Two years ago, my husband purchased a PS3 player in which we can watch Blue Ray movie DVD’s and play games as well (information provided by my husband). Last month, he went and bought “Disney Cars game” for our son which cost him $88.00. I was incensed as that amount could have been spent wisely on food which would have lasted us at least for a week or two.
Would my three and a half year old son be able to play that game and will he be able to take care of it? I thought to myself. Anyways, both my husband and my son sat down together to play the game. My husband demonstrated to my son how to use the control and to manoeuvre the control so that the car would not go off the track. For the first couple of weeks, he could not follow it, and whilst playing the game, the car would keep smashing into the barriers and be all over the place. It is now almost a month and I have noticed that he is able to keep the car on the track for at least for a little while.
He is content, quite occupied with his new game and is slowly showing dexterity in using the control. How should I, as a mother and more importantly as an early childhood educator be feeling in regards to his experience with this new technology? You guessed it right. I slowly realised that since he is growing around technology, I needed to be positive, provide support and scaffold hi
s learning. Smorti (1999) views technology as providing opportunities to solve a problem.
s learning. Smorti (1999) views technology as providing opportunities to solve a problem. When I think back of how I had initially reacted, I feel angry with myself for not seeing the bigger picture in terms of how acquiring the skills can equip him better around technology in this twenty-first century society. Ministry of Education (1996) highlights that in order for children to participate in this world they need to acquire new knowledge and skills. I now sit with him when he is playing the game and guide him in how to manoeuvre to the left or right or keep going straight. Using Vygotsky’s Socio-cultural theory, in the form of social interaction, I have provided that guidance where he is learning to understand the instruction and is internalising this information to regulate his performance (Santrock, 2008). He is now able to use the control quite deftly. His fine motor skills are refining and his hand and eye co-ordination is becoming better. I feel I had initially misjudged his capability and seeing how he is now able to manoeuvre the control, I will spend more time supporting him acquire this new skill.
As an educator, I need to understand that my environment as I was growing up was way different to what it is now. I played with sticks, empty paint gallons, marbles and climbed trees. Children live and participate in daily life activities that are permeated with the presence of wide range of technologies. They have access to many high technology toys, games, experiences and equipment. Some examples are talking dolls, remote control vehicles, books with music CD’s, Nintendo’s and the list goes on. This is due to an influx of the range of technological artefacts now available to children (Fleer & Jane, 2011).
Given the fact that technology is here to stay and going forward will become more advanced (I was amazed to see a virtual reality game just the other day in one of the electrical stores), I should not miss the boat but embrace it and let our children grow with it. My role is to provide support and learning opportunities to prepare children to become competent in using high technology. Although in saying this, children should also experience simple technologies such as playing with spades and buckets in the sandpit, having their own vegetable garden and caring and sustaining the natural environment. As educator, I need to provide that balance so that children can experience both high and simple technologies.
References:
Fleer, M., & Jane, B. (2011). Design and technology for children. Frenchs Forest, New South Wales, Australia: Pearson Australia.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Santrock, J. W. (2008). Lifespan development (11th ed., International). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.
Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No.19 Autumn 1999.
Photos from http://www.google.com/.
Shabnam, I feel your final sentence is very important and shows just how important balance is, in our early childhood centres when technology is involved. As in all areas of our life, we need to find a healthy balance and as teachers I believe we need to be diligent and limit digital technology.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how you linked the computer game with Vygotsky’s Socio-cultural theory and that you were able to reflect back and take the positives out of the cars game not the negatives.
Keep the good work up Shabnam and remember to let you son win the cars game occasionally.
Hi Shabnam,
ReplyDeleteFirstly I feel you have written a blog that is close to your heart and demonstrates your growth in understanding and accepting technology in our world.
In an answer to your question I feel we all focus on negatives of technology at some stage as the negatives are constantly being expressed to us through society. Therefore you are not alone in only seeing the negatives of technology.
However your awareness and growth around seeing the positive side of technology is just great, I am not a fan of video games-so I would have felt they same way to. However your blog has shown me the many positive aspects that they can have. Through your son spending time with you and your husband it provided that ‘special moment’ when learning and relationships were being strengthened. This then relates to Vygotsky's socio cultural theory as your son was learning about technology in his culture through interaction with people close to him.
I also feel your son was gaining problem solving skills (through determining how to keep the car on track) as well as understanding how he is controlling the game through the remote; the game is not controlling him.
Your blog has provided me with the knowledge that video games are not all about violence and getting 'square eyes' from sitting in front of the television all day. I can now see that video games can enhance problem solving, social interactions and understanding of process and design of technology.
I do agree with you that as educators we need to find the balance between learning through technology and learning through other mediums (like play, books and exploring the environment). Even though technology has many opportunities for learning and is highly relevant to the world we are living in; we cannot let it rule and overtake our lives.
Shabnam I enjoyed reading this blog and it is interesting how you have changed your outlook towards the ps3 game. My opinion would have been and has been the same as yours in why spend that much money on that sort of game for a child so young. I strongly feel that as parents and educators there are so many other things we can be introducing our children to and that they have the rest of their life to play these types of games. Then as I read on you have now opened my eyes as to the benefits of children so young using these. Sharing how the child’s hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills are improving through using this technology makes me feel that it’s not all bad. It is also nice to see that you and your husband are interacting with your son and enjoying the experience in a social way rather than him sitting alone for hours. This has made me think that maybe introducing certain times to use these games into our centres could benefit the child who is unsure on how to start interacting in other ways. Still not convinced fully about that what is your opinion?
ReplyDeleteI do strongly support your feeling s that children should also be shown and exposed to simple technologies that enable them to explore their environment and invest in the natural world.
I believe that as a parent and educator exposing children to this type of technology in moderation is great as yes we do need to move with them Shabnam as this is a fast moving technological world. I also have a son and a husband who enjoy playing their ps3 but my son still enjoys playing outside on his bike or trampoline and going to the beach. These are the experiences we do not want our children to lose but they also need to be part of this modern world we live in.
Wow Shabnam, I really enjoyed reading your reflection, firstly because its about a PS3 and secondly because you were honest.Game consoles these days are great and when used in moderation can be a powerful learning tool for all involved. It amazes me they way my children can interact with device like this so easily and when you look further and really think about it, these game consoles open up a whole new world of learning and discovery. I honestly believe though that if my partner were not the computer genius he is or if I were a total opposite to him, we would not have as many game consoles we have now.We love playing video games either alone or with our children so it is great to see that you too join in with your son to guide him teach him and interact with him.I honestly believe if more families took the time to be more involved with their children when using game consoles the experience of video game playing would be more worthwhile and an opportunity for learning.Thank you Shabnam for sharing this reflection which also supports my reflection on the many benefits of technology being electronic devices in the home.Ka Pai!
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