I am familiar with You tube and use it regularly, so I was confident in using it as a research tool with the tamariki. Due to this I am pleased that I was the teacher who received this response, as some of the teachers in the team are not very confident in the use of ICT, and have a strong resistance to using computers both for themselves and with the children. I agree with the statement that computers are a more effective tool when teachers are comfortable using them. It is the teachers knowledge and skill with
technology that make the difference not the actual technology itself (Tsantis, 2003).
Searching You tube with the tamariki was an exciting experience for myself and the children. The tamariki provided me with the names of their favourite singers and songs and we found lots of great videos online. We even found some videos of other children doing "Jump Jam". This is a fitness programme done to popular music that is implemented in many primary schools. Some of the children's faces were absolutely beaming when they recognised some of the movements as ones that they have seen their siblings practising at home.
This made me realise that researching a topic with the children doesn't have to be based on learning about something entirely new, in fact children's desire to learn more is sparked by researching something they already know and care about.
References:
Scholl, M. (2005). Social Studies in Action. Young children. Vol 62 (4) pp. 1-5.
Smorti, S. (1999). Technolgy in Early Childhood. Early Education, No. 19 Autumn 1999.
Tsantis, L.A, Bewick, C.J., & Thouvenelle, S. (2003). Examining some common myths about myths computer use in the Early Years. Young Children. Vol 58 (1), pp. 1-9.
Hi Carly,
ReplyDeleteIts great how the children in you centre are involved in the planning and contributing to their very own success in learning. I strongly feel that this is how we should plan so that we are providing the children with opportunities that they have interest in, for example youtube.
I can't agree more that the teacher has to be comfortable using information technology because personally ,I don't tend to teach something out of my comfort zone.In saying that,there is nothing wrong in sometimes being the learner and letting the children teach, I am sure that one child in the centre can steer me in the right path of how to youtube it!.
Another great reflection, well done, Carly! I always enjoy reading your reflections; they gave me lots of ideas and helped me to reflect on my own teaching practices. Your children are so lucky to have you as their teacher.
ReplyDeleteI like the ways you extended your children’s interest and asked them open-ended questions for them to develop their cognitive and expression skills; and to give them opportunity to solve their own problems.
Yes, I also agree with both you and Luana. We teachers need to be comfortable with the technology tools we plan to use to teach the children. We are a role model to our children. Therefore, we need to have a positive attitude towards learning.
Hi Carly
ReplyDeleteI love this reflection..."Just Youtube it!!!" What an original answer. We do really take for granted that children do not know as much as we are led to believe. I have this experience with my 4year old grandson. He has proved to me that technology has developed at such an alarming rate that it intrigues me to know just how well he can search on You Tube for songs and games, with supervision of course.
With the growth of the internet and sites such as You Tube, Kindy Rock, Kiddles, Spiffles, and many more, the ideas are endless of what we can introduce to the children and ourselves to freshen up our teaching techniques.
Great reflection, enjoyed the reading.
Cheers Rosie
Carly, it’s wonderful to see the children in your centre having confidence in deciding what they would like to learn more about. Furthermore, they are also capable in guiding the adults to use the internet to help them search something which they are interested in. In supporting the children to extend their own learning, Carly, you have done a good job, as you follow their ideas and needs, use your knowledge and skill and work with the children to support their learning.
ReplyDeleteTo further promote the children’s interests in music and dance, I agree that Youtube definitely is a good medium which provides a lot of relevant choices for them to investigate. However, as considering that the online technologies provide safe information for our young children, as ECE student teachers, we play a crucial role when we use internet to extend our children’s learning. Carly, I like the ways you took full responsibility in accompanying the children to explore the internet. You also play a crucial role in scaffolding the children to ensure the resources and information that the children would like research are appropriate for them.
Well done, Carly.