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.