If you have been reading all my blogs, or even just looking at the pictures or comments, you will have read Blog 1, where the children where using 'The Machine' to laminate their pictures. I had my camera with me and was taking photos of what was happening. L asked me if he could take photos of B. L has used my personal camera before and new what to do so away he went, clicking away and telling B to, "look at me B, [I'n] taking your photo!" B said, "I can't I'm doing the machine, just take it!" L wasn't worried that B wouldn't look and took pictures anyway. L would take a few and then pushed the buttons to look back and see what pics he had taken. When B finished his turn of laminating he turned and said to L, "I've finished take a picture now L." L went over and set the camera up again, he told B to hold his picture up so he could take the photo. Both boys went and looked through all the pictures that L had taken then they took turns taking photos of each other. The photos that the boys took that morning were all printed out and put into learning stories. They were very proud of the pictures that they took and now we have a kids camera for our room and the children get to take turns using the camera and taking pictures of the things that interest them.
I believe that this is only the beginning of the technology journey for these two boys and as a Teacher I have now the responsibility to extend their learning and provide meaningful experiences and make memories for them. Whether this is by making a photo album with them or having their own gallery in the classroom, it will be up to the boys to decide what they would like to do. I will give them ideas and assist them when needed. By doing this and allowing the boys to chose their own direction, I am providing and environment where there is “an expectation that they take responsibility for their own learning” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.84). Camera's are apart of everyday life in a preschool as pictures validate the child's learning in the learning story's that we do. The pictures also help a child to recall that experience as their literacy skills are not yet sufficiently developed in coping with reading the story independently. MacNaughton & Williams (2004) agrees that, “The ability to recall something relies on our ability to bring things back into our memory that we have known or experienced in the past” (p.173). Photos are a great way of recall for children. A camera can invite new ways of expressing ideas and promote creative thought that is appropriate for all children (Isenberg & Jalongo, 2001). Technology plays a very big part in children's learning and as they acquire new technology and social science knowledge and skills they are developing their own perspectives as well as the capacity to continue learning in these areas.
Hey Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the fact that digital cameras is a part of our children's everyday experiences. They see us teachers use it all the time.
At my centre, we encourage our children to use our cameras to take pictures/photographs of things that interests them.
Sometimes I get the children to take pictures and I print them out and share it with them at mat times. The children can share the photos that they have taken by talking about what they see in the photos. We also continue to use these photos to recapture our children's memories of past events. Sometimes when we go through the photos the second time, our children often tell a complete different story from that they have shared when we first printed the photos and sometimes they tell similar stories.
"Children develop the confidence to choose and experiment with materials, to play around with ideas, and to explore actively with all the senses." (MoE, 1996.)
Yes, Deb, nowadays we rely on ICT and technology for supporting children's learning. It has been an useful learning and teaching tool indeed.
ReplyDeleteDoes your centre have enough ICT and technology resources for teachers and children?