Laptop FUN
At our centre we are lucky enough to have been given a laptop for each staff member this has been a great experience as before we only had one laptop (For the head teacher ) and one main computer. This became very frustrating as a lot of the time the main computer was being used by our admin staff and our head teacher was usually using her so documentation became very difficult and by the time we did get a chance to get on the computer we teacher had either forgot the learning experience or had accumulated so much learning stories that we rushed through them and the end product was not as great.
Smorti (1999) explains technology as something that make life easier and in this regard our laptops have greatly made our lives at the centre easier. Now during our non contact time we are able to get the learning stories and documentation down easier with no rush because we no longer have to wait for computer time.
Another great aspect that I did not realise about the laptops is that we can use them with the children. I would never have thought this before because I always thought that laptops were too expensive and there was no way I would allow the children to use it the other teachers in my centre also had the same feeling. However we have a new head teacher who is changing our perspective she often uses her laptop with the children she notices what the children are interested in and looks up videos on you tube to help extend that interest. For example a few of our boys in the centre have developed a big interest in dinosaurs so daily she asked them open ended questions about dinosaurs and then uses the laptop to extend their answers.
Thanks to this teacher lead all us teacher in the centre now feel very comfortable letting the children use the laptops. We talked to them about if proper use of the laptop for example making sure it stays on the table and the children know they must not walk around with it. Williams and McNaughton (2009) stress that technology is very much a part of the children lives and I now realise that by making assumptions that the children may break the laptop therefore it’s out of the question to let them use it id hindering the children learning. The children have taking responsibility with the laptops and constantly recite the rules to new children who are using the laptops. I have also been amazed and how well the children know how to use the laptop they need little or no assistance from us teacher anymore to use the laptop as they have learnt to solve problems for themselves. The children now have a great understand of how the laptops work and in turn have started to develop the knowledge of how technology can help them (Ministry of Education 1996) as they are constantly searching for answers to question they may have and us teachers encourage this rather than just giving them a answer. However there is always a teacher nearby watching for safety to make sure the child does not go into something inappropriate however this hardly happens and when it does it is dealt with in a quick but calm manner so that it doesn’t defer that children from wanting to use the computer.
This experience has really made me rethink how I view children I have always thought that I viewed them as capable individual however I now realise that I tend to think otherwise in some cases. However I feel this experience has helped me to push thought my perception that children should not have laptop because they are too expensive and I am glad I have because the positives of the laptop use with children far outweighs the negatives.
Kia ora Glenis(:
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this read. I am not a computer person. But I am so amazed at how much easier my life is with a computer. I have only just brought my computer abut a year and a half ago and it has saved me time and money in getting things done. I really freak out at how fast our children pickup on how to use this piece of technology and I have come to a realisation that we are now living in a technology era.
Reading this piece, has really challenged my views as well. I had thought that I had always viewed children as competent and capable but if it came to a laptop I would not let the children touch it. I feel that they might break this expensive piece of equipment or somehow make the laptop catch a virus. But these ideas of mine come from my own negligence and I understand I need to upskill myself and learn more about this technology.
I really don't have any other suggetions for you because I have been challenged by what you have written about seeing children as competent and capable. I now understand that this generation growing up is a technological one and that I also need to give them the opportunity to explore and learn about technology as well.
Hi Glenis,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a common confrontation for reflective teachers: when we realise that ‘we see children as capable’ just to find ourselves acting contrary to that. I believe we are fortunate to have those experiences and reflect on them as we have the chance to find gaps within our practice and work on them. (O’Connor & Diggins). I feel that a lot my doubts about children using digital devices come from my own personal perceptions of it.
Because I find many aspects of computer and technology too difficult, I just assumed they would too. However, children are using more and more computers at school nowadays. This is the new educational context. We need to ensure that children are developing the skills needed for school years and the NZ Curriculum expects that learning stages will be connected to each other through experiences as well as skills.
I know that with technology is always a work in progress and still something new for most teachers and centres. As long as we are committed to being reflective, we will find strategies to keep providing meaningful and relevant experiences.
Hey Glenis
ReplyDeleteWow. I never really thought about it before, but I wouldn’t allow children to play with my laptop and that says a lot about how capable I really think they are. I know children can use ipads and cell phones correctly nowadays in my head, but my subconscious hasn’t quite caught up yet. I think as early childhood educators we can sometimes fall into the routine of the centre and that can stop us from being open to new ideas or concepts. In your case you had a head teacher who helped adjust your perceptions; hopefully now that I am aware of mine I can adjust them myself. In response to your technology (at last!), I think allowing children access to the laptops is cool. The use of what they are learning will come in handy as soon as they go to primary school where computers are a common resource. I think soon school readiness will include computer use as well as maths and literacy.