Children with mobile phone
Date 07/03/2012
This morning child P’s dad dropped
him off at the centre with his mobile. P’s dad said that to the teacher he did
not want to come to the centre, because his mother is in the hospital, she is expecting
a baby girl and nobody at home to look after him. I tried to give him my mobile
phone so he can agree to come to the centre and it works. Technology is about
helping people and solving problems (Smorti, 1999). Te
Whāriki states that growing experience in solving problems together
develops children’s understanding of how technologies can help them and others
(Ministry of Education 1996, p.96).
When he was playing outside, I asked
him that oh you got a mobile phone, why you brought it in the centre. When my
mum gave birth to my sister than she will call me and I can hear my baby sister
crying and also my dad told me that than my baby sister will buy me superman
dress. Te Whāriki
states that Children
experience an environment where their emotional well-being is nurtured they
develop an increasing ability to identify their own emotional responses and
those of others, confidence and ability to express emotional needs (Ministry of
education, 1996).
I felt so amazed about the 4 year olds child
using a mobile phone, because I was not grown up with the technology and that
time not much people were using mobiles. He was also trying to send text
massage and knows which button need to be pressed. It helps him to learn
alphabets and develop vocabulary. One good thing about technology is that,
children are natural manipulator of the world. They learn through controlling
the movement and interactions between object in their world (Kneas, 2010).
Finally, he got a call from his mum
and he did have a great conversation with her. He was very happy and excited to see his little sister and
start talking with his friends my mum told me that my little sister have
brought a superman’s dress for me. Next day he came in superman’s dress to the
centre. He was very happy and showing his dress to other children. Te whāriki states that children experience and environment where their emotional
well-being is nurtured and develop and ability to identify their own emotional
responses and those of other (Ministry of Education, 1996).
Children develop social emotional
skills trough technology beyond their
anticipated levels. Technological areas include structural,
control, food, and information and communications technology and biotechnology
(Ministry of Education, 2007).
I believe that as an early childhood
teacher, we need to be aware of experience technology environment and provide
activities, which are offers opportunity for children to increase their
understanding about the world. By using technology
in early childhood classroom can be very beneficial for all children. Using
technology in early childhood classroom can be helpful and beneficial for all
children and it is something that all early childhood teachers should consider
integrating into their classroom.
I realised that as an early childhood teacher we are decision maker in
where, what, when, whether, how and why technology is implement applying their
expertise and knowledge of child development and learning individual children.
References
Iram and
Siraj-blatchford,J. (2006). Guide to
developing the ICT curriculum for early childhood education. Great Britain:
Cromwell Press Ltd.
Images: Retieved 18/03/12 from Google image www.google.co.nz
Ministry of Education.
(1996). Te whāriki: He whāriki
mātauranga ngā mokopuna Aotearoa: Early
childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand curriculum. Wellington,
New Zealand: Learning Media.
Wardle, Francis. "The Role of Technology in
Early Childhoods Programs." N.p.,
2008. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. <http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=302>.
It was good to see that you recognised that technology is the natural exploiter of the world and also that children gain social emotional skills through technology beyond their estimated levels. It was good to see that as a teacher you agree that technology is a beneficial learning resource which every child should experience in an early childhood setting. It was nice to see that through your experience you realised that as a teacher you are the one who needs to provide children with technology equipment’s to expand their learning. Good use of reference. But I was wondering that how was the child allowed to keep his mobile phone with him? Because normally we have to put those things in their bags or baskets which they bring from home? But I feel that through this the child might have felt a sense of belonging and might have felt closer to his family through this technological device.
ReplyDeleteHi Karamjit
ReplyDeleteReflecting on our teaching, I believe is a very valuable tool and reading your reflection makes me aware of how our learning has shaped our way of seeing and understanding each child as a individual learner. It is also strange for me because we grew up without technoloy but we have to shift our mindset now and connect with the ever changing world of ICT.
I realise how technology has taken the world by storm,for me personally I do not feel children should be allowed the use of phones without an adult. However I suggest that we all look up research on "Safe use of the mobile phone by children in ECE" and the guidance we can provide as educaters.Tecnology is continuing to change the nature and shape of children's learning. It is good that you realised how the phone comforted the child.
In this instance there was a lot happening in the child's life. He was excited to hear his sisters cry and the outfit he was going to get from her. I suppose this is also one way of him bonding with his sister. Maybe for DAD it was comforting to know that his child was left feeling happy. Sometimes these sudden changes are quiet daunting to children and parents are the first teachers in their children's lives. Children have a very wide imagination, with him it was the excitement of telling his friends the story once he hears from his mum.
"Reflective practice not only makes change possible, but also provides information needed to develop guidelines for use of technology by children" as stated by (Yang, 2009, p.11).
Hi Karamjit
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog. It was interesting to know that the 4 years old child showing interest in mobile. It was great opportunity to the child to develop his communication and listening skills and explore technology. Te whāriki states that children use a variety of technology for different purposes as they explore their world (Ministry of Education, 1996).
The child seemed excited talk to new born sister. At lasts the child talk to mum and hear baby sister. He developed the sense of belonging with his family .Technology support the children to develop social and emotional skills. I believe that mobile phones are the common technology which children can excess easily. As a teacher we should provide opportunity to the children to be familiar with technology. We need to make sure this new technology is used effectively and it must be integrated with the program’s educational goals and objectives.
Karamjit, it was good to read through your reflection and see how children explore through different types of technologies. It was interesting to know that educators allow children to bring mobile phones to centres as it allows them to get connected to their loved ones. This experience provided the child to be involved in the happiness that was brought to the family even though he was not at the hospital at that time he got to celebrate the birth of his sister at the centre with pride. By using mobile phone, the child also enhanced on his communication skills. However, I was wondering did other children try bringing their mobile phones on other days? Was that child given special permission to share this experience with other children? Over all it was nice to see your journal and your role in the child’s learning. Well done Karamjit.
ReplyDelete