Final Reflection

While reading everybody’s reflections, I realised that everyone has differing viewpoints and opinions on technology.  I am in two minds about technology as I believe there does need to be a balance of technology and free exploration as stated in one of the comments from my peers.

After reading through the comments left from my group, I noticed that there were positive comments and some not so positive ones which was okay as it gives me a new way of looking at things and gives me areas that I could change and work on.  Everyone has their own opinions and I have mine so I fully understand where Morgan and Jody are coming from about the YouTube clip. I was unable to add every small detail into the description but I did allow the children to explore the poi’s first and then added the YouTube clip to enhance the children’s learning.  I appreciate where Morgan is coming from when she says to slowly scaffold by adding the music first then the video. With Jody’s feedback about videoing the children while they are dancing with the poi’s, this is a great idea and one that I had never really thought of and I will definitely be trying to incorporate this in my centre. 

Throughout my reflections the girls have given me some constructive feedback that I can use to help to further extend the children’s learning development.  Katy gave me some good feedback on the leaf painting about how I could use the leaves to do rubbings and many more ideas which I can use, especially when I work with the older children.  Natalia also pointed out that I can link into my reflection (using the camera) to an area of Te Whariki, which is Relationships.  This triggered my memory as I hadn't really thought of that when first writing the reflection and thinking about the experience. I was given a lot of feedback which I will be able to think over and use as a way of improving my teaching and more ways to scaffold this principle. Te Whariki states (1996) “adults provide “scaffolding” for the children’s endeavours – supports and connections that are removed and replaced when and where they are needed”  

After having a lot of class discussion and talking with my peers and work colleagues I now have an understanding of what technology is and how it can be used in early childhood education.  I believe that technology it is important as it is constantly evolving at a fast rate each year and that children are being brought up surrounded by technology. Isenberg & Jalongo (2010) state “Computers are a part of everyday life for children and can promote creative and imaginative experiences”(p.292) However, in saying that, I do think that they need to have a balance of being able to explore the natural environment.  I see many benefits of technology – especially the non digital experience, as this can be used to problem solve and as a tool to assist in an experience.

I will be looking at different ways I can provide more opportunities that include both non digital and digital experiences after reading the literature on technology and having done this paper.  It has opened up my mind and allowed me to look at technology in a way that isn't all just about computers and electronics. Smorti  (1999) states “technology is also a creative and purposeful activity aimed at meeting needs and opportunities through the development of products, systems or environments”

References

Isenberg, J., & Jalongo, M. (2009). Creative thinking and arts-based learning: Preschool through fourth grade (5th ed.). Columbus Ohio, United States of America: Pearson

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa : Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, 19, 5-10.