Final Reflection on Feedback

Through reading the feedback on blogger, I had more understanding about technology and how children use technology in everyday life in early childhood centre. I have to say that the term “technology” was very abstract to me before, and hard to understand, except I could link to some hi-tech products such as computer and camera... I nearly had no any ideas about no-digital technology in our life and in early childhood settings, but now it becomes visible and touchable and more reality. The definition of technology becomes clearer now—first of all, technology is a vital area in early childhood curriculum, and it is about helping people and solving problems... and “is a creative and purposeful activity aimed at meeting needs and opportunities through the development of products, systems or environments” (Smori 1999, p.1). And “technology emphasizes creative and productive aspects of solving problems and answer questions” (p.6).   A cello-tape, glue, an activity and even a cooking process which all can be called technology. I found technology is everywhere!

Exploring in blog is an excited journey. I am like a busy bee, and get a little bit from here, and get a drop from there and busy with making honey. I learnt how to make a comment and how to post it on blog and so on; I did learn a lot from others’ feedback on blog. Some ideas I even didn’t think of, but others can help me to find out, it was very helpful. For example, I only know red and blue can mix purple by color theory, but I had never known the ratio was 4:3, no wonder the purple color I made before was not obvious to see. This finding comes from the Caroline’s feedback and I so appreciate her contribution. I have never thought that children working with technology actually develop the relationships with people, things and places, as I only focus on some skills. I quite like this idea from the feedback. From the feedback we also had a finding that children play with computer can foster the habit for them to develop research skill in the future.

Blogs as an online chronological collection of personal commentary and links engage people in knowledge sharing and reflection (Hong, 2008). It provides a wide and useful platform for us to sharing ideas, information and learning with others. From this point of view, blog can stimulate reading and motivated learning through reflection (Yang, 2009).When I was making comments to others, just feel like face to face talking, and so close to each other. Blog from a stranger becomes a good friend to me, and finally I know how to use blog, the more I use and the more I will learn and get used to. Others’ feedback is like a bright mirror in front of me, and let me see myself very clearly, and know where to go, which really helps me to grow. The feedback always helps me to enlarge my sight of view for my own learning. What a great way to learn from others...and I so appreciate the benefits that blog this hi-tech product brings to us.

Smori, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, 19, 5-10

Wang, H. (2008). Exploring the educational use of blogs in U.S. education. US – China Education Review, 5 (10), 34-37.

Yang, S.-H. (2009). Using blogs to enhance critical reflection and community of practice.  Educational Technology & Society, 12 (2), 11-21.  Available online from http://www.ifets.info/journals/12_2/2.pdf