Reflection 3

Using camera enhances children's learning.

Date: Friday September 11

This morning before the children came to the centre I set the experiences with new puzzles that haven’t been used. A four year old girl arrived, went and played with 24 pieces puzzles. I was surprised when this girl managed well to complete it at a few minutes. I got the centres camera, snapped a photo of herself to do her learning story. I showed her the photos. She was happy to see the photos. I asked her if she wants to take a photo of me trying to do the puzzles. She says, “yes.” I showed her how to look through the optical view finder and press the shooting mode dial and the control button to bring the people closer and take them far. We tried them several times before she got the hang of it. She took several photos and showed me and other children.

Using cameras in the early childhood setting help children to develop their social skills, build effective relationship with staff and other children. Using photos to illustrate how children learns and to identify what children do at early childhood setting help communication between teachers and parents become more understandable. This girl knows what the camera does. She wanted to learn how to take photos. After trying for several times she learned how to take photos. According to Mindes, G. (2006) “The KWL strategy is one way to do this. At the beginning of the investigation, children are asked the questions, “What do we know?” and “What do we want to learn?” At the end of the project, they reflect by asking, “What have we learned?”

In our centre children do not use cameras but because to support me in my study and assignments I asked the supervisor to give me permission to use the center’s camera with over four year old children. I have found it to be very useful, supportive and enhancing children’s learning. This girl E took photos of some children when they work in different experiences. Child E taught the other children who wanted to have turn using the camera. Ministry of Education (1996) states “Children experience an environment where they are encouraged to learn with and alongside others.” (p.64) Again Te Whariki, (1996) states “children develop the ability to represent their discoverys, using creative and expressive media and the technology associated with them.” (p.88)

I recognized E’s excitement in looking at her photos then I thought about extending her interest by letting her learn how to take photos. Letting E takes a photo of myself doing puzzles made E and myself build warm relationship with each other and senses of belonging. I encourage child E to develop her technological skills in using the camera. She  also became a capable and competent person who could help other children to use the camera. When the centre’s computer is fixed, I will use E’s photos to make a learning story about her new learning’s. This might help E’s parent’s notice what’s happening in the centre and enable them to extend on E’s new learning. Ministry of Education (2009) states “a technical skill (digital/photography) is transformed  into a learning experience through the creating of a visual learning story.” (p.11)

Unfortunately I could not help children to download the photos into the computer. I asked one of the teachers to do it for me. This is the area I really need to improve my skills at. I feel that I could not help children using modern technology if I do not know how to use them. Last week the office computer was broken and that is a problem in this center that technology resources are not enough and the children are not accessible to them. The staff computer is not connected to the internet.