Exploring with digital camera
These days technology visible everywhere. I believe the most useful type of technology that is used in most centres is the digital camera. It is hugely beneficial for our children and the staff. Introducing the camera to the children gives them a chance to keep up to date with the modern world of technology. (Ministry of Education, 2007) In our centre there are two digital cameras, one for the children and one for the staff. This piece of technological equipment is made available between the over 2’s to 5 years of age. I find it fascinating that it is mostly our girls who makes use of this opportunity to interact with the camera. Children will use the camera to take pictures of themselves or their friends or just about anything that looks appealing to them.Through this children are empowering themselves, after gaining the skills they are able to scaffold others; in showing them and discussing about the camera works. Smorti (1999) talks about the "process approach to technology, it is the doing that is important rather than the product" (p. 6)
Children took photo of
almost everything, even the tiny ants and as far to the bluish clouds up in the
sky. The uniqueness of this experience, is how children put their own
interpretation which at times differ from the way we teachers’ read it. Children also make new discoveries by taking pictures of the natural environment outdoors. From that new finding, "children develop the ability to represent their discoveries, using creative and expressive media and technology associated with them," (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 88).
Digital camera is used in our centre as tool to document children’s learning and teachers file them in their portfolio folder. Children can view their own profiles during play time and they can also take it home to share with their families which motivate the parents to get involved in the children's learning and their work is taken seriously in a respectful manner. This is beneficial to the children and their families as they are included in their children's learning especially for those parents who are busy and don’t have any time to view their children’s work.
Digital camera is used in our centre as tool to document children’s learning and teachers file them in their portfolio folder. Children can view their own profiles during play time and they can also take it home to share with their families which motivate the parents to get involved in the children's learning and their work is taken seriously in a respectful manner. This is beneficial to the children and their families as they are included in their children's learning especially for those parents who are busy and don’t have any time to view their children’s work.
With the child photographs teachers also able to compile a story book about the children activity. They always love to look at their photo book which is an exciting
experience because it makes them happy.This experience it motivates and inspires social interaction among the children. (Doyle & Connolly, 1980)
This tool helps the children retell or
revisit their learning experience by discussing it with their peers. In sharing
their opinion, I realised that they use new words which helps improve their
vocabulary. According to Ellis & Scoter (2001), “studies highlight the
opportunities for language use and interaction that technology offers children" (p. 9)
Overall, camera plays an important role in the digital technology side of today's education. Thus, I believe it should be made available inside the early childhood classroom for the children to use; for there is a lot of exploring and new finding to be done and this piece of technological tool will help them discover that.
Overall, camera plays an important role in the digital technology side of today's education. Thus, I believe it should be made available inside the early childhood classroom for the children to use; for there is a lot of exploring and new finding to be done and this piece of technological tool will help them discover that.
Reference
List
Doyle, A., & Connolly,
J. (1980). The effect of playmate familiarity on the social interactions of
young children. Child Development, 51, 217-223.
Ellis & Van Scoter,
(2001) Technology in Early
childhood Education: Finding the Balance. Northwest Regional Educational
Laboratory.
Gonzalez-Mena, J.
(2009). Foundations of early childhood
education: Teaching children in a diverse society (4th ed.). Boston, Ma: McGraw Hill.
Ministry of Education,
(1996). Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o
Aotearoa: Early childhood
curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education,
(2007). The New Zealand
Curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Smorti, S. (1999). Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, no. 19 Autumn 1999.
Hi, I love your title for the blog which is investigation with technology. Children are eager and competent learners which makes them try new things. By having cameras at the centre is very beneficial. You can try uploading the pictures and put in on the computer for the parent as and the children to view. Some parents are too busy to read the portfolio but when it come to pictures they will be more interested. Children love to view their photos. This will also create them to get into more conversations and boots their social skills and interactions. Ka Pai!!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I think that you have provided the children with a rich and meaningful learning experience. Nowadays, children like exploring with technology devices rather than playing with toys. Children are not just learning about different technology devices they are also learning about how they work and they often like to explore technology with their peers which makes it more fun for them. Children at my centre do not have access to the centre’s camera but I always take my camera to the centre so they always want to take pictures of their peers and my supervisor gave me permission to let them use the camera as long as I supervise the children. Using a camera is the most effective way to document children’s learning. They like to see their pictures on the computer and they also like recognising themselves and their peers which improves their cognitive skills. Kia Kaha!
ReplyDelete01/09/12
ReplyDeleteKapai Jennifer, awesome reflection. I agree with you that technology is visible everywhere and I think that it is a good idea to have one camera for the teachers and one camera for children, because having a camera of their own gives children a sense of ownership, and a sense of belonging in the centre. Furthermore I agree with you that children see things differently from the way we teachers see and view things and with technology children are able to express their ideas and express their views in creative way. I think that when children took photos of the environment and everything in your centre that means they appreciate and value everything in your centre because of what they see within the camera. I think you have done a great job by allowing children time and space to explore and lead their own learning using technology. Kapai.
This is great to see that we as educators see that cameras play an important role within the centres. It is sad that your centre has only 2 cameras one for the children and one for staff, but this may also be an advantage also because then children learn the concept of sharing with their friends and also learn that there is a time frame if using the camera. This was also fascinating to know that they majority of the children using the camera were girls, compare to my centre it was mostly the boys because they enjoyed taking photos of their muscles. I also agree that digital does play an important role within our centres and it’s up to us educators to promote these through our teachings. This was another reflection I enjoyed reading Jen, we all have similar teachable moments. I hope your centre gets more cameras so that other children within your centre have the opportunity to explore also. Tumeke
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