Date: 05/03/13
When I went center this morning I noticed that children were very excited and they were busy in one corner of the center One of the teachers told me that we have two new I pads in our center for the children. Children were exploring the I pads with the teacher. With full of excitement they told me “Harjeet look we have I pads . To remain their excitement I asked them what can you do with I pads “We can see photos”, “we can play games”, “we can see cartoons”, “we can see animals”, “and we can hear songs”. They came up with these ideas.
There is no doubt that this is the world of technology. Through technology we feel connected to the world. The new products of technology such as touch screen phones and I pads are very handy and easy to use for children. They are very curious and excited to see that how a touch of their small finger can take them to their dream world. It is way of their entertainment but also a good resource of knowledge. It is also a good resource for teacher to use. Sometimes children ask questions about animals, plants, cars etc. It is not necessary that we know all the answers so we can quickly search and tell them write answers of their questions. The other thing which is good about I pads is they are very handy to use and also portable.
If children are playing outside and they find any insects, we can quickly search about that insect on I pad and also its pictures to show children and also get some deep knowledge about that insect. We can also make children’s videos on I pads and show them on mat time or while having one on one time with them. Children love to do reading and writing on I Pads rather than with pencil and paper. In india we start our studies from 3 years. We have to sit in the class and read and write. I find it very hard for children who are only 3 year. But technology is making children's learning easier and faster and also interesting. There are some applications which we use to do reading and writing with the preschoolers. Children can also hear the sounds of the words and repeat it. When children work or play on I pads as a group, it enhances the cooperative play. Children help each other, ask questions, give instructions to each other while sharing I pads. Having interactions with each other develops their vocabulary. According to Vygotsky children learn though interacting with others (Santrock, 2010). when children have hand on experience with technology it helps in their future learning and make them able to get technology related jobs (Ministry of Education, 2007).
I pads are new and fast way to document children’s learning and development. But having two I pads with 20 or 30 children is another issue. It is also one of the challenge for us as educators that how we can encourage children to share and wait for their turn. I believe that we can find the solution together by talking with children. This will give them an opportunity to think and find the solution of their own problems. They will also learn how to learn with and alongside others (Ministry of Education, 1996). Early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki states that “Growing experience in solving problems together develops children’s understanding of how technologies can help them and others” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 96).
Teachers have been using technology of one type or another with children for decades, but the development of new technologies and their presence in classrooms is increasing rapidly. Interactive single-touch—and now multitouch—screens in a variety of sizes, from interactive white boards to tablets, have changed the way children engage with technology. Alongside these is the explosion in learning content, particularly for mobile devices (Shifflet & Toledo, 2012).
References:
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te
whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood
curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Santrock, J.W. (2010). Lifespan development: International student
edition (12th ed.). Boston, Ma., United States of America:
McGraw Hill.
Shifflet, R., & Toledo, C. (2012). Touch Tablets surprised: A preschool teacher’s story. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/yc/files/yc/Touch%20Tablet%20Suprises.pdf
Hi Harjeet, Bringing an iPad’s into your center must be an exciting event for kids and for you indeed. Together, you can tap into its enjoyment and potential as you find new and useful ways to use it. Through the ICT at your center, the children will gain confidence in their ability to use technology using the Ipad, and understanding of the role of technology in communication and learning. You mention that the Ipad is making the children’s learning easier and as children work or play as a group or individual, this enhances their cooperative play and language development. Play is central to children’s development by providing opportunities for both structured and spontaneous activities. Play is a child’s unique way to learn about their world. Children learn in an environment full of discovery and wonder under the guiding principles of Te Whariki, the early childhood curriculum of the Ministry of Education.
ReplyDeleteAccording to a 2004 literature review by Rachel Bolstad in Education Counts, she highlights that ICT can support children’s learning including language development and mathematical thinking. I agree that Ipads are an amazing technology when it comes to documenting children development especially for teachers as it is easy, simple and clutter free. Have fun and well done!
Hi Harjeet, using a ipad in your centre is the most exciting, colourful, and adventure for children and teachers, which opens new horizon in education technology. Having ipad in the centre children learn to create easy fun loving activities which develop their knowledge about technology. Te whariki states that children experience an environment where they are affirmed as individuals” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.68). Through ipad children will gain confidence and learn literacy skill and also develop communication skill. In your reflection you mention that using ipad make children’s learning and development easier. Through ipad children use a variety of technologies for different purpose as they explore their world”. (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 98). Through ipad children use their knowledge about process and problem solving, science, reading, mathematics. They use physical skills to move their fingers on ipad, social and emotional skills and also language skills for example they can describe what they are doing and explain to their peers ((Smorti, 19990). “Technology makes enterprising use of its own specific knowledge and skills, together with those of other disciplines. Graphics and other methods of visual representation offer important tools for communication and exploration” (The New Zealand Curriculum, 2007, p.32). over all you did very good job harjeet, well done kai pai.
ReplyDeleteHi Harjeet, it is good to hear that your centre has iPads for children’s exploration and learning. iPads are one of the latest technologies that most children are having today. According to most parents at my centre, they think iPads are educational tool and their children must have it. There are many benefits of iPads such as easy manipulation of the touch screen, keeps children engaged, has digital storytelling, wide range of apps for phonics, building words, letter recognition, letter formation and photos. iPads in early childhood setting help children enhance their creativity and hands on learning by interacting with the apps. Within the centre environment, children learn arts, technology, literacy, numeracy and social skills. They develop communication skills, concentration and fine more skills. I believe children are experts in technology and in order to foster 21st century skills in these children, teachers need to be aware of the knowledge and understating of technology to encourage collaboration and technology-based learning. Smorti, 1999 says teachers in early childhood setting should broaden their understanding of technology in order to scaffold children’s learning in technology. I believe iPads are great tool for children’s learning but children should use them under teacher’s supervision so they cannot access contents that are not appropriate for their age and they should be allowed for certain length of time only as iPads are very addictive for young children. However, iPads are very fascinating tool for children. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI found this video very interesting: To view click on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=RoVNBfPEQu8&feature=fvwp
Hi Harjeet. The children at your centre are really lucky to get hands on experience with an Ipad. Indeed our economy is moving fast towards accepting technology as part of their lives. Ipads have indeed made work very easier to many of us. As you have said, through the use of Ipads, you are able to find information and share it with your children. Gone are those days when you had to flip through hundreds of books and pages to find a tiny bit of information. Just a click away and children are able to open a window of information.Ipads in fact enable chuildren to become active explorers and be confident learners (Ministry of Education, 1996). The applications in the Ipad allow chuildren to get hands on experience at art, communication, learning new vocabulary, be crative and problem solve. However, in my view, children shouldnot be left alone to "play" with these technology but rather teachers need to support the use of such gadgets so children reap the benefits of such gadgets in a more positive way. According to Vygotsky, teachers' guidance and support is vital for children to reach to the next level of their development.Smorti(1999, says teachers in early childhood setting should broaden their understanding of technology in order to scaffold children’s learning in technology. Therefore, having the ipad in the centre is not only a learning tool for the children, it is also a learning tool for teachers who may have difficulties in using Ipads. I would be very happy to get my hands on an Ipad and paly with a little bit so that I am confident in teaching my children how to harness the best out of an Ipad. Every good things come with some side effects. For example an Ipad will not be able to give those moments to children when they can enjoy the lovely sunshine or picking up daisies to make leis, roll on the grass and get messy or laugh and play with their friends or form reciprocal relationships.FOOD FOR THOUGHT?????
ReplyDeleteI got a reading by Chip Donohue on "Technology in Early childhood education" which talks about how technology can be integrated in our early childhood settings. If you want you can borrow it from me.