Nice to be back blogging again. After a very inspiring session with Bronwyn from Botany Downs Kindergarten, I was inspired to suggest blogging to my centre. Now that I have the knack of blogging it surely has proven to me that it can be great fun. Blogging is a form of documentation and is an up to date report of where we are at. Using blogging in early childhood can be viewed as a learning tool for both the teacher and the child, but I do agree with Bronwyn in saying that the portfolio takes precedence over blogging.
After consulting with the centre manager whether any thought was given to start a blog for the centre, I discovered that the thought process was there but never implemented. Me
ntion was made, however, that the centre does have a website. Due to the context of the centre and the socio-economic environment, the centre manager mentioned that not all the parents would be in favour of a blog site or that not many would not understand what blogging is all about. This then hampered the request for ethical permission. Another disadvantage was that not many of the families had access to the internet. Time management seemed to be a factor too - the centre is small but busy, there was not enough time to update the blog as often as it should be. This would mean that it would an added job to the busy schedule of the staff. Having mentioned these reasons for not wanting to start a blog, I do understand where the manager was coming from, but thought "What a pity". I did offer my services to start the blog under her approval and request the necessary documentation and ethical persmission, but I am only there for a short time through my sustained practicum and I do not think it will continue in the future.
Gaining new technical skill can enhance children's work on a particular project. As children become older there is a wider range of techniques they can use to express their meaning to others. It is also important to teach children the technical skills of 'getting on' with each other, such as how to handle conflicts, problem-solving and develop relationships. Teacher demonstration of these skills is an important part of how children can learn them
(MacNaughton & Williams, 2009).
Computers, digital cameras, video recorders and many other, are increasingly being used as 'demonstrators' of specific skills, especially literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrating how to use a computer can be a time-effective way to allow children to process information when processes demonstrated are well sequenced and organised (MacNaughton & Williams, 2009).
Over the past week we have been experimenting with the digital camera to begin the process of deconstruction with the children involved. The children were asked to take photographs of when they thought children were enjoying playing/working or photos of things they thought were not fair. We then used these to talk with individual children and small groups about why these photos are not far and how they would like to see things change. Photos can highlight diverse perspectives on the context life and begin to engage children with the idea of multiple perspectives.
The use of digital cameras is a great way to document children's project work and the learning they gained from it. Immediately printing printing photos taken of children's work allows teachers to discuss what has happened. Transparencies are made of digital photographs and using an overhead projector, projected to all children revisit the moment. A classroom book is made up of prints of photos that can be used to help children sequence the learning that has occurred during the project and support emergent literacy learning. Once the staff have indentified significant moments in a given project and explored ways of interpreting these, they can organise the documents for display to others via the child's portfolio. Captions are added to pictures or transcripts of children's learning via learning stories.
Reference:
MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2004). Techniques for teaching young children: Choices
in theory and practice (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, Australia: Person Education Australia.
Great idea Rosie! You provided opportunity for the children to develop their ICT skills and knowledge through photo taking and revisiting them later on. By talking through their photos, children were able to express their point of view and feeling. It helps the children to develop their expression and language skills as well as the opportunity to think about their behaviours and how that might affect others. It helps children to develop their problem solving skills and it gives them opportunity to talk about it and think deep about what is wrong and what is right. What a great opportunity for the teachers to hear their children’s voice. Great job, Rosie!
ReplyDeletehttp://ninalovesjesus.blogspot.com
It is a pity that there were so many barriers to setting up a blog site for the centre you are at, nice to see that you were understanding of their reasoning and respected their decision without forcing the idea.
ReplyDeleteRevisiting the photographs that the children took was a great idea Rosie, great for language development and social competence as well as a great opportunity to discuss the downlaoading and printing of photos today compared with the cameras we had not too long ago with films that had to be processed, maybe this is another area you could look into.
Its amazing to see what the children capture with cameras when they are given free choice in terms of what they can photograph, this leads to some interesting conversations too, sometime what the teacher thinks the photo is of couldnt be further from what the child actually took it of!
Another great post though Rosie, maybe once we have finished our bachelor of ed we could continue to stay in touch via blogs!
Carly
Hi Rosie,
ReplyDeleteAn interesting blog on the use of photography and deconstructing with the children on their thoughts about unfairness. When children look back on the photos they will be able to see diversity in the centre and teachers can use that opportunity to talk about including everyone irrespective of their skin colour and this opportunity gives children the idea about different perspectives as you said.
ka kei te,
Luana
Don’t be sad, Rosie. In spite of the fact that I felt sorry that the idea of creating a Blog for your centre cannot be implemented at this moment, this provided an opportunity for your teaching team and for you to have good communication and understanding about each others thought process and situations. However, there are multi-ways to promote our children’s technological skills and knowledge. As ECE student teachers, it is our responsibility to collaborate with our team members, create more appropriate opportunities for the children’s future learning, according to our centre’s condition and needs.
ReplyDeleteIt’s good to see the children are involved in experimenting the digital camera to take photos in your centre. When this is done, ICT does not only play a role in assisting the teachers to document and assess the children’s learning, but it also provides opportunities for the children to make decisions in documenting their own learning as well as revisiting their learning. Although I think that the project of children’s use of the digital camera would be extended if the children are encouraged to download their photos onto the centre’s computer, I also agree that it is a good idea to make a classroom book to collect the children’s photos in order to encourage them to revisit their learning.
Well done, Rosie.