Date:
5th March 2013
“We live in a world dominated by computer
technology, and computers have begun to appear in early childhood classrooms” (Mohammad & Mohammad, 2012, pp 97). In our centre, we
have a computer for children to use. I observed two children were sitting
together and using the computer on the other day. One girl was trying to use the
drawing software to create a picture, and the other girl was sitting by the
side and attempted to teach her friend how to use this software. Girl A moved
the mouse and selected the ocean background for her picture. Girl A asked girl
B “Now, what can we draw on it?” Girl B suggested, “What about a mermaid?” Girl
A replied, “I don’t know how to draw a mermaid.” “I know, you don’t have to
draw it, you just click there, and the mermaid will come out. Let me show you.”
Girl B took the mouse and moved it to click the icon for the mermaid.
I still
remember the first practicum I had been to, I was so surprises that centre
provides a computer for children to use and children were so familiar with the
computer and knowing exactly what they were doing. I was surprises because when
I was at this age, I am not even having a computer at home not mention to in
the center. Even in now generation, computers are everywhere in the world, but
in my country, it is not common having a computer for children to use in early
childhood centre.
Smorti
(1999) states that “technology is thus an important area of the early childhood
curriculum (pp 5)”, because Te Whāriki:
He Whāriki
Matauranga māngā
Mokopuna o Aotearoa also states that technology is the essential learning areas in
early childhood (Ministry of Education, 1996). Te
Whāriki:
He Whāriki
Matauranga māngā
Mokopuna o Aotearoa believe that children are part of a world
revolution which involve communication, technology, work and leisure, children need to develop confidence to being
able to continue acquiring new knowledge and skills (Ministry of Education,
1996).
In this
scenario, these girls were using computer technology to create a picture
instead of using a pencil to draw. As Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory
believe that children will construct new knowledge and concepts by engaging in
hands-on experience or “concrete” experiences (Beaver,
Brewster, Green, Neaum, Sheppard, Tallack, & Walker, 2008). Computer technology can be one of the concrete
materials for children to construct knowledge. There are still people thinks
that computer has negative impact on children’s social and emotional
development, because they believe that when children are using computer, they
are more likely getting less interaction with their friends. However, in my
personal perspective, I believe that computer can boost children’s social and
emotional development. As you can see the example that I provided above, children
were sharing the computer and having a conversation. Through sharing the
computer, it increases children’s opportunity to interact with others, such as sharing
their ideas and creations or supporting their friends and work co-operate with
their friends. As Mohammad and Mohammad (2012) identify that children build
higher levels of social interaction when they working with computer. Through
this observation, I can see that children’s physical development has been
fostered as well. As we all know that use computer require us to look at the
screen and use our hands to move the mouse in a controlled at the same time, so
does the children. All these actions can improve children’s fine motor skills
as well as eye-hand coordination (Mohammad & Mohammad 2012).
Moreover, technology is the one of the learning areas in The New
Zealand curriculum. The New Zealand curriculum states that student needs to
develop a broad of technological literacy, because it will support student participant
in society in their future (Ministry of Education, 2007). Children learning computer
technology in their early age is prepare for school life, such as learning the
different part of the computer, how the computer works and some basic computer
skills.
Reference list:
Beaver,
M., Brewster, J., Green, S., Neaum, S., Sheppard, H., Tallack, J., &
Walker, M. (2008). Child Care and
Educaiton. (Level 3). Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Nelson Thornes Ltd.
Smori, S. (1999) Technology in Early
Childhood. Early Education, 19, 5-10.
Mohammad,M., & Mohammad, H.
(2012). Computer integration into the early childhood curriculum. Education , 133 (1), 97-166.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki, He whāriki
mātauranga mo nga mokopunao Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum.
Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand curriculum. Wellington,
New Zealand: Learning Media.
Hi Jiawen, computers certainly are an important area of the early childhood education curriculum like you have mentioned. Through computers, children learn and develop a variety of skills such as language development, social development, problem solving, decision making and so on (Tsantis, Bewick & Thornton, 2003). Also stated in the reading by Tsantis, Bewick & Thornton (2003, p. 7), “Computers do not undermine children’s learning but, to the contrary, they can enhance, extend, and augment their learning experiences”. This supports the fact that computers have in reality become a learning tool for children’s learning.
ReplyDeleteHowever as you have said, some people still believe that computers have a negative impact on children’s learning. Timing is a central aspect when children are using computers (Haugland, 2000). I believe that computers have a negative impact on children’s learning if they spend hours upon hours on the computer.
I strongly agree with your last statement, that using computers in ECE is preparing children for their future. I highly believe in this because computer skills are one of the many skills that children will require for addressing real-life situations (Ministry of Education, 2007).
Hey Jiawen, I like that your centre uses computers for children’s learning. In my experience my centre also has a computer that children use. I also like the example that you have provided of how you were observing two children on the computer sharing and expressing opinions of drawing a picture on the computer instead they used the mouse to click on the pictures that would automatically show up. It is really impressive how children are able to make use of the computer functions and are well known of them. I agree that this does build and enhance children’s relationships where they are able to laugh together and build friendships (Ministry of Education, 1996). I recognize that you point out the negativity people have on children using computers, but I believe that there won’t be any negativity if it is used for the right reasons of learning. However, I support that you were still able to bring out the positive benefits of children using the computer in enhancing their social and emotional development (Ryan & Grieshaber 2004).
ReplyDeleteI like the observations you have made here on the children with computers. You have recognised the learning taking place, initiated problem solving between child A and child B where one helped the other and then compared it to your personal experiences you have had during your teaching practice. I too am aware of how much the world is changing in terms of technology and how well children are adapting to it. It’s become more there world than ours and in order for us to be apart, we need to step into there’s.
ReplyDeleteI liked your reference to Piaget’s cognitive development theory, how children construct new knowledge and concepts by engaging hands-on (Beaver. Brewster, Green, Neaum, Sheppard, Tallack, & Walker, 2008). I agree that when using and sharing a computer it creates opportunities for children to converse, compare, comprehend and learn along each other (Mohamad, & Mohamad, 2012). “Children develop the ability to represent their discoveries, using creative and expressive media and technology associated with them” (Ministry of Education, 1996).
sorry "learn alongside" each other
ReplyDeleteHi Jiawan I like the way how you reflected your life back when you had the same age as the little girl.You observed her how she used technology computer to draw instead of pencil or crayon. You have noticed children's confidence and concentrating in using any technology.Traditional activities like drawing,painting or blocks became classic because they experiences multisensory to develop and practice begginig concepts and skills(Thouvenelle & Bewick 2003). Computers do not undermine children's learning but they can enhance, extend and augument their learning experiences.I agree with what you have shared about children not using the computer especially now a day's in earlychildhood.I was one of the people that think negatively about children not to use or touch the computer. Now I can understand that still children improve their fine motor skills as well as their eye co-ordination. Children use a variety of technologies for different purposes as they explore their world(Ministry of Education,1996.p.98).
ReplyDelete