Future Photographer’s
01/04/2011
It was a rainy day so we stayed inside after morning tea. Some children were on the mat constructing a train with Lego and were talking about trains. I went near them keeping in mind not to disturb them. I took some pictures for my learning story. Child (G) who was also sitting on the mat reading a book. He came to me and said (R) “are you taking pictures”. I replied to him “Yes, I am taking pictures of those children playing with Lego. He asked me “What are going to do with these pictures?” I replied to him that these pictures are for the learning story which I will put in their portfolio”. (G) said “Are you not going to take my pictures”. I said to him “Yes, do you want me take your picture”. He said “Yes, but can I have a turn”. I took his pictures and gave the camera to him. He wanted to see his pictures which I took. He asked me to show him how to use the camera. The other children surrounded me and they all wanted to have a turn. I made them sit down and told them that everyone will have a turn to use the camera. I showed them one by one how to use the camera and they enjoyed taking pictures. After they finished taking the pictures I showed them the pictures they took.I scaffold children as to help them to learn to operate the cammeras. (MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. 2004).
Cameras are also a technology as it is a device that enables us to take pictures either still photographs or moving images. Technology is improving each day and new things are introduce. Today the advanced technologies have introduced new and better tools or equipments to make things easier for people. In olden days people used to carry some film rolls but today people use digital cameras. Digital camera allows us to take lots of pictures depending on the size of the SD cards as the card has the storing capacity. Images could be displayed on the screen immediately and unwanted images could be deleted to free the space. Digital images can be downloaded on computers for storing and sharing images on the internet, Skype or face book. If there was no camera technology and photography the development of TV and cinema would have been delayed. This would mean no TV and films which would be very unexciting.
Teaching children to learn to use camera as this would extend children’s learning to use another technology. They will be able to capture images of natural and manmade beauties. Children can learn to become creative and in pursuit of excellent photography’s. Photography teaches us to think spontaneously and imagine the outcome of the pictures. Young children having interest in taking pictures might become professional photographers in future.
Children learn strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning at the same time children start to solve problems, classify things, they begin to use information, and they start playing with ideas and explore them actively. They develop working theories for understanding natural, physical and material worlds. Adults are to extend children’s play without making too much of intervention but to support and enhance their learning to become confident and competent learners. This is very important as whatever a child plays with is all regarded as a learning resource. (Ministry of Education, 1996)
Reference list
Reference list
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki, he whaariki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.
MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2004). Techniques for teaching young children: Choices in theory and practice (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: Addison Wesley Longman.
Hi Razia,
ReplyDeleteI like watching the children brimming with curiosity, creativity, and unlimited possibilities when it comes to using a camera technology. You made a point that the use of the camera technology made it possible for the extension of the children’s play and exploration when connecting it with other technological tools like the computer. When using the camera with the children they usually asked me if they can have their photographs printed out, which means more technologies are going to be involved in this same activity: the printer and maybe the laminator machine. I recognized a lot of learning the children can get out of any technological equipment especially when they are interested in what they are doing. For example, G was focused and concentrated to the task of learning how to use the camera once you gave him the opportunity in response to his interest. He also learned about sharing opportunities, giving other children a chance to have a turn as you demonstrated it through your responsive teaching approach.
Smorti (1999) was right when he made us aware that we are surrounded and live in a world of technology. Therefore it’s our duty as teachers to ensure the young children are learning how to use and operate such technological tools like the camera, computer, printer and much more. We don’t want them to miss out on anything that makes their learning more inviting and interesting by having the technologies readily available in their environment. Gone are the days when we had to buy film and wait hours for processing our photographs. Today’s technology means that children can engage in meaningful play whereby the results are instant. Nowadays photos are at the touch of a button. The children take to this technology naturally and it is a joy to watch.
Who knows – one of those children whom you have taught how to use the camera might become a professional photographer in the next ten years or so.
Well done, it was an motivating activity and the interaction between the children and yourself made it possible for them to practice their social skills.
Fun! Using the cameras with the children is so much fun. What next? We ended up with so many photos on our camera. We now have a rule that if you take the photo, you have to download it, put it in the right folder,and name it. Then delete it off the camera.
ReplyDeleteIf photos on the computer are not labeled they are deleted after a month. Cheers Razia have fun :-)