18/08/12

Blog 1: Computer

I have notice how children in our centre uses computer as a mean of technology to help them go on games, learn how to hold and press the mouse, understand about how to go about looking for important information on the internet. In our centre we only have one computer so children compromise new skills about how the computer works, by turning on the power button, eye and hand co ordination and fine motor skills. This is supported by Te Whāriki He Whāriki Mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa Early Childhood Curriculum that children, “using many materials for different purposes enables children to recognize that different technologies may be used in various places and settings. This means that children can use technology which is a computer to play games, find information, and learn new skills, save data, watch movies, play music and follow instructions about how to look after and care for our computer.

I recognize that children who are new with technology in my centre develop confidence to sit at the computer desk as before they didn’t have the confidence to work with computers. Now with technology they are confidence to learn new skills and our role in the centre is to give children time to learn new skills, follow instructions about how to use computers and how to look after our computer when they are finished. I think that having technology in our centre help develops children’s critical thinking about the importance of computers which is align with The New Zealand Curriculum that, “The aim is for students to develop a broad technological literacy that will equip them to participate in society as informed citizens and give them access to technology-related careers”. (p. 32). This links to Te Whāriki saying that, “Using many materials for different purposes enables children to recognize that different technologies may be used in various places and settings” (Ministry of education, 1996. p. 95). I believe that when children have a base knowledge about technology they will be able to work their way around technology when they go to primary school which will empower them to work better with technology.

With the introduction of this ICT technology into our centre children were able to get familiar with new software, learn how to operate the mouse with accuracy, shared skills and ideas with adults and peers, writing for purpose and recognizing everyday use of ICT. Te Whāriki also outline that children develop, “experience with some of the technology and resources for mathematics, reading, and writing” (Ministry of Education, 1996. p. 78).

Computers also gives children access to further learning activities, learning resources and learning programmers’ on the internet, not only that but I believe that computers are vital and a good way for children to be creative by drawing pictures and learning about colors. Besides this computer also improves children’s academic development by exposing them to world view about other countries besides their country, learn about the environment and get images of farms, forests and animals if they live in the city as well as pictures and images of the city and museums if children live in rural areas. I as an educator believe that computers extend children’s knowledge about science and technological world which they didn’t encounter before; this is supported by Te Whāriki that children, “have developed some initial strategies of active exploration in the wider context of the biological, physical, and technological worlds” (Ministry of Education, 1996. p. 83).



Reference List



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