Throughout my centre, books are one of the technologies that are mainly used. The children really enjoy engaging themselves with different types of books, especially those of which consist of really bright picture books, with a lot of colour, and pictures that they are able to understand. Every morning, the children tend to take time out of their play to read books in their own little corners, as well as this other children encourage other children to get involved and make this a group activity where each child is being involved throughout the process. In doing so, children are able to process and solve their own problems while reading different types of books. As Smorti (1991) quotes, “children use their knowledge about processes and problem solving” (p. 6). My centre is a very strong Samoan based centre, so we try to include more Samoan books or sources to encourage children the Samoan language and culture, although there are more Samoan books, the children are able to identify this and are used by the children the most. As the Ministry of Education (1996) quotes, “children develop the ability to identify and use information from a variety of sources, including using books for reference” (p.88). I think that books is an significant use of technology on children’s learning and development as it develops children’s language skills, as well as being able to encourage communication skills, thinking skills, and creativity skills. People often take advantage of the importance and how much of a big impact books make in early childhood centres with children, however not realising that books are a great example of perfect technology. 
Books can play a huge part throughout a child’s life as it teaches children a lot of different things that are able to engage in helping children’s learning and development. As Ministry of education (2007) quotes, "through the technological knowledge strand, students develop knowledge particular to technological enterprises and environments and understandings of how and why things work" (p. 32). In my centre, we do a lot of different varieties of activities that include books. For instance, during mat time teachers will allow each child to choose their favourite book, and we will read it out to the rest of the children. Afterwards, teachers encourage children by engaging in activities which encourage children to think about what the story was about, what they saw happen throughout the story, what kinds of things they saw, how and why is it important to them. Moreover, by being able to enhance children’s learning through books, activities, group work, as well as working with other children; children are able to build and maintain relationships with others, as well as build on their communication skills. As Ministry of Education (1996) quotes, “children gain experience in using communication technologies such as crayons, paintbrushes, pencils, calculators, books and computers” (p. 97). 
In my opinion, as I stated above; books as technology enhances children’s learning and development as it strongly encourages language skills. Picture books are able to inspire children to practice the different sounds of language. Also, books encourage language acquisition, creativity, imagination, this also builds confidence in children throughout their development. In addition to this, by being able to encourage children to read books, we as teachers and parents should continue to teach and give our children the opportunity to learn new words everyday. Ministry of Education (1996) quotes, “language is a vital part of communication. In early childhood, one of the major cultural tasks for children is to develop competence in and understanding of language” (p. 72).
All in all, through the technology of books; children are able to not only enjoy and have fun reading books, but it also empowers children to develop their learning through early child by being able to confident as well as develop their language abilities.
References:
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa : Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Smori, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, 19, 5-10.
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ReplyDeleteIn olden India, specially treated palm leaves had been used for writing. These leaves will become water, fire and insect proof after the treatment. Stylus, which was made out of iron, silver or brass, was used in place of pen. After writing, the leaves were loosely tied together with a code to make a book. These books can stay 100s of years. This was our ancient technology.
ReplyDeleteNext came book technology. As you have stated, books are unavoidable teaching tool in ECC. It is still popular and alive in our societies. According to me a good book is a good companion on a boring day. Digital books are becoming popular now. Like many others, I am also caught up with the latest technological tide and use computer more often than books. However, as you said, the paper book reading has many benefits to children, so we should preserve this technology from dying.
You may talk to children how the books are made. I have noticed that the children waste too much paper. If we can make an awareness in them, they might use papers carefully, thus save our environment.
Grace this reflection is a very clever link to technology. I agree to the fact that books are technology, as they help us to solve so many problems by reading about the problem. I love reading books and encourage children at home and centre to engage in reading books. Your reflection makes clear link to children’s interest their engagement in books. Miyuki’s comment on how children can create their own books will help extend love and appreciation for books. I would like to draw attention to the fact that books have been available to mankind for a very long time as Judy talks about the ancient way to share knowledge on leaves, is a form of book. It was great to know that your centre encourages reading books among children as I believe it enables children to make sense of what they see and comprehend it. In my centre teachers encourage parents to take a book home from the centre during weekend and read it to the children to develop the love for books among children. The New Zealand curriculum in its nature of technology strand state that children, “come to appreciate the socially embedded nature of technology and become increasingly able to engage with current and historical issues and to explore future scenarios.”(Ministry of Education, 2007. p.32).
ReplyDeleteWe now realise that books are part of our communication tools. As Grace mentioned in her reflection, children are able to build and maintain relationships with others as well as build on their communication skills through activities with books. Books encourage young children's language acquisition, creativity, imagination, and problem solving skills; therefore, books are technology. Next time you could encourage preschoolers to make their own picture book. We did it in my centre last year because some 4 year old girls showed their interest in making up stories and they were drawing pictures based on the stories. One of the experienced teachers encouraged them to make their own picture book. It was challenging for the girls but so much fun and it succeeded. Their products looked good but more than that, they had learned so many things like social, language, motor, and imagination skills during the process. The children are aware that they make the title of the book, and that they are the author of their own book.
ReplyDeleteI work with toddlers and I observed that they love exploring the books. It’s amazing to see them develop language skills in real, play, and problem solving contexts as well as in more structured language contexts (Ministry of Education, 1996). Indeed books are their true friends. There is always a display of various books to help children settle as the parents leave them in the morning and we always read children's favourite books at mat time. I liked the way your centre provides books in Samoan language to develop children with familiarity with the appropriate selection of the stories and literature valued by their cultures in their community. I think this is important as children's learning and development are fostered if the well being of their family and community is supported. (Ministry of Education, 1996).
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