As discussed in the other blogs, technology
has played a big role in children's learning and development. Technology is
used for a range of purposes. Based on children’s learning, I have noticed their
interests of music and the range of instruments. I have noticed that the
children are really familiar with the routines in the centre. The use of the
bell is to signify ‘Clean up time’ and ‘lunch time’. To respond to this
interest, I set up some bells outside for the children to play with. Each bell made a different sound. “Does this bell sound the same as this one?”
“No” some of the children said. All you could hear was ‘Ding, ding, ding, its
lunch time!’ Children initiated those links to the use of the bell in the
centre and what it is used for. Children supported each other in listening and
identifying if the sound of the bells made the same or different sound. There was no initial technology used but I responded
more by making our own bells.
Here
I used a variety of things to make our bells with. I set out paint and glitter
and children chose what colours they wanted and designed it however they
wanted. When the bells were dry, I introduced
the laminator to them. the laminator is used to preserve an item so it
initially does not get damaged. We usually use the laminator ourselves, but
doing it with the children exposes them to new material. Children gain new
knowledge to form ideas of how it gets from paper to laminate.
I
explained to them that the laminator was for our bells and it was so their
bells did not rip. It went through one way and came out the other end. After that,
the children used the hole puncher to put their bells through. Using the glue
gun, they were able to glue the strings together. Glue gun is really cool to
use instead of normal glue but with supervision, as it is hot.
Through
this activity, children learnt to use a variety of technology that were used
for different purposes. I feel I provided an activity where children experienced
“an environment where they learn strategies, for active exploration, thinking
and reasoning.” (Te Whāriki, 1996, p. 88).
The
significance of having a variety of resources offers opportunity for children
to discuss, explore, and make sense of their world around them. By offering materials
for children to discover, children become curious explorers and this is
important for their learning and development of experiencing an environment
where they are affirmed as individuals. Understanding the material properties
and its usage is essential to understanding how and why things work the way
they do. (New Zealand curriculum, 2007, p. 34).
Children are making those distinct connections and links with the wider community
and the material world through the usage of technology.
Hi Kristina :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good reflection written about a piece of non-digital technology which is the bell.
Interesting to read that for the children, the significance of the bell was only to mark a change in their daily routines but you have shown them that it can be used as a musical tool which can deliver different intensities of sound.
I like that you have taken an interest of the children and combined it with the routines of your setting and planned a fun activity to do with the children. You have talked about the many other types of technology that the children had access to at the time of this activity and I was wondering were you provided with any assistance while in the laminating and gluing process as both pieces of equipment can get quite hot and can be hard working with them around a large group of children? Or were both pieces placed away from the reach of children?
Hi Kristina
ReplyDeleteI like your reflection and how you had extended the children’s interest of music to making a non-digital technology which is the bell. I like how you had got your idea from noticing the children being familiar with the routines. In my centre we also use the bell for pack up time and lunch time, which is way better than teachers yelling out tidy up and lunch time.
In your reflection you had bought the laminator out for the children to use to laminate their bells. I just wanted to know if the children were supervised while doing this as the laminator can get extremely hot?
In this experience I like how the children were being exposed to digital and non-digital technology, where with making their bells they used paper, paint and glitter and the laminator to laminate it. I just wanted to know if this experience was recorded and documented in the centre?
Good Work
Hello MzTina :)
ReplyDeleteI like this reflection as you combined the use of non digital and digital technology to enhance children's learning. I like how you used such a variety of resources and also explained to the children what the purpose of the technology was for, for example the laminator prevented the bells from ripping. At my centre, we also use the bell to mark the change of routine and the children always love to be the one to ring the bell, and you recognised this interest and followed it though for them. I like how you allowed the children to use the laminator, as we do not, and wonder how you monitor this to kept the children safe? It was interesting that you asked the children questions during the bell experience, MacNaughton and Williams (2009) suggest the use of open ended questions to spark children's thinking and encourage investigation. what open ended questions could you use in this experience in the future?
Hi Tina
ReplyDeleteI really like how you have used a Varity of non digital technology. technology is determined as anything man made. I like how in all of you reflection it is about the children and how you follow their interests. We can see you have used a variety of no digital technology to create and form your bells then you have laminated them. I don't know if your centre allows it but getting the children to help you use the laminator would be a great way of showing and including them in the process. I like how you do lots of hand on work with the children getting them to think about what they are doing and using different teaching strategies(McNaughton & Williams, 2009) to enhance children learning.
thanks Tina