Because of the wall I have built around my technology lens, I thought we do not do much in our centre. We have to bring the laptop out to use with the children it is not just available to them freely throughout the day and other activities have to be set up, but what is on offer for the children all the time. After listening to our class discussions and beginning to look at what we do in our centre from a technology point of view I can see that we are surrounded by it every day every moment. Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, (2008) also agrees in saying that children experience a range of technologies as part of their everyday life. The children are welcome to use the camera when they wish to take a photo, we have torches on offer, baking, making play dough the list go on, our centre is full of technology it is just realising what technology is.
In my centre we have got a light table which is available all the time. It is never put away but is dressed with different provocations to encourage the children’s interests or spark something new for them. This creates curiosity and exploration for the children in many different ways. As I observe the different age children I can see that the older children enjoy using the table to look and discover how different a piece of art work may look, or what their bones look like through our x-ray pictures. This then creates more opportunities for their learning as they extend on what they can see with new questions arising.
The younger toddlers who I work with enjoy just sitting at the table touching the top which is lit up. I have offered and encouraged them to look at certain items on the light table but they have not shown much interest. Before I had just put that down to how young they are and that they have not got the understanding of the correct use yet. Then I thought well what is the light table’s correct use, for my toddlers sitting looking and touching the light is the right way for it to be used for them at this point in their life. Children see things differently from adults so using technology for different purposes opens up opportunities for them to explore their world (Ministry of Education, 1996). Through touching the light table and putting their face to it they are using a different sense which is how we begin to understand how things work when we are so young. They are expressing the confidence they have as they experiment, play and actively explore using their senses (Ministry of Education, 1996). Letting the children use the table how they wish shows they are competent users of technology, active in their own learning and are aware of the world beyond family (Arthur et al, 2008).
After now beginning to understand myself what technology really is and the learning that we gain through using it I am now beginning to see what each child experiences. Just because it looked like my toddlers were not doing anything I now realise just how much they were learning through using the senses with technology. Gonzalez- Mena, (2008) says that although sensory play may look only to be at a physical level we never really know the thoughts that are going on in the child’s imagination. This made me realise that for them just seeing something bright and touching something warm is how they are discovering and beginning to explore basic technology and are beginning to understand how it works. 
References
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (2008). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4th ed.). Victoria: Thomson.
Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2008). Foundation of early childhood education: Teaching children in a diversity society (4th ed.). Boston, United States of America: McGraw Hall.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki, he whaariki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Āotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.
Hi Clare!!
ReplyDeleteWell done on your blog and on conquering technology!! YOU DID IT WOO!!
Your blog has provided me with and in depth knowledge of the technology of the light table. I have not had any previous experience with a light table; however after reading your blog I would love to be able to use one with the children. I strongly agree with you that in order to foster and encourage technology with the children we work with; we need to understand what technology s ourselves. From class discussions and reading your blog we can see that our centres are full of technology.
I feel the support and encouragement you have provided the children (around the light table) even though showed little interest, has still fostered their exploration in the light table and they know you are there to help them. What other materials/techniques do you think us as teachers could potentially bring to the light table that would hopefully encourage learning?
Your observations of the children engaging with the light table have provided an insight into how they view the light table and you have viewed the toddlers using it in a way that is expressive for them. Maybe older children will use it in a different way.
I personally feel your blog has allowed me (and others) to experience a new piece of technology and see the benefits it can have for children!! Well done Clare! I certainly want to use a light table
Clare, I enjoyed your blog and found your comments about the children’s curiosity refreshing. It reminded me of a quote I read about curiosity, “Curiosity is a gift children come with. It’s as if they know that they have trillions of brain cells to be wired up, and the best way to do that is to find things to do”( Brownlee, 1983, p14). By reflecting on your infants curiously, it shows that you are a proactive teacher, who analyses situations and has the children’s interests at heart. Never lose this ability Clare because this is what makes a great teacher.
ReplyDeleteBrownlee, P. (1983). Magic Places, the adults’ guide to young children’s creative art work; Christchurch, New Zealand: New Zealand Playcentre Federation
Are you beginning to feel more comfortable about the word technology? As we reflect and learn more about what technology is all about, I hope it does not continue to make you feel stressed. Like you, I also did not realise how much technology we use in our centres.
ReplyDeleteLight tables are such a great piece of technology for young children. They inspire curiosity and make children question the world, exploring further to make discoveries and understandings. I liked your reflection of what the correct use is for a light table and how it changes at different ages and levels. Without reflection I think we do not always realise how much children are learning- as you sated.
Well done Clare..you are mastering TECHNOLOGY and yes we are surrounded by technology in many different forms and like you I focused on the digital devices and forgot to appreciate the types of technology that has been around for years even centuries ,like the wheel.I too love the light table but our centre doesn't have one and I know that the children at my centre would love to interact with one. The first time I saw al light table was in our first year of study while volunteering at a previous centre and the amount of time the children spent at that table was amazing. I am going to ask my centre manager if we could possibly get a light table!
ReplyDeleteHi Clare
ReplyDeleteHurray! I learnt something new today. If someone had previously asked me what a light table was? I would say: “No idea”. After reading your blog I now know there is something called “light table”. Thank you.
Clare, I concur with your statement that in order to understand how children learn with technology, we must first learn about technology ourselves. Only then we will be able to foster this in children.
I believe one of the attributes an educator should posses is the ability to observe children, understand what they are doing and how to extend their learning by creating opportunities and the environment. Your observation of the toddlers feeling the warmth of the light is an excellent observation. They were exploring using their senses and in doing so were exploring technology and trying to make sense of it. It is true different aged children may explore it differently but they are definitely exploring.
Just a question, toddlers were exploring the light table using their sense but in addition to that, how can we get them to explore the light table differently?