Technology: A Blogging Journey
On reflection, the learning that has evolved in People, Places, Things and Events has been an amazing journey. My eyes have been opened in how I now view technology; I look about me with a different perspective and can only feel that I have grown so much in the learning throughout this paper. My blogging journey began with difficulty and while everyone else seemed to make great progress this was not to be the case for me! However through the guidance and support of my fellow class friends I was able to get started! This highlights that technology has its challenges with results sometimes out of our control. Smorti (1999) suggests that as educators we need to broaden our understanding of technology and continue to extend our knowledge and skill base.
I have really enjoyed the learning process and feel proud when I see the end product, there have been highlights and many challenges but I believe this is how we all grow and learn. I like the way that technology has been a sharing process with everyone very willing to pass on their knowledge whether it has been through blogs or in class where we have been able to share and problem solves with each other. It is important that we can embrace different ideas and adapt to change; through being able to share with each other we are promoting environments that reflect strong team awareness (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, 2008
There is no doubt that our lives evolve around technology in today’s world. I think that because we rely so heavily on technology that we also take it for granted. Where would we be without our mobile phones, our laptops and automated banking systems? The down side is what happens when these systems crash and fail us. Should we teach our children skills that will enable them to cope when technology fails and are we slowly putting our children at a disadvantage with their total reliance on tools of technology? An example of this is that often children today do not have the skills to entertain themselves; they need to be entertained with television, play stations, iPods and computer games.
I have valued the comments I have received in my blogs and liked Rachel and Lisa’s suggestions on how my sewing experiences could be extended with the children, this supports an environment that allows changing experiences for children with a range of technologies that support our everyday lives (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, 2008). Nikola commented on my use of ICT with children to empower them to make their own decisions. The children really enjoyed being able to follow through with a process with the final product being their very own learning story. Berson and Berson ( 2010, p.75 ) suggest that the production of learning stories using ICTs has value in allowing children to reflect on their learning of which they are able to share with their peer, teachers and family.
We now live in a technological world with so many exciting opportunities and possibilities. I think as educators we have such an important role in being able to introduce children to a wide variety of technology (Siraj-Blatchford & Whitehead, 2003) I think it is important that we provide children with experiences that have the ability to enhance their growth and development. With the technology experiences that I have used in my blogs I have tried to use a range of technology because I believe that first hand experiences are important.
In conclusion, there have definitely being challenges in learning to blog but the benefits far out way the disadvantages. I have grown in my knowledge of technology through this course and value my growth in learning. There is no doubt that as early childhood educators we have a responsibility to our children and each other to keep up to date with technology so that we provide environments that support and foster children’s learning and development in technological ability, thinking and creativity.
Arthur,L.,& Beecher,B.,&Death,E.,&Docket,S.,&Farmer,S.(2008).Progamming
&Planning:In Early Childhood Settings. (4th ed.).Victoria,Australia: Thompson.
Berson.I., & Berson,M. (2010). High Tech Tots. Childhood in a Digital World. America: Information Age Publishing.
Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No. 19 Autumn 1999.
Links to Comments
Well done Julie - you did it! It is wonderful to see that you have persevered with difficulty and despite some initial challenges you mastered using a new technology. In relation to the questions you raise about our increasing reliance on technology and whether or not children should be taught problem solving skills for when systems crash - I think you are talking about two different issues here. We definitely need to develop our own and children's problem solving skills when it comes using technology. Regarding the issue of whether or not we are over relying on technology, in the last session we spoke about there always being social consequences. The question the facilitators from NetSafe asked about whether or not the benefits outweigh the risks is definitely a useful one to keep in the back of our minds when issues such as the one you draw attention to arise. Lots of food for thought!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tamar for your comments and the food for thought! I certainly believe that children today are very technologically skilled and are not frightened to explore new methods of innovation, to be creative and use their imagination to develop new techniques and ways of doing things. In fact Bolstad (2006 P17 ) suggests that the experiences today that children have with technology will have an influence in shaping their identities, views and behaviours, which will have lasting effects for society, for better or for worse depending on how you think. My thoughts are that although children are skilled in one area they could possibly lack everyday practical skills and knowledge in another. I agree that the benefits of technology certainly out way the risks however I still believe that children should know other ways of sourcing knowledge and doing things should technology fail us! An example is a conversation I had with a young Irish guy who works for us. He said he loves the way he can write whatever he likes in essays and not have to worry about the spelling as spell check will fix it!! When I asked him how he would be without his laptop for writing, he said he would be very disadvantaged!!
ReplyDeleteBolstad, R. (2006). Zooming in on learning in the digital age. A literature review. (pp.11-17). Wellington, New Zealand: NZCER Press.