Computers are valuable resource for children at all age. Society is enriched with a myriad of technological advances now; imagine the developments that will occur when children become adults. That is why we, as educators, need to explore various types of technology (Smorti, 1999).Today it was my turn to set up the deck area so I decided to put some computer keyboards on the table. I wanted to see if children are interested in technology. Children got busy with their play, when a new child slowly approached to the table and peeked at the setup. He quietly sat on the table and started to press the keys on the keyboard. The key boards were really old so it made a lot of sound when the keys were entered. Looking at him other two children followed him. The three of them were playing with the keyboards and pretending that they were working on the computer. These three children sat on that table for a very long time and talked to each other about the computers. Seng, 1998 says that children using computers for their learning develops confidence and builds their social skills amongst each other.
Child K said, my mummy use this computer at home. Child S replied, teacher J uses the computer sometimes. After hearing their conversation and watching them playing with the keyboard, I decided to extend their learning by showing them a real working laptop. I went up to them and asked some open ended questions like who do you think uses computer? They felt bit shy so they did not respond. I decided to show them how a computer works and from there they can learn how a technology called computer works (MacNaugton & Williams, 2009).
When children went inside I decided to bring the laptop and show the children how it works. I told them that this was a computer but they did not believe me and thought that I was joking. I showed them the old keyboards button, and the laptops button. I told them the difference between a laptop and a desk top computer. Some children were really interested in the laptop than the key board. Child K said, we can see in this computer. I showed them on and off buttons, alphabets and numbers on the computer. After spending a lot of time children on computer I shut down the computer and left it on the table. My main purpose was to see if anyone is interested in turning it on and exploring the laptop. Child K again opened the laptop and tried to explore the buttons on the computer. At last he managed to switch it on. As Te Whāriki says “Children use a variety of technology for different purposes as they explore their world” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.98).
From today, obviously children are developing some skills. They might have seen the computers at home or may have seen somewhere in the stores. From noticing their interests, their words and what they were doing with the computer, shows that they already have some knowledge of how a computer works. Child K managed to start the computer by observing me, as this shows that he has interest in technology. To extend his interest in technology I will show him on internet about different types of computers we have. I will ask our computer IT person to come and show different types of computers and give children ideas about computers. When child K will turn 3 he can also go to our cherry bites programme
where we have a computer expect coming in every Monday to teach basic computer skills to our 3-5 year olds. This is part of our curriculum and children benefit a lot from this programme. This will also allow child K to extend his learning in computers before he starts his school.
MacNaughton, G., & William, G. (2009). Techniques for teaching young children: Choices in theory and practice (3rd ed.). Frenches Forrest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whãriki: He whãriki mãtauranga mõ ngã mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.
Seng, S. (1998). Enhancing Learning: Computers and Early Childhood Education. Retrieved from EBSCOhost
Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Children, No. 19 Autumn 1999.
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Tumeke Pritiprat!
ReplyDeleteLee, Hatherley, and Ramsey (2002) strongly believe that “computers should be used to promote the social interactions of the wider group and to deepen the learning opportunities for children” (p. 15).This is an amazing learning and development of young children on using computer in your centre Pritiprat! Children are excited when we as educators/teachers enhance their learning through technology in our every day routine in the centre. I can see here how computers can promote social interactions in these young children while they were using it. They excited about their own individual learning even from the beginning of setting up the deck area to the old computer keyboards and to the laptop. Children were questioning you about the computer and two of them saw their mummy and their teacher was using the computer. Not only that more learning takes place in children's development when we introducing and giving them the real material to used and for them to explore for example when you show them about the laptop and for children to experience the real resource. As Smorti (1999) believes that “technology is also a creative and purposeful activity aimed at meeting needs and opportunities through the development of products, systems or environments” (p. 5). Children create a lifetime meaningful moments through their own interests and participation in technology by using computer. Lee el (2002) confirmed that “three to four year old children who use computers as part of the curriculum have significantly greater developmental increases compared with children without computer experiences in similar classrooms" (p. 15). Your centre programme on technology with young children from 3-5 years old will benefit their own learning and development by using computer as part of their everyday life.
Well done Pritiprat!