Playdough as technology
How playdough enhances teaching and
learning in early childhood education
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| Technological process |
The concept
of non-digital technology has helped me to understand better technology as a
whole. I am still in the early stages of building a solid knowledge of
technology. However, I believe that I can conclude that technology is more than
a final product (digital or not). The processes of thinking, problem-solving
and risk-taking are the basis for the technology.
The
playdough activity offers children the chance to explore those basic concepts
in technology as they have the opportunity to focus on the process rather.
Although the goal is to have a final product, the process is more important as
it is through it that children can extend their technologic skills. Don’t
children use the same skills when exploring with digital devices?
Playdough,
as non-digital technologic device or rather its process making, is the same
used in cooking process. What is cooking other than food technology? The New
Zealand Curriculum (2007) has Biotechnology (food technology) as one of the
learning areas in later educational years. Furthermore, Te Whaariki (Ministry
of Education, 1996) expects that learning and experiences in early childhood education
will have links to school and vice-versa. As we make playdough, children are
being provided with connections to next stages of their education.
I can clearly see how non-digital devices can
enhance teaching and learning in technology and how they connect to each other.
I also recognise that I need to develop my abilities to work within this
sphere. Technology is entrenched in our lives, even through unimaginable (at
least, for me!) non-digital devices (pen, paper clips). I must admit that I
need to refine my skills in order to recognize that technology can be taught
and learnt through different resources and medias. As someone who is not very
familiar with technology in general, I will have to be alert in order to foster
effect technologic learning across different curriculum/ learning areas.
Fleer and
Jane (2011) also discussed that cooperative technological learning, as it
happened in the group process of making playdough, children are able to develop
cooperative skills that are useful in a range of different situations. The
children are also able to share ideas, solutions, feedbacks and evaluate each
other’s contribute. Those are all very important learning and life skills as
well as technological skills.
Children working collaboratively
Children working collaboratively
This idea of
cooperative technological learning is very relevant for me as I feel that I can
develop my own skills and knowledge about technology with classmates, work
colleagues and the children as well. Now that I am aware of the existence of
non-digital technology, I have started working on strategies to extend my own
and children’s learning in this area.
The first step I am taking to address this is to
include technology as one of our learning areas in our planning. Especially for
non-digital technology, I need to extend my understanding and familiarity with
technological experiences that are focused on processes. I also acknowledge that
I need to address my lack of knowledge
of technical language.
Manu, your reflection was very interesting! I like the way your first paragraph clearly explains how playdough relates to technology because the process you go through to end up with the final product. It really makes me think about the activities I set up at my centre if it involved non-digital technology. I think we are all learning and gaining more knowledge about technology as a whole instead of just digital devices. Once we have a better understanding and knowledge of it all, it will then become easier for us to pass our skills and knowledge down to the children.
ReplyDeletePlaydough is a great learning tool for children because it has alot involved such as the process of making it to the end product where they can create more things from their imagination. I agree playdough does offer children the opportunity to explore because it has alot of learning involved and endless creativity.
Kia Ora Manu
ReplyDeleteInteresting read about play dough being a non digital technology. Hey another interesting fact I just looked up via Google. Did you know the original use for play dough was made to be a wall paper cleaner. Back in the old days when people used to heat their homes using coal furnaces, there would be soot left on the walls. If they had wall paper, the soot couldn't be washed off. So play dough was originally made to be a cleaner for wall papers. This had only changed when people had washable wall papers and also stopped using coal furnaces (OMG-facts.com, 2012). Its amazing how this piece of technology was made for a certain purpose and yet was able to be used in such a creative way to mould things into being. You are right as Smorti (1999) says, 'that technology also involves processes developed with the purpose to have a final product to meet one’s needs.'With this piece of technology these days its the process of creating and using imagination that is important in order to get the final product.
Kia Ora Manu,
ReplyDeleteYour reflection really made me think, much like you i am still learning the about notion of technology especially non digital technology. it wasn't until i read Smorit that i realized just how important the process is in technology and as you said when it comes to play dough the process is really important. I've always loved play dough in Centres as i feel its a great learning experiences and manipulative play is important to me how ever i never really saw it as technology until now.
The concept of cooperative technological learning is great and thanks for bringing it to my attention and yes it would be great for you to develop you skill and trust me the children will most properly know more about the digital technology than yourself i found this out when we got our IPADs and the children now show me how to use them.
great read manu thanks
Hey Manu
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you're really getting into the idea of non-digital technology. Play dough is a great, easy-to-make resource for the children and I never really thought about it before. The fact that biotechnology is now recognised in schools is a big plus. We can introduce children to the technology of play dough from its creation to how we play with it. Play dough is a great medium for children to use to create explore and communicate. I think you have some great ideas about non-digital technology. I’m not sure you need to understand the technical language comprehensively though, maybe just enough that you can be the translator for the children and other staff in your centre. A good place to start is what the children know. Figure out where they are at on the technology scale and you can build from there. If they are close to your level, all the better. You can learn alongside with them.