Computers With Children

                  Computers

What is a computer, a computer is a programmable machine. The two principal characteristics of a computer are:

It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.

It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions (a program).

At the moment we have had a computer in our room that has been available for the children to use as they wish. Since the weather has been bad we have been using the computer for watching movies such a Dora and Thomas the tank engine, we have found that the children have gained a big interest in the computer and being able to watch movies on it. At first we started by doing all the work, we would turn the computer on get the DVD out and then put it in the computer and set it up. Since the children took this strong interest we have started to teach the children what to do to set it up, they are doing so well and are now able to do the whole thing. Te Whāriki states that children learn “the ability to represent their discoveries, using creative and expressive media and the technology associated with them”. (MOE, 1991. p88.). This I feel relates to the children being able to use the technology available to them to show the people around them of their knowledge.

I feel that it is important that we are able to provide children with the experiences to develop their skills when it comes to learning about technology. Children already have a good understanding of technology, but for us to be able to give these children more of an opportunity to learn these skills. Allowing the children to use the computer for multiple things such as looking at photos of themselves or playing educational games or just watching a movie every now and again gives the children the chance to understand what a computer is really capable of and what it can do. This refers back to the definition I have put at the top. I believe that it is also a good chance to talk to the children about being safe on the computer, and this could also involve teaching the children about passwords, which we don’t have on our computers. The New Zealand curriculum (2007) says that having this protocol in place helps children to understand how important their personal password is and how it can affect them and their peers and also their teachers and center.

“The use of technology in early childhood settings enables teachers to easily tailor the curriculum to meet individual child needs” (Clements & Sarama, 2002; Elliott, 2003). Technology can be a good way to help teachers to customize a curriculum or programme to suit each and every child’s learning needs.

Some of the children would always be there ready to help me, and would like to be the teacher and tell their friends what to do. Some of the things I hear the children saying are: “I do it”, “No Staci do it this time”, “It’s my turn, you sit down”, “Open here ae?”, “I want Dora on”.

When the children look at photos of themselves what I hear being said most was “Look it’s............” they just love seeing photos of themselves whether it be on the camera or be computer. 

Technology is never static. It is influenced by and in turn impacts on the cultural, ethical, environmental, political, and economic conditions of the day (New Zealand curriculum).

Reference 

http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/crave/desktop-computer.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3244/3006598291_6f69222c5a_o.jpg

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa : Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

Ministry of Education. (2004). Kei tua o te pae assessment for learning: Early childhood exemplars. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

A. Ap, & Talay-Ongan. (2005). Child development and teaching young children. Australia: Cengage Learning.