I was standing and observing children
play in a constructive area (Lego). I saw many children were making car, truck
and water boat out of Lego. Most of the children were able to make what they
want. I saw child B was making a truck out of Lego and figuring out how he is going
to put wheels on the truck.
I noticed that child B was having
difficulty with putting wheels on his truck. He modeled a truck by himself. According
to New Zealand Curriculum children learn about technology through practical as
they develop “models, products, and system” (Ministry of Education, 2007,
p.32). Child B approached to me and asked me for help. Before I helped him I
asked him what he needs help with. He explained to me that he wants to put four
wheels on the truck but he does not know how. MacNaughton and Williams (2009)
stated when children are answering opened ended questions they express what they
know think, feel or believe. Also open ended questions help to develop children’s
cognitive skill, their language skills and mathematics skills.
I said to the child B to show me how he
puts the wheels on the truck. Therefore he putted four wheels on the truck and
when he tried to push the truck the wheels fell off. This helps children develop
fine motor skills as well as hands and eyes co-ordination skills. Te Whāriki stated children need to
develop “development of locomotors skills, non-locomotors skills, manipulative
skills and co-ordination” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.86). I believe that
Child B is experiencing with the use technology in the centre (none digital). As
stated in Smorti (1999, p.) “Children’s technological experiences in early
childhood might include such as how to add wheels, or parts that move, to a
carpentry or junk construction”.
I asked him what do you think we should
use, he looked around the legos area and he saw screwdrivers. He said to me
that he could use a screwdriver to put the wheels on the truck. He experienced with
a problem and he found a solution to solve problem was to use a screwdriver. Smorti
(1999, p.5) pointed out that “technology is about helping people and solving
problems”. He was very confident with himself to use a screwdriver to solve
this problem. According to Te Whāriki
when children are experiencing with technology they are “growing experience in
solving problems together develops children’s understanding of how technologies
can help them and others” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 96).
As stated in Te Whāriki that children are capable and competence learners
(Ministry of Education, 1996). Therefore I let Child B to figure out how to use
a screwdriver. Child B picked up a screwdriver and figure out how to screw
wheels in. He tried different approach to screw the wheels in, such as he
twisted different directions (left and right). This shows me that the child is
thinking to use different approach and he was communicating with me at the same
time. As stated in NAEYC (2012) technology enhances children’s cognitive and
language development.
Child B said to me he does not know how
to use it therefore I instructed him to screw the wheels to the ‘left’
direction and I told him to screw a bit longer. As stated in Vygotsky’s theory when
the “tasks that are too difficult for the child to master alone but that can be
learned with guidance and assistance of adults” (Santrock, 2009, p.220). He picked up a wheel and he screwed the wheel
in and twisted into ‘left direction and he screwed a bit longer. Then he
stopped he tried to push the truck and the wheel did not fall off. He was very
happy to solve the problem by himself and he continued to screw other wheels in
with confidence. Te Whāriki stated “the
use of technology is capability in solving practical problems contributes to
self-confidence and well being” (Ministry of Education, 1994, p.94).
References
MacNaughton,G., & William, G. (2009). Technique for teaching young children: Choices in theory and practice (3rd ed.). French Forrest, Australia: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media
MacNaughton,G., & William, G. (2009). Technique for teaching young children: Choices in theory and practice (3rd ed.). French Forrest, Australia: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media
Ministry of Education. (1996). Early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo
nga mokopuna o Aotearoa. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
NAEYC. (2012). Technology and interactive media as tools in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc
Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in
early childhood. Early Education, 1, 5-10.
https://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&q=legos&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1252&bih=562&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=5Fw4UMeVNu2ZiAfXkIC4Dg#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=wheels+legos&oq=wheels+legos&gs_l=img.3...2492.3294.0.3515.7.7.0.0.0.6.265.1412.2-6.6.0...0.0...1c.RqDjgxmlC2o&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=8a598629549bc7c1&biw=1252&bih=562
Very nice reflection, Ayesu. Lego is always a good tool for children's creativity. Children love working with Lego and building different objects. As we know, play is very important for the children's development.
ReplyDeleteBy guiding him, you allowed him to problem solve and figure out a way to get the wheels on properly so they wouldn't fall off. Te Whariki (1996) states that "Children develop reflective and creative thinking as they contribute ideas and try them out with others". You did very well in guiding him but also allowing him to try different ways to fix it by himself. By asking him open-ended questions you allowed him to critically think about different ways that he could attach the tires. Smorti (1999) states that “technology is about helping people and solving problems”. This shows the importance of children being able to problem solve.
Good job, Ayesu!
Wonderful Ayesu! It is very interesting story and to know how children were interested in the Lego. Observing, encouraging and supporting a child using Lego.It seems you also developed a great understanding of the non- digtial technologies around children which can be used to support their creavity. As stated by Te Whāriki Ministry of Education (1996), curriculum encourages teachers to support children’s participation and contribution within learning experiences. I agree wih you that you have continued developing relationship with a child creating the process of the learning more important then the final product. Children playing in a constructive area (Lego) helps them in problem solving as well as allowing them to make sense of their world. Well done!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful reflection Ayesu! It is nice to know that children like to explore different creations with lego. Children can use their own imagination to work out their own ideas in mind. It is good that you allow child B to work out his own problem before facilitating him. MacNaughton & Williams (2009) state that facilitating refers to the process of making children’s learning easier” (p. 81). Paying attention to child B indicates you respect and support him as he needed. Lego is one of the materials they can choose to extend their learning with by solving problems and developing different skills. I do believe that open questions reveal children's thoughts, understanding and feelings with what they are trying to achieve (MacNaughton & Williams, 2009). While children are playing with lego and using screwdriver they develop self-confidence that they can achieve what is in mind. Well done, child B has successfully achieved his goal of getting his lego wheels fixed because you have guided him thoroughly. It is all good to have patients to work with children. Ka pai Ayesu.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteKia Ora Aye su
Nice reflection and well written. You have linked with relevant literatures and theories. Tino Pai. I believe constructive play is the most common for boys in the centre and they love building different objects. Lego is the best tool for children to develop creative thinking and it benefits for children. When children used lego to build different objects, children develop fine motor skills as well as eye-hand coordination.
I like how you scaffold and used different strategies to help him solve problem by himself when he was having difficulty with putting wheels. I believe asking open-ended questions are good way to extend children thinking because when you asked open-ended questions, children are exercise their brain through thinking and tell back what they feel therefore it helps children to develop cognitive and language skills (MacNaughton and Williams, 2009).
This is good idea that you instructed him how to use the screwdriver instead of you doing it for him. This allowed him to learn and experienced with the use of screwdriver therefore he will develop knowledge and understanding of how to use screwdriver to put wheel. Next time he will be able to do it by himself independently.