Computers and TV are mostly used as babysitters, we forget about using every teachable moment that gets past our way, sometimes I feel it all becomes about teachers, we tell children what to do, how to do it, and we leave no space for children to use their own imagination, thoughts and the processes. Children at this age are learning how to explore their world through technology, so why not encourage them to take the initiative, something of their own interest instead of Spiderman and Batman who I find are quite inappropriate and violent at time. There are so many programs children can use, to be creative and imaginative, learn how to cut and paste, colours, letters, design etc. Good to see you managed to change the situation around, how did that go?
At my centre only teachers have access to the internet, and we use it with children to research certain topics following Childs interest. Children are allowed to use the computer on their own as well, but there is not internet, they have access to their photos at the centre, they can use programs that teaches them letters, and other programs creative programs.
Kay,Hi,
ReplyDeleteInteresting, will reply later
Tena koe Kay,
ReplyDeleteI was impressed with your strategy to take this learning further, and I can see that this is one of your strengths. An ability to scaffold learning just as you have supported us in the group blog with computer technology.
You raise some valid points about computer use ; being a positive tool for learning by using it for inquiry. Mindes (2006) refers to these opportunities as ways to support children’s research skills, something I hadn’t thought about before. She also extends on this idea, explaining how children learn co operation with one another through the process of inquiry, as a group co-operatively helping to solve problems helps them to solve problems, when they are working in a group, thinking about what they are doing and talking and adding to each other’s ideas. While listening and adding to each other’s ideas about what they can do; they are also listening to other points of view (Mindes, 2006, Ministry of Education, 1996).
I have often considered the computer as an item to be used in isolation!!! however I feel that my own recent experiences are changing my mind, as I reflect on my own learning in the context of a collaborative and cooperative group assignment.
You have not only given yourself a ‘what next’ but the children also, placing yourself in the context of creativity coach.
Reference
Mindes, G. (2006). Social studies in kindergarten. In D. Gullo (Ed.). K today: Teaching and learning in the kindergarten yea. ( pp. 107-115). Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Ministry of Education, (1996). He Whāriki Mātauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa, early childhood curriculum .Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media Limited.
Ministry of Education, (2007). The New Zealand curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media Limited.
Yes Kay sometimes when we take over from others activities then we are at a loss of the vision that the teacher prior to us had when doing the activity. A laptop is a very powerful tool to encourage creative thinking, to help solve problems and to encourage social competence. We know that "the range of available websites is enormous and it is essential that educators familiarise themselves and children in their care to access well established sites that aim for high quality, creative and inquiry -based experiences (Talay-Ongan & Ap, 2005, p.229) so with this in mind perhaps teachers need more professional development to help see the laptop as a tool. To encourage creativity, to feed inquisitive minds and to encourage children to learn to search for answers instead of thinking that the laptop has all the answers.
ReplyDeleteI think Kay that we as teachers need to also search for answers to help us extend on children’s learning when using ICT. I remember it was very challenging for me to extend on the children’s experience and where to next after taking photos, but it was not until I started to enquire, investigate, and research that I realised that after a little provocation, and a little of creative coaching then the answers started to reveal themselves through the inquisitive, curious, and wonderment of the minds of the children. The children and teachers sometimes stay stuck in what they know and what they are familiar with (comfort zone) and it is not until someone like yourself scaffolds them through encouragement and questions that the thinking process goes to higher level.