personal reflection: Malu

Reflection For  Group Blog.

It was an interesting new experience to me to access on blogs for the first time. Wang (2009) states that blogs “teach and bring newly learned knowledge back to classrooms.” When working on blogs, I was so frustrated at the first time until I have the chance to access on it, wow, it was so great.  I was impressed by the way our group worked so hard to observe, notice, recognise and identify difference influences on the impact of children’s learning through using digital and non digital technology.

 This assignment opens a door for me to have a huge understanding of technology in observing and reading my group’s blog. There are numbers of different ideas happened in different blogs. This  shows me that technology is happening all around the world and it has an influence in children’s learning. I agree with Smorti (1999) he believes that “technology is a number of activities that have an actual purpose”. I think all activities have their own purposes in life for the children, teachers and everyone  to know.

Advantages of using technology.

There are some advantages of using technology in ECE setting which includes developing social, emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual  skills of children. These skills were developed when children participate in these different activities. For physical skills children were developing their motor skills by holding brushes, they also use eye contact in  operating cameras, typing on the keyboard, weighing the measurement and so on. Communication which is the core of learning is the great concept which children and teachers share to interact and communicate well in order to use technology effectively.

 In terms of emotional skills children were developing their learning through watching the video and they  show their feelings of the things they see.  In relation to spiritual, some blogs identify the importance of books which are so relevant to children’s children. Some books including the Bible and some biblical themes, children developed their learning by reading and understanding the Bible. It seems that the holistic development of the children were developed when using these technological activities .

This is supported by Te Whariki that “cognitive, social, physical, cultural, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of human development are integrally dimensions”. This reflect the way children learn these skills in different environments.

 Reflecting back when my colleague comments and feedback on my blogs is essential to me because I have to look at what works  well in my activities, what doesn’t work well and some good ways to improve for the next time. These ways of improvement involve the looking at new ideas to implement technology in my centre or make changes to the children’s learning. These includes the respecting of children’s beliefs and values through using technology. This shows that educators are aware of these knowledge that the children get without making assumptions sometimes. According to O’Connor and Diggins (2002) he  suggests that “when you reflect on your practice you consider your values, beliefs and assumptions.”.I took this into account because I understand that I got a role to play as an educator to facilitate the leaning of children through using  technology.

It is a challenge to me because, I only understand that technology is using camera, computers, laptops, and all electronic devices never knowing  that technology includes painting, reading books and some other non digital technology. Therefore I made assumptions.  This new experience was so unique because I respected children’s own values and beliefs when they do technological activities.

Significances of using  technology

The significant of technology in ECE setting is developing the foundation which the young children tried to grasp the new knowledge and make them sink into their minds, soul and spirit. This is also extending their learning, enhance communication, save time of the primary school teachers by teaching them again of technology, but also building their confidences and promoting cognitive  thinking. This is confirms by the New Zealand Curriculum by saying that “technology as a resource that expands human possibilities “(Ministry of Education, 2007).

References

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, Autumn) Technology in early childhood. Early Education, 19.

Wang, H. (2008). Exploring the educational use of blogs in U.S. education. US –China

Education Review, 5 (10), 34-37.