Blog Number: Two
4th April 2011
This week our centre purchased some new trucks and diggers for the sand pit. This has created a large interest in the sand pit, the children had been playing road workers so when I turned up to work today I was excited to see that they were re sealing the road right outside out centre.
I decided to take the children out to the back garden to go and watch the road workers. Because we have a lot of trees around the perimeter I found it hard to see but the boys quickly found a gap and stood in there to observe what was going on. I passed a comment that I wasn’t able to see and I couldn’t get any photos for them. D replied with “here I’ll take some”. We then had a discussion of our rules with the cameras how they must have the strap around their neck just in case they accidently dropped it.
D started taking photos of the road workers, and the trucks he could see. Then he said to me that we had to move as he could not get ‘good’ pictures, we moved around the fence line to another side of our centre where he could get better photos. With D’s excitement of taking photos the other children wanted a turn. They all took turns, from taking photos of the road works this extended to the children taking photos of each other where they would pose for photos. They also took photos of plants and various other things.
Te Whāriki discusses the benefits of children using technology, one of these being that through using technology children are able to be expressive. Though letting children take control of what they take photos of gives them a chance to express themselves creatively (Ministry of Education, 1996).
Through being given the opportunity to use the camera the children are also recognising that they can represent their discoveries through different technologies being used in different settings and places. they are also learning that there are a varity of technologies that can be used for different purposes to further explore their world. (Ministry of Education, 1996). Blagojevic & Thomes (2008) agree and states that using photography in the early childhood class room isn’t just about taking photos it involves using the camera to make ideas visible to communicate and collaborate with each other and help children explore and understand their world.
Blagojevic, B., & Thomes, K. (2008). Young Photographers. Young children. (8) 66-70.
Ching, C.C, Wang, C., Shih, M., & Kedem, Y. (2006). Digital photography and journals in a kindergarten- first grade classroom: toward meaningful technology integration in early childhood education. Early education and development. 17 (3) 347-371.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki, he Whāriki mātauranga mo ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: learning media.
This is a great blog Niria; I enjoyed reading it and knowing that you give opportunities for children to take photos on the camera and to make their own discoveries, because what we might take a photo of as being a ‘good photo’, a child has a different view from where he/she is standing and can take an even better ‘good photo’.
ReplyDeleteI loved the photos your children took and I too also agree with Blagojevi & Thomes (2008) that using the camera to make ideas visible to
communicate and collaborate with each other and help children explore and understand their world.
I’m sure this learning experience gave the children something to talk about with their friends and whanau, because they got to experiment with the camera all day not only in their own centre, but going for a walk to the local high school to capture the art work of other students work.
Hey Niria,
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful opportunities you have provided for the children at your centre. I have enjoyed reading about their journey of learning with the help of the digital camera. You have truly empowered them to take control of their own learning as they are in charge of what they want to photogragh and where. This technology also gives you a great insight into their developing interests as your blog identified - from roadworks to people and then to plants. I wonder if, without this technology, you would have discovered their interest in different plants? I loved the way that children were able to review the photos when they got back to the centre. This gives them a chance to reflect on their experiences and could be a great instigator for conversation. Perhaps asking questions such as "What interested you about this picture you took?" may get the children to share their feelings and interests with yourself aswell as their peers. I noticed that each time you had the camera, the children asked to use it. Perhaps you can tell your manager of these experiences and suggest that she purchase a few inexpensive cameras just for them. This way, children can decide when, where and what to record within the centre at any time. This will support their independence as well as knowing that they are trusted and capable and that the choices that they make are valued. At my centre, we dont have any cameras for the children themselves but your blog has helped me to realise that sometimes we as teachers only take pictures that we think are important, without taking into consideration the child's perspective. I think I will ask my manager too! Thank you Niria with us your wonderful experiences with the digital camera!