18/04/11
This morning a group of children asked me if we could go on a photo hunt around the centre where they could take photo’s of things they liked or liked to play with. I orgiasied with other teacher to be in my area for the morning and she agreed. I took these group of children for a walk around first so they could see all the things that could possibly take photo of. When we had walked around the centre I gave the camera to E and she went and took a photo of a tree down by the playground. I asked E “why did you take a photo of the tree” and she said “cause it’s pretty, and it’s green, my favourite”, I asked E if she wanted to take another photo and she said “no thank you” and handed the camera to Na. Na walked down to the playground and took a photo of the playhouse, I asked Na “why did you take a photo of the playhouse” and she said “I like to play in it with my friends and I like to climb on it”, I asked Na if she wanted to take a photo and she said “no thank you” and handed the camera to N. N took the camera and took a photo of a handprint in concrete in our garden, I asked N “why did you take a photo of that” and he “it’s cool”, N then ran down to the sandpit and took a picture of the sand, bucket and spade, N said “I like to dig in the sand”. N then ran to the deck and took a photo of some crayons and Lego blocks. N told me that he liked to draw and build towers and cars with the Lego. As N was walking on the deck he took a photo of the junior room and said “that’s my room”, N walked into the room and took a picture of the puzzle shelf and of me and said “you my teacher and I like puzzles”. N then handed the camera to C walked around the junior room and took a photo of some children waking up and said “hello Y and D, have a good sleep”, C then walked over to the family corner and took a photo of the stuff toy lion and computer, C said “I like to write my name on the computer and I like the lion”, C then took a photo of me an said “I took a photo of you”. C then walked over to the stack of beds and took a photo, I asked C “why did you take a photo of that” and he said “cause I like blue and cause I don’t have to sleep anymore”. When C had finished he handed the camera to Se. Se took a picture of the plant that was on the table and said “we have one of these at home”, Se then walked out the room and walked up to the sandpit and took a picture of the sand, buckets and spades and said “I like to make sand castles” he then saw his friend Z swinging on the tyre swing and took two photo’s of Z and said “he’s my friend”. Se then handed the camera to S who took a photo of her basket and of the stones, I asked S “why did you take a photo of those things” and she said “cause I like the stones and I playing with my basket”.
I loved the way all these children shared the camera around with one another and took photo’s of things that were special to them around the centre.
E's Photo
Na's Photo
N's Photo's
C's Photo's
Se's Photo's
S's Photo's
These children have developed the confidence to express their ideas and creativity through the new technology and to assist others with this technology. These children are capable of acquiring new skills and become familiar with the technology, which will become a tool for them to understand their abilities as competent learners. According to Piaget’s cognitive development theory is states that “children actively construct knowledge as they explore and manipulate their world” (Berk, 2007, p. 19) through hands on exploring and through trying children lean and develop.
According to the Ministry of Education children should have the “opportunity to experience and enhance their learning opportunities through the meaningful use of ICT, which will enable them to enhance their relationships and broaden their horizons by exploring the wider world” (Ministry of Education, 2009, p.2). This was evident in this experience as the children now know how to use the camera to take photos of their favourite things around the centre.
Te Whariki highlights that “children develop the ability to represent their discoveries using creative and expressive media and the technology associated with them” (Ministry of Education, 1996. p. 88). The children each used the digital camera to take photo’s of things around the centre that they liked or liked to play with. According to Smorti (1999) "technology is a creative and purposeful activity aimed at meeting the needs of opportunities through the development of products systems and environments (p.5)".
Reference List
Berk, L. (2007). Development through the Lifespan: 4th Edition. U.S: Pearson Education, Inc.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whariki: He wariki matauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa/ Early childhood curriculum. Wellington New Zealand
Ministry of Education. (1999). Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Te Hangarau Parongo me te Whakawhitiwhiti: Kei Tua o Te Pae: Assessment for Learning: Early Childhood Exemplars. Wellington , New Zealand
Smorti, S. (1999). Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No.19 Autumn 1999, 5-10.
I enjoyed reading your blog Amy. It was wonderful how you followed on the children's interest in taking them on a photo hunt around the centre. Furthermore, you created a social atmosphere when you asked the children on the reasons for their taking individual photos. This allows children to have a sense of belonging and realise that you, as an educator, are valuing their interest (Ministry of Education, 1996). I also agree with you that children can use ICT to further their interests and enhance their social skills. This was seen in your example when the children passed on the camera to their peers. They wanted to share the experience with their friends. Moreover, your photos show that the children take pictures of things that are meaningful to them. Sometimes, we as educators miss out on things that are of interest to children at the centre because these seem insignificant to us. For example, S likes stones hence, he/she took the photo of them. Without the photo, you or any teacher may not have known about this interest. Hence, to extend S's interest, educators could use the internet or provide books on different types of stones and rocks that can be found in the world. In addition, you could also provide pebble shavings for S to use in an artwork. Hence, educators should provide children with cameras to allow children to take photos of things that are of fascination or meaning to them. This is reiterated by Rosen and Jaruszewicz (2009) who state that technology should be used to enhance a child's learning.
ReplyDeleteReferences
Ministry of Education.(1996). Te whāriki: he whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o
Aotearoa. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Rosen, D., & Jaruszewicz, C. (2009). Developmentally Appropriate Technology Use and Early Childhood Teacher Education. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 30(2), 162-171. Retrieved from EBSCOhost
Hi Amy,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog and thought it was great how you followed the children's interest. This activity allowed the children to engage in a meaningful expereince whereby they had the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills related to technology.
By you providing the use of the camera the children were able to take photos of things that are of importance to them.
A possible way to extend the children's interest could be to use the computer to print off a copy of the photos which they could then take home or put into their centre portfolio.
Photography is so much fun especially when children see the outcome on a digital camera and photographs. It sounds like N enjoys taking photo's and its great that everyone shared. you should keep lots of photo's for the winter when its to wet to go out side and revisit them, thats what we do. Yes, your right about the children climbing on the play house as our children also like to climb on to the play house. I really like your photo's Amy they really show what your talking about and its plain to see you observe and listen to the children with respect. Good work Amy,well done! :)
ReplyDeleteKia Ora Amy,
ReplyDeleteChildren enjoy photography it is giving them the freedom to explore, take photos that is meaningful for them, I noticed that most of the children took photos of the environments that they are familiar with. So when we talk about a sense of belonging, obviously the children feel that they belong, they know their Kaiako and friends.
That is the advantage of technology where children have access to technology and that they learn about how to use it, the process of it and their voices about their photos is meaningful.
Ka pai to mahi Amy