My idea about technology is something that has to do with electronic, for example, computers, cameras, phones, ipads, play station games and others. I have never thought those things I have done were technology, for example, cooking, helping others and solving problem. Smorti (1999, pg. 5) agrees and states that technology is a “creative and purposeful activity aimed at meeting needs” and it is also “about helping people and solving problems”.
Our Cook left early this morning so we have to cook our own afternoon tea. In the afternoon mat time we gave the children two choices of food for the children to choose for our afternoon tea and they chose chocolate flakes cookies. We all discussed the cooking tools that we need for our baking including bowl to put the flour and sugar into it, a spoon to stir the mixture, measuring spoon and cup to measure. We also have a list of all the ingredients and to make sure that we won’t miss a recipe, we put all the ingredients on other table from where we will do our mixing and measuring.
Each child that gathered around the table had a turn on measuring and pouring the ingredients even stirring the mixture and for food hygiene; they all washed their hands before touching things. Their favourite part was when rolling the mixture into circle/oval shapes and laid them on the tray. The children were so excited when the cookies were ready for them to eat and they think that there baking is yummier than their mum’s baking. Children showed their responsibilities in every step they did through the whole process of baking. They felt sense of belonging because they were not only baking at home but they did it at child care which makes them felt like they are at home and the outcome of their baking makes them achieved the feeling of satisfaction gained from success (Ministry of Education, 1996). Introducing cooking to young children is a good experience because it involves languages and social skills when communicating with other, mathematics concepts including measuring, counting and weighing.
After knowing that technology is a thinking process and it’s purpose is produce or successful, I myself sat back and thought about all the activities and the things that I have done with the children in my centre, where most of them were technologies. In my previous reflection I mentioned how I felt sad that I missed introduced to technology at early age but knowing that technology is producing, I took that sad feeling back. It is because I have been brought up in a handy-craft environment where we used natural resource and made things like traditional Tongan necklace, fan, purse, bracelet and kafa(a string that tie the ta’ovala(mat) into Tongan people waist) and sell them out especially for tourist. It was not only that but the memories that I had kept, I remembered cooking since I was in pre-school and I still do now. I have grown with these experiences and I did called myself the best cook ever with magic hands and with all those experiences I will lend it to teachers and children by sharing them my knowledge and teaching them my skills whereas Friedman (2005) concurs social studies is studying other people’s skills.
Reference List
Friedman, S. (2005). Social studies in action. Young Children on the Web, November 2001, 1-9.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki, he whaariki mätauranga mo nga mokopuna ö Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, 19, 5-10.
Cooking is such a great experience for the children. It’s so great when you hear children sharing amongst each other about their experience at home. The language is so interesting and it shows how valuable each activity is for their learning and development. The way they speak make eye contact with each other, and they show their facial expression even the hand movement I find that really interested to see. Cooking is also a great way for children to develop mathematic skill, language development, peer interaction and problem solving skills. This must have been a good learning not only for the children but also for you. I also do that think back to my pre-school days and reflect on the things I did or did not do and I try and implement them in the centre. The experience that I missed out on I implement with the children and I join in with the experience so this is why I enjoy my job so much. Thank you Kalo
ReplyDeleteHi Kalo
ReplyDeleteI loved this reflection, it took me back to my days helping my Nan bake chocolate chip cookies and having to whistle while I was cutting up the chocolate to prevent me from eating it. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I still remember it with fondness and yet I HATE cooking. Although if you had seen me in hospital as a child you would never have thought so, given the only time I ever turned up to class was for cooking.
I agree with you that tamariki learn a lot from cooking and its not just the skills they obtain from it, but also that social connection to their peers, teachers and whānau (or whoever it is they are cooking with). Have you ever considered teaching the children some of the skills you mentioned you learnt from your Tongan upbringing? I think they would love to learn something traditional that maybe is different to their own culture?
Have you got any photographs of the children cooking? This was a fantastic reflection, well done Kalo.
Hi Kalo
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your reflection about how the children had the opportunity to cook some cookies. What a great way of supporting the children as they interacted with each other and learnt maths and science through measuring, counting the minutes of how long it would take to cook the cookies, also liquid form as well. Adding to this learning development the children also shared turn taking, communication and taking ownership of their contribution.
I also like how you reflected on your own journey of when you were young and how you felt that you had missed out on an opportunity of being introduced to technology at such an early age. I feel that because technology has changed so much we can only learn from our past that proceeds to a future that is much more advanced. However, in saying that I am likely to question myself, do our past methods still work? Yes, indeed they do and some of these methods are still being practiced today such as cooking on an open fire, or making an umu like Ana’s reflection. I would think that this journey you are on is adding to what you know in a positive way, enhancing your knowledge that you too can share with your children.
Cooking is a very good activity for the children. Because they learn a lot of techniques through participating in a cooking process. Children get to socialise with their friends, share ideas, problem solve, learn how to use the kitchen utensils, learn how to measure and also learn the health and safety rules.
ReplyDeleteI believe cooking is one of the activities that children love, because from what I witness at my centre every time children sees a cooking activity being set up, they drop whatever they were doing and run towards the table.
I love how you gave the children a choice to choose what they want to cook. Reading your reflection I love how you reflect back to when you were young, yes I felt the same way too as I was growing up in the island but that made us value our natural resources, it made us memorized those activities which it became a fun and memorable activity for us. Reflecting back on those experiences when you were young can also help you to provide a fortunate opportunity learning for the children and you can also get to learn as you go along in your activity. Job well done Kalo!