Final Blog Reflection

After reading other people’s feedback and constructive criticism about my three blogs I have found that there are some more ways I can extend children’s learning through the everyday things/routines we do in the centre.

For my blog reflection 1, the feedback I have been given has made me think about how I could use more communicative technology with young children.  Perhaps I could use different types of telephones to the children, as we do not always provide enough opportunities or time for them to explore with communicative technology. I like Hyun’s idea of using paper cups and strings for phones and using a wireless phone such as a mobile and an electrical phone for exploration.

 For my second blog reflection the feedback shows that I can extend and it is a great idea to continue to let children use a digital camera in the centre. I let them use mine as the other teachers were not willing to let them use the centre camera. I think that this sort of digital technology will be very useful in the children’s learning and development, as Larissa has pointed out that it is important to continue the teaching and planning for further development as they should be given the opportunities to have free choice in using the camera.

For my third blog reflection, the feedback has made me think that there is not much technology that is used everyday like the vacuum cleaner. When we think of technology, it usually is the computer or the digital devices. I like how Hannah has suggested that may be there are other housekeeping activities we do that involve technology and can be used for exploring and teaching about technology.

I have come to see that using non digital and digital technology however a small experience it may be with children, their learning and development is influenced by it. Technology is all around us and whether we as adults/teachers model and demonstrate the use of technology to children whether it is a positive or negative usage.  All the feedback and constructive criticism have all good points which I need to remember when I provide children with opportunities to explore using the telephone, the digital camera, the vacuum cleaner and any other technology  either digital or non digital we have in the centre.

Technology is a significant part of children’s learning and development now, the world is full of technology and can be used for positive social interactions or promote negative behaviour.  Even Te Whariki and the New Zealand Curriculum have included how technology can be used as children need to learn about it and how “New Zealand is part of a world of revolution in communication, technology and work”, (Ministry of Education 1996 p.18). Children and teachers learn together as a community who are gaining knowledge and skills in using mathematics, reading, science and technology (p.19).

I think that for us teachers to ‘teach’ and show technology to children, first we must understand it and have some knowledge about how the technology can be used before we can use it with the children. However sometimes we can learn from the children.  Technology influences young children’s learning and development, and is a significant part of the world. There fore we as educators need to make sure children learn about the safe way of using technology and in moderation. 


References:


Google (2012) Google Images: Technology. Retrieved from www.google.co.nz 

M M    Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Matauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.