In keeping with the theme of how we can foster children's learning about, and through technology, I am posting a few photos of Zoe when she was about 8 months old and into exploring the vacuum cleaner. What learning is going on for her here? What could I have done next to build on this learning?
I look forward to working reading your blogs!
Tamar
Cute pictures!!Cute baby!!
ReplyDeletewow gorgous wee girl, and yes through the photos technology is everywhere
ReplyDeleteZoe is soooo cute! I miss her!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tamar! Yep I'm happy that I can start writing my first reflective blog :) You have a good weekend too!
ReplyDeleteMindy
Hi Tamar, just letting you know my blogspot is cathyyoung2011.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteIt is great to see Zoe engaging in technology around the home. It is through curiosity and exploration of her environment that she is beginning to make sense of the world around her. In regards to technology, Lave (1991) states that “conditions for learning flourish in the interstices of family life” (p78). Zoe’s observations of how family members use technology at home help her to develop understandings about the role of technology within her world. Zoe has probably seen you use the vacuum many times before and as she watches you, she is absorbing your actions, seeing what you do. Notice how she immediately approaches not the wheels or the hose but the big buttons on the vaccum? By observing you, she may have a developing understanding that these buttons make something happen! She has developed her own theory and now she wants to put it to the test herself. I don’t know if Zoe was strong enough to activate the button herself but this may have been a good opportunity for you to sit with her and push the button with her several times, using simple language to describe what is happening such as ‘on’ and ‘off’. By also using facial expressions, perhaps of happy surprise when you both hear the whirring of the vacuum would help Zoe to connect the links between her action (of pushing the button) and the result (Vacuum whirring). Te Whāriki states that “the knowledge that trying things out, exploration, and curiosity are important and valued ways of learning” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p84). By interacting with Zoe as she explores the vacuum, you are showing her that you value her learning.
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blogspot details. My ultimate aim is to have Zoe do the vaccuuming herself (before she goes on to clean the bathroom)! On a more serious note you make a valid point that children learn a lot about technology from their home contexts and everyday objects and experiences are valuable opportunities for learning.
Hi Tamar,
ReplyDeleteIt is good to see that Zoe it exploring technology at 8 months old. I can see that at first she is looking at the vaccum cleaner but later she gets to the vaccum cleaner and tries to explore the buttons on the vaccum cleaner. Her curiosity has began by watching you vaccuming at home i assume. Zoe is more than 8 months now so to extend Zoe's interest in technology you can get down to her level and talk to her about the buttons. Allowing her to push the buttons and giving some positive feedback will make her explore even more (MacNaughton & Williams, 2009). You can also role model by showing her how to start the vaccum cleaner and you can vaccum the house with her help. This is by asking her to hold the vaccum hose while you vaccum the house. After you have done you can allow her to vaccum the house and see what she does. This way your work will be done as well as extending Zoe's interest in technology. As Tewhaariki says" Children experience an environment where exploration, and curiosity are important and valued ways of learning” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p84).
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHow Cute!! Hey Tamar I have found you which means this is a good thing, my blog.spot is rosemoni or rosemoni4@xtra.co.nz can you please try and let me know which one allowed you to my blogs.. Time to BLOG.
ReplyDeleteCheers Rose
HI Tamar, your daughter is beautiful and very inquistive she can feel how warm the vacum cleaner gets when its being used. GO on'Tamar teach her how to turn it on and off and bingo shes got a new toy, technology is great : ) When shes walking you can shorten the lenght of the tube and she will enjoy role modeling her mum. you are teaching Zoe to vacum the house to keep it clean and tidy. Has Zoe felt the suction on her hands yet :) Im not really smiling, I feel that would probably frighten her to pieces. I use to put it by my childrens feet so that they could feel the suction. shes so cute. enjoy her.
ReplyDeleteHi Tamar, you named your daughter well - Zoe - I understand what it means. She is precious too and showing signs of a very handy daughter in years to come. Familiarising herself with a technology that will help her to clean the house for Mummy. Thank God for technology. What would we do without technology? As it comes in the form of a vacuum cleaner there is no argument that technology really makes life easier for most people. At the press of a button the result is a spotless and clean house (with the help of a cleaner of course!) Growing up in the islands, there were no such things as vacuum cleaners but that was 30+ years ago, so imagine me sweeping and cleaning the house with a broom made out of coconut leaves? It would certainly be unheard of - not to mention inconvenient! As with all things, they have their strengths and weaknesses. For example, using a broom eliminates need for electricity. But if I was to pick between a broom and vacuum - well that's obvious what I would pick!
ReplyDeleteMay you enjoy every moment of Zoe's first months. They turn quickly into years and before you know it...She's a real blessing isn't she. I know. I'm enjoying my first and only grandchild from afar. He's 4 months and lives in Queensland and I'm in New Zealand. Not much fun but still I watched the mini videos his dad sent to those of us who lived afar.
Thank God for the globalization of technology.
Hi Tamar,
ReplyDeleteWith all the flashy and vibrant toys available it is funny how pegs, boxes and the vacuum cleaner can grab our little people’s attention.
Zoe looks absolutely fascinated between the buttons, the cord, likely the vacuum noise and that the vacuum moving as it does on wheels wow! What a toy. Not only does Zoe look like she is actively thinking about what is happening, there were opportunities to improve her motor skills, co-ordination and spatial awareness. You can make a game out of pushing the button to turn the vacuum cleaner on and off or pull the cord to his furthest then role model how when you push the button the cord will retract. This game was my niece’s favorites’ even though she had a shelf of flashy gadget type toys.
A way to demonstrate how a vacuum cleaner works, and sucks things up, sprinkle talcum powder on the floor. It looks very effective when you vacuum it up and can leave a child in awe.
This supports Te Whāriki’s exploration strand goal 3 where “Children experience an environment where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning”. From this goal we have the desired learning outcomes for children to develop like “a perception of themselves as “explorers” – competent, confident learners who ask questions and make discoveries & the confidence to choose and experiment with materials, to play around with ideas, and to explore actively with all the senses”(Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 88).
Kia Ora Tamar
ReplyDeleteToddlers love to do what mom and dad do. Whether it's cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, or working on the car, they are often eager to help.Vacuum cleaner can either be fear or fascination to a young child.
In this scenario Zoe's is probably fascinated with the vacuum cleaner and cleaning per se as it has been modelled when cleaning the house on a regular basis.
Children's are keen observers of the adult world and they are eager to learn and gain greater control over making their ideas and actions understood (Curtis & Carter, 2003).
As Zoe is into Piaget preoperational stage, exploration and discovery is an important aspect of her learning.
As(Curtis & Carter, 2003)state, some kind of learning require instruction, support, and challenge. Its unfair to ask a child to communicate ideas without showing them how to use tools to do so.
When we take the mystery out of tools, skills, and processes for learning, children will gain the confidence and ability to pursue their interest (Curtis & Carter, 2003).
As we make the learning experience visible to children, we can further their learning by coaching them to use tools, materials and specific strategies.
My recommendation is perhaps extending Zoe's interest in cleaning by providing her an educational miniture vacuum cleaner toy and some cleaning stuff like sponges, mops and dust pan.
A critical aspect of becoming a coach for children's learning is the belief that children are capable and deserving of the skills and information that adults have power over (Ministry of Education, 1996).
References:
Curtis, D. & Carter, M. (2003)Learning Together
with Young Children: A Curriculum Framework for
Reflective Teachers.
Ministry of Education. (1996) Te whāriki, he
Whāriki mātauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa:
Early childhood curriculum. Wellington,
New Zealand: Learning Media.
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ReplyDeleteKia ora Tamar
ReplyDeleteYour daughter Zoe is so curious as she explored the vacuum cleaner. Good to see that the noise that the vacuum makes does not frighten her. For Zoe to be able to learn about the vacuum you could turn the vacuum on and off so that she could press the button also. In this way she could engage with cause and effect method of learning. That is if you press the button something will happen where as in this case the vacuum goes on, by making a noise.
Technology is everywhere and from looking at your photos of your daughter I can see she is engaging and showing curiosity of the vacuum cleaner in many ways, I’m sure she has seen you busy vacuuming around the house, and now she is able to use her sense while it is left lying still for her to explore.
ReplyDeleteFriedman (2005) urges that we “take advantage of the learning opportunities that come up each and every day in children’s lives. Nothing sparks children’s desire to learn more than investigating things they already know and care about”.
By letting Zoe explore the vacuum cleaner at her own pace, you are already engaging and fostering her learning through technology, as you are giving her the opportunity to do this in a safe and secure environment.
Friedman,S. (2005). Social studies in action. Young Children on the Web, November 2001, 1-9.
Hi again Tamar, I have been reading my blog comments and its so nice to get all that welcoming positive feedback from my colleagues. I have been reading other teachers learning stories about their use of technology. We all have such a variety of experiences with the young children at our Early Childhood Centre's. These blogs are a wealth of knowledge to us all and we could help each other so much by swopping learning stories. I am really enjoying this experience and will continue to use my blog for years to come. Thank you Tamar :)
ReplyDeleteHi Tamar,
ReplyDeleteIt is so cool and awesome to see your daugther at 8 months exploring a technology equipment that you use on a daily basis or when you have time. Most children that I know at that age are scared of the vaccum and especially the sound it makes. But as I can see in the pictures Zoe seems to be very comfortable with the vaccum and shows no fear at all. You have provided Zoe with the chance to explore technology in her own environment where she feels safe and secure where she has also developed a strong sense of belonging.
Zoe has developed an interest for the vaccum and she is exploring what a vaccum is all about and especially what the buttons can do. I think you can extend on this particular interest by demonstrating how to turn the button on and off. I believe by doing that her interest will jump up another level where she will be feeling more eager and anixous to explore the vaccum more and more.
Hi, Tamar
ReplyDeleteThat was a gorgeous moment to capture that Zoe was exploring the material world, the environment, of course the technology as well. Infants learn through touch, smell, and hearing etc. I'm sure that he was having so much fun by just feeling the texture of the vacuum machine.In order to build up his interest on exploring, what if you turn the vacuum machine over and let him have a through exploration on it? Then he might start having interest on the wheels. As you would be there as a facilitator for his learning, he would feel safe and build up confidence to explore. By offering this opportunity, we would nerve know what could happen to Zoe and something else might provoke him to explore and to learn? Technology can provide so many possibilities for children's learning.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and suggestions for ways I could extend Zoe's interest in the vaccuum cleaner. I was very interested to read about Elisapeta's experience growing up without vaccuum cleaners - it just goes to show how technology changes our lives and becomes a part of our everyday practices in ways we are not always aware of. Mavis you joked about letting Zoe feel the suction of the vaccuum cleaner - funny thing is the other day she had crumbs all over her while I was vaccuuming and so I made a joke about vaccuuming thecrumbs off her and she absolutely loved it. Rose you commented that most children you know at 8 months old are scared of the noice vaccuum cleaners make but not my little girl - she just laughs! I also like the suggestions about encouraging Zoe to try using the vaccuum cleaner herslef - all part of my cnning plan to get her to do the housework! Seriously this is a great age to make the most of children wanting to help and next time I pull the vaccuum cleaner out I will think of you all and see if she would like a turn.
ReplyDeleteHi Tamar!
ReplyDeleteI feel that Zoe spends more time awake and alert and becomes more curious about what you do everyday which are valuable opportunities for learning. Children do learn a lot about technology from their home contexts. As for my daughter when she was of Zoe’s age she used to help me sweep the house with the broom and was not exposed to the vacuum cleaner until we came to this country. Tamar, I tell you when it came to vacuuming the house I used to have very hard time as she would just yell and cry and would never come near it, probably the sound of vacuum that frightened her. But I was so amazed to see Zoe exploring and curious about the vacuum cleaner with a smile on her face. “There is an increasing awareness of the technological world that we live in : a world that people have created and changed through technology” (Smorti, 1999, p.5). It seems that Zoe is very observant as in the photo she is not looking at who is doing the vacuum but just concentrating on the vacuum cleaner, the sound it makes but how? She is looking at the big buttons perhaps she must have seen you role modeled so she is doing the same. Through her exploration and curiosity you might just offer Zoe a turn and let her be on her own and see where she takes you. Get down to her level and have some verbal communication with her such as ‘on’ and ‘off’ buttons.
Smorti, S. (1999). Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No.19 Autumn 1999, 5-10.
The first picture shows that someone at a distance is vacuuming and Zoe is sitting and looking at the vacuum cleaner. From this I can say that Zoe is participating in a learning environment that offers her the auditory, visual and social stimulation. These are essential for learning in the formative years. Some toddlers are terrified of vacuum cleaners, especially with the noise but Zoe seems to be comfortable. The second and third picture shows that Zoe is exploring the vacuum cleaner. She seems to be pushing the buttons which indicates that she is developing courage and confidence with the vacuum cleaner. I think that balance and timing are the keys to healthy development; provide the right kind of experience at the right time. To extend on the learning you could take pictures of her exploring the vacuum cleaner. You could compile the pictures and write a story that you could read to her. This will help her to become more familiar with vacuum cleaners.
ReplyDeleteit's good to see Zoe learning about technology around the home. It's her curiosity and her will to explore her environment that she is beginning to make sense of the world around her. looking at the second picture, i assume she went straight to the button and this happened because she observes you while you operate the vacuum. i wonder if she was able to turn it on? i liked her confidence of approaching the vacuum cleaner as in some cases i have seen children starting to cry at the sight of the vacuum. to extend her learning, you could take pictures and again some day sit with her and explore other parts of the vacuum cleaner.
ReplyDeleteCute Zoe!! What children see becomes their learning and exploring motive. Through Zoe’s observation and interest she was very keen to know what the vacuum cleaner is all about so she started exploring. Children learn about technology from home context. Technology plays a significant role in children’s everyday life. I have noticed that some of the children are scared of vacuum cleaner noise but Zoe is so brave that she was so curious to explore and she was not afraid to use the buttons. You can extend Zoe’s learning by showing her what each buttons represents such as on and off and talking about different of the vacuum cleaner.
ReplyDeleteHi Tamar, Zoe is a gorgeous child. I have read the blogs of all my fellow students above and agree with all their interpretations with similar outcome. It is fully agreed that little children same as most other animal species learn from their parents if not adults around them, whom they spend considerable time with. Zoe I presume has watched you touch, turn on the vacuum, move it around with the hose, unplug etc, on more than one occasion. So her inquisitiveness and curiosity of wanting to explore has taken control of her actions wanting to touch the vacuum, especially the button as her mind specifically remembers watching the button being pressed and the sound of the motor starting. It could also be a sound triggered enthusiasm as Zoe's brain wants to process the pressing of the button and the sound factor, in other words she is learning that it is something about that button that initiates the sound. Zoe's mind is beginning to explore her environment through materials around her, only now more physically than just watching.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and glad to see she is learning some very important house keeping skills.
Children are highly curious and their learning is extended and expanded as a result of their curiosity and their inquisitive minds. Little Zoe is at the stage when she is both curious and inquisitive. She would enjoy exploring the various parts of the vacuum cleaner, pulling at the electrical cord and pushing the machine around, developing her motor skill. In the first photograph, her focus was on the electrical cord. When Mum Tamar moved the vacuum cleaner, the cord would move along and she must be wondering why it was moving all the time. In the second and third photographs, she was playing with and exploring the external parts of the vacuum cleaner, touching and feeling the machine. Probably at this point, the vacuum cleaner was still warm as it had just been used by mum. Zoe was having ‘hands-on’ experiences.
ReplyDeleteMum could extend Zoe’s learning by demonstrating to her how the machine works. For instance, she could place marbles all around Zoe and then use the vacuum cleaner to suck them up. She could then ask Zoe “Where have all the marbles gone?” At this juncture, mum could open up the compartment to show her where the marbles have gone to. At her present age, little Zoe might not know how the vacuum cleaner functions. However, this demonstration would leave an impression in her little inquisitive mind to make her want to explore further. In time to come, she would learn more about the vacuum cleaner. As Fleer & Jane (1999) have stated, children’s experiences in technology begin at home.
Reference List
Fleer, M., & Jane, B. (1999). Technology for children: Developing your own approach. New South Wale, Australia: Prentice Hall.
What a cutie! The pictures showed Zoe noticed the vacuum cleaner, exploring and satisfied with her adventure. Technology is everywhere! Being at home with the environment Zoe knows and the people she bonds with, she feels comfortable and safe. This encouraged her to explore the vacuum cleaner by feeling the texture and pressing the buttons. It is important that provides a familiarity and security environment for the infant to explore and learn from (Fleer & Linke, 1999). I also noticed that your vacuum cleaner is green, the color stood out in the room. Maybe the brighter color caught Zoe’s attention? Anyway, she really enjoyed herself as clearly shown on the picture. It looks like one of the buttons on your vacuum cleaner rewinds the cord. Just an idea, maybe by showing Zoe what that particular button does let her try herself. This is a simple mechanism to help Zoe making sense of how things work. This would also stimulate her curiosity to find out what the other buttons do. This is in line with Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aoteraroa/early childhood curriculum, “The knowledge that trying things out, exploration and curiosity are important and valued ways of learning” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.84).
ReplyDeleteFleer, M., & Linke, P. (1999). Babies: Responding appropriately to infants. Research in practice series (6) 2. ACT: Australian Early Childhood Association.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aoteraroa. Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Hello Tamar,
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that at 8 months old, Zoe was already using and exploring technology. Through her observations and exploration her interest and curiosity was extended. As Te Whaariki states, children should develop to see themselves as 'explorers'- capable learners that question and discover new things (Ministry of Education, 1996). To extend on her interest and curiosity even further maybe the next time you are vacuuming, you could show her the various features and/or parts of the vacuum cleaner such as the inside, the vacuum hose and buttons. She would definitely have fun pressing the buttons and watching what happens, and also observing the parts she has never seen before. Another thing you could consider is if you don't have time to vacuum maybe another member of the family could do the vacuuming with Zoe and they can both learn from this interaction. This would give Zoe the opportunity to put her developing theories and understanding of the vacuum to the test. Other people (ie your family etc) also would have the opportunity to learn and see what Zoe has learned. They can then tell you what they think of the learning that went on. Would be good too to know what Zoe thinks of the vacuum cleaner, so what she says could be noted down next time she uses the vacuum.
Reference List
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aoteraroa. Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Kia ora Tamar, Well finally I got to get on..Anyway its great to see that at an early age you can see all the learning that is going on. Yes I strongly agree that all children are very curious. It brings me to mind about when my 2nd eldest son, at that age was curious about bumble bees. He like to catch them and other insects as well, just to look at them. Luckily he was not allergic. He was fascinated about everything to the video machine as well, by the age of two years. I would let him explore everything to climbing high stairs. I would watch and observe. You sometimes can tell what a child is thinking by the way they look at you and what they want. A supportive parent will allow their children to explore as much as they can within the boundaries the parent has placed. As for the vacuuming lets hope that Zoe still likes the vacuuming when she gets older aye! lol
ReplyDeleteKia Ora Tamar,
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that at 8 months old, Zoe using and exploring technology. I admire her confident of be around to the vacuum cleaner while it is going whereas my daughter when she was age of Zoe would have be seen near vacuum cleaner when it is turn on because she was so scared of the noise. Children show more curiosity and their learning can be enhance through that curiosity. Zoe was working on her curiosity by pulling the cord of the vacuum cleaner and pushing all the buttons on the top of the vacuum cleaner. She was having hands on experience and at the same time building on her fine motor skills. Form noticing Zoe I could say that for children technology starts from home.
Kia Ora Tamar,
ReplyDeleteFinally I have started blogging despite the problem.Zoe is cute and it is quiet interesting to see that she started exploring technology at her very early age. Looking at thev pictures it seems thta Zoe is really wants to have a turn.
Cheers
Malo e lelei Tamar..
ReplyDeleteZoe is so so cute. I presume that her interest of the vacuum began with you when she first observed you bringing it out onto the floor then hearing the sound that it makes and seeing it move around on the floor. I can see by the pics that she is drawn to it and enjoys exploring the vacuum. Really awesome. I've seen children that were terrified once they heard the noise that it made and they began to cry. But well done to you Tamar from the looks of the pics Zoe appears to really enjoy the vacuum while you are utilizing it. My suggestion would be the same as the other bloggers about allowing her or teaching her to turn the vacuum off and on then maybe try laying the vacuum on it's side and introducing it's wheels to Zoe. Have fun.