Contributions to the class blog and other students' blogs

Class blog:

http://tamarwk.blogspot.com/2011/03/martin-robot-man.html?showComment=1302503413191#c6460995287800340506

http://tamarwk.blogspot.com/2011/03/welcome-to-blogging-for-people-place.html?showComment=1304239314834#c7331048753817318510

Other students' blogs:

http://multiplyland.blogspot.com/2011/04/dvdcd-execise-and-sing-along.html?showComment=1302410262315#c1881320500583280516

http://amosgallagher.blogspot.com/2011/04/little-peoples-library.html?showComment=1304068542751#c8584223953576788486

http://pritipratap.blogspot.com/2011/04/robot-making-with-boxes.html?showComment=1304219264941#c6149820300051895895

http://cathyyoung2011.blogspot.com/2011/04/lets-find-out-together.html?showComment=1304243392745#c1541965333666813962

http://elizaswork.blogspot.com/2011/04/something-is-wrong-with-computer.html?showComment=1304248420946#c5648502718283167256

Technology - can we do without it? My Personal Reflection

I found this course to be very meaningful. Even though I have heard about blogs, prior to this course I have never set up one or written a blog before. Thus I was really happy when my blog was up and running. I couldn’t wait to get started on blogging! I found that a blog is quite similar to Facebook, so I had no trouble with blogging at all! Blogs are more like a diary, but for teachers, it is written in a professional way as a record of the teacher and students’ learning.

As a teacher, scaffolding is an important teaching technique so I was glad I could help out the other students with their blogs. This is where I am scaffolding their learning so that they are at a new level in terms of their knowledge and skills (MacNaughton & Williams, 2004). 

Throughout these couple of months I learned about the importance of technology. Who knew a ballpoint pen is associated with technology? Other items can be a form of technology too. This provides opportunities for children to use this technology to explore, develop and utilise their creativity and skills. Smorti (1999) states that technology is about “helping people and solving problems" (p.5). It also can be “anything which allows us to get information, to communicate with each other or to have an effect on the environment using electronic or digital equipment" (Ministry of Education, 2009. p.2). However technology in a broader sense is more than just information and communication technology. 

We are living in world where technology is always evolving. Te Whāriki states that in order to participate in this world, the children will need to be confident to develop their own perceptions and views and also the ability to gain more skills and knowledge (Ministry of Education, 1996, as cited in Smorti, 1999). Thus technology is an important part of the curriculum and children should learn from technology.  There are so many benefits of technology which make life a lot easier. However I am aware of the risks and disadvantages involved which was discussed in class, such as fraud, cyber bullying, equity of access, poor social skills, and people becoming addictive and so on. In fact there is a concern that computers and even other gadgets are occupying people’s lives. It is controlling our lives that it can even become inconvenient without it. Very unhealthy! Children, I feel should have boundaries, set by parents and teachers otherwise children will push their limits if there’s no boundaries (Bruce, 2005).  Parents should guide the children to use technology responsibly and safely, and children should be aware of the risks involved and stay safe and unharmed (Ministry of Education, 1996). 

So then, do the benefits outweigh the risks and/or disadvantages? In my opinion, yes. There are many benefits to technology. Computers allow us to communicate and keep in contact with people overseas, as well as obtain information should one need to research for some information. Telephones and cell phones allow us to communicate with other people, and with the many other features of cell phones we can communicate information through text messaging and the internet. With cells phones people can let others know where they are, which is a relief for their families, and can be contacted in an emergency. With cooking appliances, children learn the necessary skills that they will probably use later in life to cook meals. Technology has proven to be useful. In fact, technology "involves thinking about processes, successful products, practical invention, designs, searchers for solutions, research for practical purposes and study of how things might be" (Fisher & Gravey, 1991 as cited in Smorti, 1999, p. 7). Therefore I am not going to stop using technology nor be against other people using it. 

It was enriching reading other students’ blogs and commenting on them as well as reading the comments I had received. I am going to take the comments on board and try out the ideas that the other students have suggested. It would be interesting how it will turn out. I asked my colleagues what they thought of the learning that went on. They commented that they had the opportunity to explore and interact with their friends whilst utilising their developed knowledge. Also, my colleagues never thought of letting the children take photos with cameras, most of the time they use the centre's camera for the portfolios to extend on the children's interest and curiosity. I liked how Teresa had used camera with the children for an ongoing project. The children's curiosity lead them to want to use the camera. Discussion allows me to learn what other people think of the learning that went on with the children as they used technology, as well as what I can do to extend on the children’s learning and interest. Children really learn fast from their environment and because they have access to certain technology, it is great to see them utilise their prior knowledge whilst acquiring new knowledge and skills.

I agree with Hester that it is totally appropriate for children to use digital cameras either by themselves or with a teacher. It's awesome when the children can see themselves in the pictures and recall what happened when they revisit what they've done. 

I agree with Emily that food technology is an interesting and fun aspect of the curriculum where the children could learn about the processes and ways of cooking and use their senses to enrich their learning, as well as numerous other skills.

In response to Annie, I did not teach the children to shoot pictures from down low or up high. It certainly is something I would want to try out. In response to Vanilla, the cooking activity was a teacher initiated one, but were in response to the children’s interests. But I do agree that children should initiate activities too.

To conclude, there is no doubt in my mind that technology is beneficial to everyone, I appreciate the benefits and advantages it provides whilst being cautious of the risks as well. This is proven with the numerous skills that the my students have learned – communication, social, thinking, problem solving, physical, gross motor, and more! 

Reference List

Bruce, T. (2005). Early childhood education. (3^rd ed.). London, United                    Kingdom: Hodder Arnold. 

MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G (2004). Techniques for teaching young children: Choices in theory and practice. New South Wales, Australia: Pearson Prentice Hall. 

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whãriki: He whãriki mãtauranga mõ ngã mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.

Ministry of Education. (2009). Kei tua o te pai: Assessment for learning: Early childhood exemplars (20). Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media. 

Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No.19                 Autumn 1999, 5-10.