Use of Technology

Use of Technology

 Date: 05/10/10

Technology provides us to solve problem and make our work easier. The use of technology in my center with children promotes the development of creativity and imagination among our children. During free activity time children were playing with computer keyboards and telephone in family corner. As I was involve with them then child R asked me if she can play an office girl like our supervisor in the office. First I laughed and then I said “Oh that’s a great idea.” Child R and S both helped each other to bring whatever they found around and it was amazing that Child R and S did everything that they wanted. I helped them to move the big chair on her request. “Children experience an environment where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.88). Other children joined her and they came along asking for their turn to be an office person. 

As I was admiring the curiosity and the art of communication among children I noticed that they are sharing and taking initiative to express imagination like a real life happening. Child R asked N “there’s a call for you”. Child N came to pick up the phone and talked for a while which was unclear what she was talking about. Child M came along asking for camera in the office from child R and she said “make sure you bring it back as soon as possible” Child M asked if he can take child R’s picture from that camera. 

 Here comes another call for Y and she received call from India by her uncle who is coming to NZ very soon. Child R is very busy with computer typing something and she said “Go away B, don’t disturb me I’m working in the office, soon teacher N will come and check my record, can you hear that?” Suddenly she moved away and child B and P jumped up to take her place as an office girls. It was good to see Child P and B playing together and communicating patiently using technology. Te Whaariki states that “children develop experience with some of the technology and resources for mathematics, reading and writing” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.78).

The use of technology and ICT in early childhood is fun and enjoyable to use but at the same time have clear and educational purpose (Siraj-Blatchford, 2004). That is children learn maths skills like counting and recognizing letters on the computer keyboard. According to Smorti (1999) the use of technology will develop children’s creativity, literacy and numeracy skills and they explore and discover knowledge and skills associated with expressive media. “While playing with the toy the children can observe regularities in its behavior, and propose explanations, interpretations and creative responses” (Siraj-Blatchford 2004, p.50). Children’s exploration provides a sense of social interaction with adults and their peers by communicative and emotional skills. Children develop social, physical and cognitive skills by interacting with a responsive environment (Santrock, 2008). 

From my observation children express their minds verbally naturally and imitate other children and adult in their fantasy play. They are very creative to communicate naturally therefore, educator’s role is to scaffold and encourage the children to follow their play and be a role model for them and to explore more about use of technology in early childhood setting.