Personal Reflection

Personal reflection   

As we know, technology is growing faster and the development of communication has been reached at a unbelievable height. Few decades ago, we were all depended on postal services as the only means of communication to deliver messages in writing mails for one another. Another way of exchanging messages was using wireless system and later through telephone which we still use. When internet technologies have become popular, the significance of postal services has been decreased. Mail service is replaced by emails. Usage of mobile phones are common and popular which enable people to send text messages. Also the fast development of technology made the life easier and comfortable. In our daily life, we use many types of sophisticated equipments  and appliances (for example, washing machine, fridge, microwave, mixer, TV, telephone etc). Using these equipments minimizes time consumption as well as improves the quality of our daily life.

My knowledge and skills in computers were low, so it was difficult for me to create the blog in the beginning. But I appreciate my friends and lecturer who helped me to learn to construct a blog and finally I succeeded it. The theoretical level of proximal development will achieve in a particular skill when we work with more competent persons (McNaughton & Williams, 2004). Smorti(1999) says that “technology  is helping people and solving problems”( p.45). 

I could successfully create a blog account in my own name and could upload my ideas which are open to my friends. I published four blogs and I was appreciated by my friends in their comments. I  also received some creative criticism as well on my blogs.

Nowadays, the computer and internet facilities are available in schools and in early childhood centers. So the children are literate in using internet and teachers teach them to use more programs available in computer. Te Whariki says that “ in order to participate in this world, our children will need the confidence to develop their own perspectives as well as the capacity to continue acquiring new knowledge and skills(Cited in Smorti, 1999). The children play computer games, puzzles and they pass the messages through internet. Talay & Ongan(2005) points out that children’s technological capabilities are most influenced by their early experiences at home and at play. Children learn elementary concepts of measurement such as time speed, growth and change are often represented through the use of technology”(p.226).

I think my knowledge in using blogs will be useful when I practice in early childhood centre. It will enable the children and their parents and teachers to communicate each other and exchange their ideas and suggestions easily. By implementing more sophisticated communication medias, children’s knowledge and skills can be developed. Most of the parents are very busy with their own work and other personal reasons. Some of the parents don’t have time to spend a long time for face to face chatting so internet are convenient for the parents to know what is happening everyday in children’s learning and respond to messages in their own time. Even though websites, emails and blogs enable us to communicate quickly with each other, there are several cons(disadvantages) in using these technologies. In modern world, it is common to send a malicious program or virus to other computers which cause to delete or abort the files and programs of the targeted computers. So misusing computer technology is a threat in the computer world. Individuals or company can steal the files and programs of other companies and there is no safety in keeping the confidential matters of an individual or company. Hackers can steal, delete or abort the files of any computers.

Children may misuse computers by surfing through unacceptable sites and they may be easily cheated. These sites can affect their personalities and habits negatively. So children should be monitored by teachers, parents and adults while they are using internet. Now a days it is common that children are very much addicted in using computers and internet. It make them idle and they are reluctant in engaging in physical and out door plays. It affects their interaction and communication with their friends and family members.

I received some creative and interesting comments upon my blog from my friends. I appreciate and welcome their suggestions and opinions.

Responding Hester’s comment on using personal camera and printer, I used these equipments not for parents to see, but to teach the children to gain a new skill in using cameras. On account of Veronica’s suggestion on showing the kid on how to use the printer at the centre which was broken then, unfortunately I could not demonstrate printing later; the child already left the centre and joined in the school. I agree with Eliza’s opinion regarding the advantages of group play. I am unsure if the child had already been using computer at home. On Miriam’s query, yes we use the CDs which include both entertainment and learning activities to facilitate a fun and at the same time a learning environment . Some of the CD’s include alphabet and number games. But others are for entertainment. I appreciate Veronica’s suggestion on cooking. I should have explained the change of texture, color and smell of ingredients after cooking. But, next time, I will practice your suggestion in cooking with the children. I thank everyone for your sincere comments and opinions to assist me to complete this task.

Reference List:

MacNaughton, G., &Williams, G. (2004). Techniques for teaching young children:      

choices in theory and practice (2nd ed.). Melbourne: Addison Wesley Longman.

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te whāriki:  he waariki mātauranga mo nga

            mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.

Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No.19 Autumn 1999.

Talay-Ongan, A., & Ap, E.A. (Eds.). (2005). Child development and teaching       

young  children, Southbank, Victoria: Thompson social Science Press.