Last IT session

My Reflections (field trips)

-What are the ICT resources in 2 centres?

 

At Childfirst

1) Projector
2) Interactive Whiteboards
3) SmartCart - Eddie
4) Computers
5) CCTVs
6) Cameras

 

At Odyssey
 

1) OHP (Over Head Projector)
2) Interative Whiteboards
3) CCTVs
4) Cameras
5) Computers

-How have these resources help the children to learn?

These resources made learning interactive and interesting as they captured children's sense of sight, touch and hearing. This provided hands-on experiences for children which are essential in helping them gain knowledge.

-How have these resources help the teachers
 to teach?
 

These resources had lightened the workload of the teachers and enabled them to pay more attention on their children rather than their work such as completing lesson plans and newsletters.    

-What kind of preparation do they need to integrate IT into their curriculum?

They need to make sure that the children under their care are ready to use IT in their learning. To measure their readiness, teachers got to bear in mind the age appropriateness and the children's experiences with IT at home.

- Do you think they are successful in integrating IT? In what ways?


Yes indeed did both the centers integrated IT successfully. They were able to use IT in their lessons which made the children happy and supported the children's learning. One example was the light and shadow technology project done at Odyssey.

 

- What have you learnt from it?


I learned that technology can be integrated into the curriculum successfully with the support of the management and most importantly, the teachers' determination to use technology to bring learning to a whole new level.

-How are you going to apply what you have learnt in your teaching in future.

I will adopt the teaching practices that both ChildFirst and Odyssey are using in my teaching in the future, by using technology to enhance learning.

My own personal ICT pedagogy

As a teacher in times of rapid technology advancement, ICT have to be incorporated into my teaching practices. Therefore, I have to make the best use out of them and I believe I will be able to do so as well with perserverance.
Productivity tools such as Microsoft Word or Excel will be used to create lesson plans and to aid administrative work.
Communicative tools will be used to foster ties with families, community and colleagues.
To enhance children's learning, educational softwares and webquest can be incorporated into my curriculum. ICT tools such as cameras and computers can help children in carrying out research and help them in constructing their own knowledge, just like how ChildFirst and Odyssey had done so.  These are in support with Gagne's theory of instruction of applying concepts of instructional theory to the design of computer-based training and multimedia-based learning,
 

Field Trips to ChildFirst and Odyssey

Childfirst@Dunearn

The visit to this centre was truly an eye opener for me as it was the first time I had came across a centre which is so modernized with technology. Technology is integrated into the curriculum which helps to support teachers in their teaching, as it captures children's interest by engaging some their senses such as sight and hearing. It is also used to help them in completing their work such as creating newsletters and planning of lesson plans. Children's development can also be monitored through the reports generated in the computers after the children had engaged in certain softwares. These will definitely reduce the workload of the teachers and at the same time children's learning are not compromised.

Odyssey@Wilkinson

First and foremost, what I liked most about this centre was its space and layout. As we know, space is a constraint in Singapore and it is rare that we have childcare centres that have an abundance of space. Additionally, unlike most centres, Odyssey has Art and Music Specialists to nurture children's artistic and muscial capabilities. They are also inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach of engaging children in projects. Their projects involve the use of technology such as cameras, OHP protractors and computers. I am certainly encouraged by their practices as the staff showed confidence and passion in their work with children, especially when it came to integrating technology in their settings. For example, they were comfortable with letting children as young as two years old handle a video camera, and this is something we are usually skeptical about due to our worries.

In conclusion, these field trips had got me thinking about the integration of technology in early childhood settings. They had made me witness the benefits of it and how it can be carried out effectively, which is a team effort.