Learning about how to manoeuvre the mouse requires skills and concentration. It includes good fine motor-skills and good eye-hand coordination. As I guided 'D' through his curiosity of how the computer works, I realise children are learning a combination of which finger to use. The child's brain will eventually be computerised with knowledge of which part of the body they need to use for this technology.
To me children will develop skills that will add knowledge to their learning about this technology. It will enhance children's confident in what they do. Most importantly teacher's are the role model for children and as Tsantis,
Bewick & Thouvenelle (2003) quotes, "it is the teacher's knowledge and skills about how to use the technology that makes the difference, not the technology itself" (p.4).
I reflected on this quote and realise the importance of having knowledge, skills and understanding about computers. The computer is filled with instructional programmes. This is a contribution of learning that children will eventually learn is how to follow instruction. Children will also have an awareness that it is the person that actually controls the tool.
The computer is a very useful tool for our everyday use. Knowledge and skills will increase with children as their generation are exposed to new tools everyday. I really like that fact we are able to control what we can put into our computers for children. I am stressing learning programmes that children are able to use for learning. This is important to have programmes specifically designed to "elicit, encourage, and extend young children's communication and collaboration" (Tsantis, Bewick & Thouvenelle, 2003, p.7)
Computers, such an awesome tool that we can use to extend our tamariki, and you have clearly supported this within your reflection. I enjoyed the way that you explained how in order for a child to use the computer to support their learning they must first develop the skills to do so. I think you also made a really valid point in acknowledging that the teacher is central to a child's learning with the computer. Similarly, Donohue (2003) discusses that the uses of digital technologies and the internet are as open- ended as the imagination and creativity of a teacher (p19). This leads me to my suggestion; I was wondering do you use the computer for learning experiences other than games? I have found within my centre that the use of the internet has provided opportunities to extend on children's ideas and theories about the world. You could even explore the interest in hammers through use of the internet with the children!
ReplyDeleteHi Faa, this is an awesome reflection on using computer to enhance children’s learning. I can see that you scaffold D’s learning and meet his individual curiosity with the basic computer skills. You also emphasized a teacher’s knowledge and skills of computer use play a key role in helping children become capable and competent users. I appreciate the quote you cited from Tsantis， Bewick & Thouvenelle (2003). Once children are facilitated and equipped with these skills, they are confident in exploring their world with this technology. I’m sure countless learning will occur in the long run during the process of their exploration. I agree with you that the computer has become part of everyone’s life. Positively it has made our life easier and more convenient. However, I think the negative effects it brings especially on our children should also be an important issue we teachers need to consider. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to see how much children know and learn about computers. To be able to extend on what they do already know is great. I agree completely with Tsantis, Bewick & Thouvenelles quote about, ‘the teacher's knowledge and skills about how to use the technology that makes the difference, not the technology itself.’ I feel that there no way to extend, if we as teachers don’t know first. I also like how you have discussed about the appropriate types of programmes. Children need to have the right programmes to learn from. A suggestion to further the children’s knowledge may be to create an opportunity where the children will have to write with the keyboard, which will promote their literacy skills
ReplyDeleteYes Fa, I can definitely identify with your comment that computers take patience, determination and practice to achieve your goals. If this is true for us as adults then it goes to show why the children still need us the teachers as a valuable resource to scaffold and support their learning with computers. The computer alone cannot teach them in the same way the a teacher with a warm responsive relationship with the child could.
ReplyDeleteThe choice of software is definitely a big responsibility in centres. It seems to become overlooked sometimes, an afterthought of the effort & long hard work that it takes to obtain funding or grants to get the computer in the first instance. This is a bit sad because the computer used in combination with teachers expertise and the appropriate software have great potential to enhance children’s learning.
They can certainly open up a whole new world outside the centre and be a very powerful research tool. For this reason I would definitely advocate using the netsafe resources to protect children and promote safe behaviours on the computer.
Kia ora Fa.