The New Zealand Curriculum (2007), states that it aims for
individuals to develop a broad technological literacy that will equip them for
future so they can participate in society as informed citizens. In my centre
the one and only piece of digital technology which the children love the most
and enjoy playing around with is the Radio CD player. The Radio CD player has
to be the only digital technology which the children are able to play and
explore with. As any other sort of digital technology which other centres provide
for their children, is unavailable for ours, which is why we are working on
this and trying to bring more digital technology into the hands of our young
children.
What I have noticed the children doing with the Radio CD player
is pretty much learning how to use it. They press all the buttons the Radio CD player
may have, and try to play and listen to all the songs in the CD case. They may
not get time to listen to every song in one day, but they always have the next
day to come back and continue on where they finished off.
What I love most about watching children play with the Radio CD
player is that they learn quite fast on how to work it. It’s really interesting
to see children fiddle with all the buttons and because they are pressing them
over and over again, they are learning how to work it without the help of a
teacher. They learn what button is to play music, skip, repeat, pause, stop and
what button to press to change the CD. Children are very intelligent and to
think if they were introduced to something new it would take them a couple of
days to learn how to use it, but with children it takes them just a couple of
hours.
Children learn to use technology for different purposes as
they explore their world (Ministry of Education, 1996). There are a few things
children can use the Radio CD player for; they can use it to play music, where
they can dance and have a party with their friends. Research has shown that music,
movement, and dance are ways to enrich the brain which strengthens and provides
a unique form of cognitive stimulation (Isenberg & Jalongo, 2010).
Children can also use it to play stories where they can connect the headphones
and listen to during quiet time. They can turn on the radio and tune it to a
radio station where they can hear about the news and what is happening in the
community. Children enjoy playing and learning how to work the Radio CD player,
as it is something they have control of. They get to pick what music they want and
play it when they want which is something they have an advantage of. 
Children also learn about the history and how the Radio CD player
evolved and helped to replace the Radio/Cassette tape player. But to think that
people have changed their technology to modern ones, the Radio/cassette
tape player is still around and people still use them. Children learn about
technology as a field of human activity, experiencing and exploring historical
and contemporary examples of technology from a variety of contexts (Ministry of
Education, 2007). These days the Radio CD player is being replaced with new
technology where you no longer need a CD but a USB to connect to the radio to
play music and also MP3 players and IPods which come with its own speakers.
Hello Shika,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that digital technology is what children are now growing up emerged in, and therefore is important for children to experience in the centre too. This may be why the children pick up how to use technology so fast, and us adults get left behind.
I noticed you mentioned that your CD player is the only digital technology your children have access to and wondered why this was? I love how you just let the children explore this CD player, experimenting with buttons and developing working theories about the things that surround them (Ministry of Education, 1996). I think this is important you let them do this so that they can learn to use it themselves, and be in control of their environment, selecting songs they enjoy. I like how you recognised the children as independent learners, actively constructing their own learning, like constructivists suggest (Santrock, 2009). I enjoyed reading that the CD player provided the children with a form of communication, to know what is happening in their community by listing to the FM and AM radio. It is clear you understand the great importance this only digital technology is for the children in your centre. Maybe you could use the CD player with a tape for the children to record their own music and then play it back for them. Great work!
Hi Shika, this was a very nice reflection written about how the children use the Radio CD player at your centre.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite shocking to read that that’s the only type of technology offered to them as I think now days digital technology has become such a big part of everyone’s lives that it made it hard to believe that not even a computer was offered to the children at your centre. I also feel this a good thing as children will most probably be offered different types of digital technology at home so being at the centre away from things such as iPad’s is a way of showing children that they don’t need digital technology in all aspects of their lives.
I like how you have mentioned that the Radio is used not only for music and dance helping children develop motor skills but it is also used as a tool for quiet time where children who may be too young to read can listen to stories. It is also nice to read that children can use the radio to stay connected with their community through the announcements of local news. Gives the children the opportunity to stay informed and ask questions so they can understand what’s happening around them
Hi Shika
ReplyDeleteI really like the cd player/ ipod playing in my centre and really enjoyed reading about your experience with it. I like how you have incorporated they different ways and different things children can do whilst using the cd player. I like how you have brought the new / history value into you reflection but was wondering how often you listen/ played this channel for the children. I am interested in the educational aspect that you use your cd player for and am going to look into these cd and interactive song at my centre.
Thanks Skika great reflection on music in you centre.
Hi Shika, wow surprising that you only have one piece of technology in your centre. there isn't a camera?
ReplyDeleteI love music, and we have come far from cassettes where you had to rewind and fast forward the music and now we just have to press a button and it rewinds and fast forward. I love how there is time for them to experiment with the radio and cd player and its true that we live in a world where technology is changing all the time and it is almost 'mandatory' for everyone including children to learn so we are aware and up to date but it's also important that children don't depend on it.
maybe you could think about making your own music?
but great reflection.