Personal reflection

Through doing this blog assignment, I have learnt a lot from it. Before I did not how to define technology, I though technology are all about the things that with electric such as computer, calculator, phone, ipad, telephone, TV and etc. I never thought about that pen can be technology, books can be technology, and scissors can be technology. As Smorti define technology is about helping people and solving problem (1999, pp5). Why pen is technology? Because in old days, people used stone to write on the floor, but now we have pen to help people to write things down on the paper. Why books are technology? Because in old days, books only have words in black, but now a day, books are colorful and contain pictures to support reader to understand the readings. Books are made up with very good quality and different materials.

Through doing this assignment, I gain a board range of knowledge about the benefit of using different technology in children’s learning by researching articles about technology and reading my other group members’ reflections. It changed my mind of technology tools are for adults only. Technology can be educational for children if used in an appropriate way. As McManis and Gunnewig (2012) identify that whether traditional or newer educational technology plays an important role in children’ learning when it is based on research, child development theory, and developmentally appropriate practices.

Computer is the most popular technology tool that common used in the centre, because computer covers a board of learning opportunities for children, such as support and increase children’s skills in the social, cognitive, language, literacy, writing and mathematics realms (McManis & Gunnewig, 2012). Based on the feedback that I received from my group members about the computer technology, they all agreed with me that computer has positive influence on children’s social development. For example, when children using computer, they share and help one another, ask for and provide information and explanation and collaborate to solve problem.

In my CD player reflection, I have a very good idea of using CD player from the feedbacks. She mentioned that her centre is using CD player as a tool to celebrate and acknowledge the different cultures by playing different culture music with different language. I loved this idea of using this technology to encourage children experience other culture. As promoting this experience for children, it will enable children to feel positively about the diverse culture and it also avoids the limitations of stereotyping and to value diversity within children (Beaver, Brewster, Green, Neaum, Sheppard, Tallack, & Walker 2008). As Te Whaariki believes children should be encouraged to understand and respect the different cultures which make up our society (Ministry of Education, 1996).

From the feedbacks in my e-book reflection, one of them said that having technology in early childhood can encourage group play and promote social interaction as much as dramatic play. I agree with her, because e-book is interesting and attractive technology software for children to engage with and motivate them to want to read more (Landoni, 2009).

Overall, technology covers a wide range of learning opportunities for children. Therefore, I will use technology as a tool to facilitate children’s learning based on their interests.