Curiosity towards Vacuum Cleaner
During my class discussions I learnt that technology is about electronic and digital equipment, but I learnt many other ways of teaching children. There are other means and techniques which people are not conscious about. For example: pencils, paint, crayons, pens, scissors, erasers, and clay are a form of technology. Technology has taken an imperative role to change today’s life style. As an early childhood teacher I need to make sure children have the ability to tune into today’s modern age.
I believe technology is everywhere and it plays a vital role in children’s lives. When I was doing the vacuuming, I was so amazed that E (18 months) was so curious to know about the vacuum cleaner. She was asking me so many questions such as “How the noise is coming out, how things are going into the machine”. After explaining to her, E rushed out and called her friends to see the vacuum cleaner and she said “Look, how it is taking the things up from the floor”. They also discovered how the vacuum cleaner works by taking in everything such as jelly beans, small pieces of paper and waste materials. I loved how the children wanted to get involved and their interest in what was happening around them.
E was encouraged to play an active role in showing other children about vacuuming technology under supervision. I enhanced the children’s learning and development by using technology about adopting hygienic lifestyles (by keeping the floor clean), and at the same time developing skills for their future. I introduced a better understanding of how technology works and how we appreciate the people who created this technology. This helps them to understand how technology has made everyone’s lives better. I recommend children should explore new technologies under supervision to avoid risks.
Through this, the children developed an understanding of how technology has a real and direct impact upon everyday life. For example, vacuuming technology makes life faster and easier for everyone. As a result this technology taught children to explore and discover concepts in using different small household appliances. Furthermore, Smorti (1999), states that “Technology is about helping people and solving problems" (p.5). Te whāriki states that children experience an environment where they have: “confidence in using a variety of strategies for exploring and making sense of the world, such as in solving problems, looking for patterns, classifying things for a purpose, guessing, making comparisons, asking questions, explaining to others and listening to others” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.69).
I feel very excited about their learning as they have lots of opportunities to discover and learn about technology and its uses. As well as using toy cars, bikes and other toys in their daily activities, I create an interest in them by using equipment like ironing of crayon pictures. I feel that magic can be created if I could reduce the barrier between home and centre life. I need to extend my learning in relation to technology so I can share it with the children, to facilitate good project work (Clark, 2007).
As I had thoroughly enjoyed exploring the workings of the vacuum cleaner, I would definitely do many more like these as it brings so many important areas of the curriculum together; also this was a very fun activity for the children to experience and be included in the whole process. I will enlarge the children’s further knowledge on technology by providing them with a variety of other items to explore such as the telephone, computer, camera, microwave and dishwasher. Technology has also provided us with a way of learning about it, rather than just accepting it as a part of the background.
References:
Clark, A. (2007). Changing classroom practice to include the project approach. ERCP, 8 (2), 1-10.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa .Wellington: Learning Media.
Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No.19 Autumn 1999.
Kia ora Jawa,
ReplyDeleteFeedback on the Reflection 1
Vacuum cleaner
It is good to hear that you have learnt a lot about electronic and digital technology. I agree with you that technology is everywhere and it plays an important role in everyone’s life. It is quite interesting to read that E who is only 18 months old was so much interested in vacuum cleaner. I realised that she was talking and asking so many questions to know more about the vacuum cleaner. Technology is a very powerful tool and children get attracted to it very quickly. Not only this, they develop so many other things like social skills, language, fine motor skills, and listening skills. It was good to read that you incorporate the hygienic awareness among the children. Daily experiences mainly in technology, I think should be incorporated in early childhood centre to foster children’s learning. Children using many materials for different purposes enable them to recognise that different technologies may be used in various places and settings (Ministry of Education, 2005).
Hi Jawa
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you have value the use of technology in the centre as a learning tool for all children. I believe children should have been given the opportunity to explore the vacuum cleaner as it is a common technology and is part of their lives. I was so surprised to see the way 18 month old showing her interest in vacuum cleaner. I think this experience also helped children extend on their language which is brilliant. Also I love the fact that you not only linked technology and its use to home but to also compared it to a non-electric technology, this I believe will help children remember the function of the vacuum cleaner for the rest of their life. I really admire the fact that you explored the vacuum.
Ka pai!!
Curiosity towards the Vacuum cleaner
ReplyDeleteHi Jawa didi
I am very surprised at how interested E was in the vacuum cleaner especially her language development to be able to discuss as length about it. I loved how you extended upon the teachable moment so well. I really admired the way in which you let E take the lead and show others how the vacuum cleaner worked. I feel that by allowing children the opportunity to explore the vacuum cleaner you very successfully make links between the home and the centre. I also felt that you actually enabled the children to make the connection between the purpose of the vacuum cleaner and how it benefits us while keeping safety a priority. Have you considered showing children where all the rubbish that is sucked up by the vacuum actually goes? Or maybe even explore more about how the vacuum itself needed to be cleaned or maintained. I feel such opportunities will encourage children not only learn about technology but also about respecting and looking after it. This will encourage children to take responsibility of taking care of all the technological resources available to them. Tino Pai Didi
Yes I am amazed that E (18 months) was so curious to know about the vacuum cleaner as well. I like the way that you extended upon the teachable moment for E. Especially you discussed about length with her. It absolutely supported E’s her language development. Well done, Jawa! I noticed that you also supported E as she constructed her own knowledge through her curiosity of the vacuum machine to enhance meaningful learning. It was truly make sense. As educators we should be constantly aware of the ethical surrounding the use of technology in the centre and constantly look for teachable moments in spontaneous active interaction (Dunkin & Hanna, 2001; Ministry of Education, 1996), and help children construct related knowledge. I'm pretty sure E has gotten the depth understanding about vacuum machine now. Good on you, Jawa.
ReplyDeleteDunkin, D.,& Hanna P. (2001). Thinking together: Quality adult child interactions. Wellington, New Zealand: NZCER.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.