“Technology has gained acceptance in education of young children as being a tool, a medium for providing possibilities and opportunities for children, and is viewed as a resource for encouraging children to make meaning and to engage in life- enhancing relationships” (NSW Department of community services, 2005, as cited in Talay- Ongan & Ap, 2005, p. 226).
We are surrounded by technology everywhere. “Although it is common to see young children using cardboard or recycled materials to build cities and bridges and become “little engineers”, early childhood curriculum has for decades focused on literacy and numeracy, with some recent attention to science and technology (Bers, 2008).“Robots present an opportunity to introduce children to the world of technology and engineering” (Bers, 2008).
It was D’s first day at our centre and the whole morning he was at the block corner making robots. D looked to be very creative in making robots and used all sorts of patterns and designs. I became very anxious as I wondered to myself if I could do that. “Technology integrated toys such as blocks or ultimate Robot Kit are examples which provide children with opportunities to plan and to solve problems, and to improve their technical and creative skills. Through integrating with these toys, children can construct robots” ( Talay- Ongan & Ap, 2005, p. 226). I went to D and said ‘why do you like robots?’ D said ‘because robots have many buttons and I like pressing buttons has he kept himself busy. After he had finished making all sorts of robots I asked him if he would you like to be a robot himself? His answer was obviously yes. I offered D a fun challenge by giving him a cardboard which I thought can serve as the inspiration behind the design of his robot. I helped D to use technology in positive ways to learn new things, to express thimself creatively and to communicate. Te Whāriki, He Whaariki Mātauranga mo nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa (Ministry of Education, 1996) states that “children developed the ability to represent their discoveries, using creative and expressive media and the technology associated with them”( p. 88).
By this time I had a large group of children all very curious about what was happening and wanting to be involved. D was just interested in robots which have buttons on them. So we went to the collage area and found some milk bottle tops. I then went to the kitchen to get some aluminum foil. “The use of technology in early childhood settings enables teachers to easily tailor the curriculum to meet individual child needs” ( Clements and Sarama, 2002; Elliot, 2003 as cited in Talay- Ongan & Ap, 2005, p. 227).
We wrapped the aluminum foil on the cardboard. D said “I will cello tape this bottle tops and these are my buttons. Everyone helped D in making a robot and by this way they became his friends. When it was completed D had put it around him. He told his friends that ‘I am a talking robot and you will have to do the actions as I press my action buttons’. “Strongly based on Piaget’s constructivism, constructionism emphasizes the use of new technologies to help children learn by making, by actively inquiring, and by playing” (Bers ,2008).The making of robot eventually turned out into a game and children spent hours taking turns in playing this game. For example, when D pressed blue button and said walk then everyone would walk around like a robot. It was a morning filled with fun. There was lot of movement and so everyone looked really tired. A and H were interested in knowing how the robot moves and were having some misunderstanding about that. So I quickly went to the centre library to see if there was any DVD on Robots and I was just lucky to get one. I then brought in a portable DVD player as by now most of the children had gone outside to play. The children enjoyed watching the movements of robots in the DVD player. They watched in groups outdoor at different settings.
Children were working on the robot like little engineers exploring buttons and movements. After making robots children were busy telling each other what they used and how they made it. As according to Bers, 2008, “children become storytellers by creating their own constructions that move in response to their environment”( p. 6).Children also gained knowledge on mathematical concepts (counting blocks and buttons), engineering thinking (designing and evaluating processes), science and problem solving. Moreover, a “robot invites children to participate in social interactions and negotiations while playing to learn and learning to play” (Resnick, 2003). They also learnt about turn taking and sharing. Pattern blocks and other manipulative helped children to build and experiment. Making robot invited children to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and into activities that involve collaboration and teamwork. Next I would let children work on the carpentry table with small metal pieces, nuts and bolts.
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| D making Robot |
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| Children helping in making Robot using cardboard |
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| Robot buttons |
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| Children watching Robat DVD using portable DVD player outdoor |
Reference
Bers, M., U. (2008). Blocks to robots: Learning with technology in the early
childhood classroom.New York: Teachers College Press.
childhood classroom.New York: Teachers College Press.
ECRP.vol 12 No.2. The tangible Robotic program. Applied Computational
Thinking for young children. Retrieve on 2nd of May 2011,
from: http:// ecrp edu/v 12n2/bers/html.
Thinking for young children. Retrieve on 2nd of May 2011,
from: http:// ecrp edu/v 12n2/bers/html.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga
mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum.
Wellington, New Zealand:
Resnick, Mitchel. (2003). Playful learning and creative societies. Education
Update, 8 (6),Retrieved on 2nd May 2011, from :http://web.media.mit.edu
/~mres/papers/education- update.pdf
Smorti, S.(1999). Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education,
No 19 Autumn 1999.
Wow, Monika what a great activity you did with the children. You have used a lot of references too. I like the way you incorporated D's interest in robots and suggested to him to make himself as a robot. Clever thinking using the foil paper and bottle tops for the robot too. I enjoyed reading your posts, it was very interesting and I did not want to stop reading you kept the story attentive.
ReplyDeleteThanks Monika
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment Veronica.
ReplyDeleteThe children are still interested in Robots maybe I have to implement some of Martin
(our Guest Speaker's)ideas now.
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ReplyDeleteTumeke Monika!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing learning story here you have done with D and other children in your centre Monika. You have also back up your blog with some useful relevant literature and it completes everything. Looking at this learning story, you have enhanced really well D's interest in technology of making robots. Not only that, it allows other children to participate as well. Mitchell (2007) believes that “technology can be a tool for young children during their explorations and inventions that assist in answering questions, whether designed by the child or asked by a teacher or other adult” (p. 34). You allow D's interest in robots to go further and that's what's important in his learning and development on using technology. This is a powerful learning and development for D and other children as well. When teachers and educators are serious with children's curiosity it extends children's learning and development throughout their life. I believe when educators facilitate and scaffolds young children's learning through using technology it will help them develop more in their own individual learning. Children can be successful in whatever they do in life when we as educators/teachers give them time to explore and interact in meaningful ways which means technology can play an important part in providing these learning opportunities for all children (Mitchell, 2007, p. 37).
You have been aware of D's new arrival to the centre and you have taken into consideration of D's interest, and not only that you were allowing his transition to go smoothly. By recognize his interest in robots and you helped him to carry on his interest and curiosity without an end to it. It is a marvellous journey for D, and his learning and development on technology has not yet finished. I believe that D and other children are moving beyond from here to a greater achievement in the future when you choose to continue with their curiosity on robot. Technology can enhance children in so many ways (Mitchell, 2007, p. 33).
Awesome work Monika!
Keep it up.
Thank you Lucy I really like your positive comments and the links which you have given.
ReplyDeleteKa Pai Lucy
Wow Robots are a complete other world, and what a fantastic learning experience you have given D on his first day. They say first impressions last!
ReplyDeleteThrough this learning experience you have facilitated many opportunities for the children to take responsibility for their own learning, especially D's. You have empowered D to plan, design and construct his ideas about robots and buttons. The Ministry of Education (1996) states that "Empowerment is also a guide for practice. Play activities in early childhood education invite rather than compel participation" (p40). The play in this learning experience certainly compelled the other children to participate in the learning. You have seen this teachable moment and gone with it, allowing D and his new found friends to use creativity with their own ideas.
I see in this learning experience that a main interest for D is buttons. Perhaps you could incorporate other technology with buttons for him to extend on the interest of buttons. Considering he is new to the setting you could allow D to phone his mother or father, dailing their number and telling them about his day. Or you could extend the interest in robots with the internet. He could do his own search and find information about robots, it could help him with his planning. you mentioned that the children went outside, you could incorporate robots into the outside play.
The social interaction for the children in this experience was remarkable, i like your link to Resnick 2003, talking about robots being a tool to invite children to engage in social interactions. I believe that the development of social skills is important for life long learning and is a vital life skill.
reading your post has continued to highlight the importance of learning through technology. Great read, thank you Monika.
Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback.
ReplyDeleteYou have given me some exciting ideas as to how I could extend child D's interest in Robots.
Ka Pai!!
Hi Monika,
ReplyDeleteIt was a very interest learning story while reading it I just wanted to be part of it too. You have done agreat job on the spot by extending his learning from building a robertanfd then moving to the college table to actually using his immagination to make his own robert. you were really really luck to find a DVD on roberts. These are some memroble teachable moments. Keep the good work>>>>>.....