Reflection
3
Digital technology – Camera
The use of camera by the
early age children to take photos is a valuable technology that encouraged the
children to discover and build up stories and connections. One of the children’s learning outcome from
using digital camera is to starts an open and confident exploration which
constructs their self-confidence in taking photos and convey their interest in
photos they liked the most.
My four (4) year old
granddaughter Louise love taking photos of our family and herself. She has to be supervised when she wanted to
use my digital camera because sometimes once she got the camera; she always
wanted to take pictures of everything inside and outside over and over again. Louise walked around with my old camera
around her neck. “I’m a photo girl!”, she
said. “You mean photographer”? I called out to her as she ran to take photos
outside. After taking photos outside
Louise turned to me and asked. “Can you
take a photo of mine and I’ll take a photo of you”? We did exchanged shots at the same time.
The Children will normally snap anything they see. The children learn how to take a clear picture
that comes out naturally when nothing interferes, for instance when moving
around while taking photos. While Louise
was taking photos outside, at the same time she was developing her photographic
skill, like zooming the camera on to a spot. When Louise viewed her pictures after, I saw
her deleted the unclear photos and leave the good ones in the camera. At this
stage Louise is learning from her first mistake and she’s aware of it next time
she takes another photo. As she went
through all the photos she noticed how the camera works. Using digital cameras, I believe is a useful
technological device in a centre as it gives the children the opportunity to
explore technology (Smorti, 1999, p. 7).
On Friday 24/08/12, I reversed my car in front of our
house as I was about to go to the shop.
Louise ran from the house towards the car and screamed out crying that
she wanted to come with me. I stopped to
let her hopped in and we went off to the shop.
When she seats on her car seat, she saw my digital camera next to the
chair where she seats. While still sopping
with tears on her eyes she picked up the camera and clicked two shots facing to
her. I didn’t realise what she was
doing, because I was driving and all I saw was the flashing of the camera. I just found out the next day when I
downloaded the photos in my laptop. When
I showed her the photos, she was laughing and called out her mum to come and
watched. Louise was explaining to her
mum what happened and why she was crying when her mum asked her why she cried.
Louise starts telling her developing stories to her mum by
having another look at the picturesand review what she have taken. She revisits what she learnt from an experience
and developed stories from different shots she took of herself. Louise also recalls
her emotional feelings at that time she took her own photo. As Louise shared her dialogue with her mum
about her picture, I noticed that digital camera influenced the cognitive skills
to re-think back and brought in memories to develop her story. Smorti (1999) stated that introducing
technology is about changing attitudes; therefore Louise was adopting a positive
attitude towards the use of digital camera by using her photos to create her
thoughts and improved her language skill.
References:
Smorti,
S. (1999, Autumn) Technology in early childhood. Early Education, 19.
Kia ora Afa
ReplyDeleteWell done for the Camera reflection with attractive photos of your granddaughter. Very attractive reflection and had shown mostly the momentous main points with your written. Technology is serving and solving problems and is also a creative and focused activity aimed at meeting needs and opportunities through the growth, development of products, systems or the surroundings (Smorti,1999). I enjoyed reading your reflection about how you said about your granddaughter loves taking photos. You have also mentioned that you have been also supporting and supervising when she uses the camera. In your camera digital reflection you have showed how you both shared the cameras and took each others. I enjoyed the quotes you have got in your reflection about the cameras. I agree with you points you have mentioned that children learn how to take a clear picture that comes out naturally when nothing interferes, for instance when moving around while taking photos and also using this technology device useful technological device in a centre as it gives the children the opportunity to explore technology (Smorti, 1999, p. 7. Great! With the reflection when you both have shared the photos on the computer about this digital camera. Te Whāriki states children use variety of technologies for different purposes as they explore (Ministry of Education, 1996).
How lovely Afa, I enjoyed reading your reflection and can relate to your reflection through observing my own children as well as children at my centre. My children also love taking photos around the house and just recently my daughter always asks to take photos when she see's me with the camera. My son on the other hand loves to see the end product and likes looking at himself ater the photo is taken. I agree that photography is a great way for children to learn about objects and things in children's worlds. It can also link to children's feelings and emotions, by a way remembering, recalling, and reflecting on past experiences and events. Talay Ongan (2005) suggests their are two kinds of memory processes; regognition memory based on a comparison of old information with new information. Recall or productive memory requires old information brought up without a comparison. This provides like you said a foundation for new learning to be aquired, shared with other's. So this could imply that by taking photo's links children to communication, as they learn to discuss and talk about the images they are in or have been taking. 'Te Whariki' suggests that 'children develop an understanding that thoughts, experiences and ideas can be represented through words, pictures, print, numbers, sounds shapes,models, and photographs' ( Ministry of Education, 1996,p.78). Camera's have proven to be a great technological device in the centre and what would we do without the use of it to capture special moments, experiences, and learning for children. It is most definitely a technological device that meets the needs of the early chidhood setting and the documenting system that we use for gathering information. Smorti, (1999) supports this by stating that a 'technological activity or system, developed and used and adapted by early chilhood services to meet children's learning needs" (p.6). Ka Pai to mahi!
ReplyDeleteHi Afa,
ReplyDeleteGreat work again. I also loved reading your reflection. I am also totally agreed with Summer and I loved the way to relate your learning experience of your own children with centre children. It is also a very good example of digital technology of today’s life. It is actually very common necessity of life. Your granddaughter is very creative indeed. “Children develop awareness of their own special strengths, and confidence that these are recognized and valued” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.68). “Children experience an environment where their play is valued as meaningful learning and the importance of spontaneous play is recognised” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.84). This learning experience helps children to identify and explore needs and opportunities which help them to meet the technology. Children also felt empowered to contribute to a technological society. (Ministry of Education, 2007). You also provided her the opportunity to revisit her own learning experience. Revisiting and recalling their always makes the children happy and satisfied. Good Job and well done!!
Kia ora Afa,
ReplyDeleteA well written reflection on camera with beautiful photos of your granddaughter. From your reflection I can see that you have covered the main points and was easy to read and understand. Technology is a creative and focused activity aimed at meeting needs through the growth and the development of products(Smorti,1999).From your reflection I have noticed that you granddaughter loves to take pictures and you always supervise and support her when she was using the camera. I think taking photos links children to communication, as they learn to discuss about the images they are in. Te Whāriki suggests that children develop an understanding that thoughts, experiences and ideas can be represented through words, pictures, print, numbers, sounds, shapes, models, and photographs (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.78). I liked the quotes you have used in your reflection about cameras. You two both shared the camera among each other and took pictures by taking turns. “Children experience an environment where they develop responsive and reciprocal skills, such as turn-taking and offering (Ministry of Education, 1996). In your reflection you have also provided your granddaughter an opportunity to revisit her own learning experience so that she feels happy and satisfied. Good job. Tumeke Afa.