Mash(2002) said that, “Technology has always been a central part
of children’s lives, and that the role of the teacher is to ensure that any
technology, is introduced into the EC setting carefully and critically.” When I
was having my teaching practicum in a community centre, I found that there have
a piano. From my observation, I found that children love to dance when teacher
was playing the piano. When I use my fingers to push the piano keys and different
piano keys will make different sounds. What a magic sound! At the same time, J
and D were shaking the shakers with their two hands and turning around with the
music while I was playing the piano. When I played slow and soothing music, his
movement was slow. When I played lively and fast music, I saw his movements were
getting fast as well. So
I believe children can follow the different melody to make relativity movement.
Dance activities can cultivate the child's motor coordination,
flexibility, rhythm, expression of emotion. The dance is also beneficial to the
child's state of mind, physical, emotional, moral and other aspects.
l Motor
coordination: Dancing need the co-ordination of the various parts of the body,
through the harmony of music and dance movements to reach the training of motor
coordination, and make kids more rhythmical.
l Improve
physical fitness: Dancing requires a certain amount of physical exertion, after
dancing it can promote appetite, enhance digestive function, increase body
resistance and reduce sickness opportunity.
l Cultivate
aesthetic emotion: Dancing performance inner world through music, movement,
facial expressions, posture, so that the children receive the nurturing of
artistic performances imperceptibly, children love life and appreciate beauty,
to experience the beauty.
l Fostering
children’s imagination: Dance performance through the body, action and eyes.
Dancing can stimulate the child’s imagination and creativity. It will promote
the intellectual development of children.
l Develop
self-confidence: Dance can be
developing the ability to performances, so that children do not have stage fright
in the social life. They can have strong
performance, and enhance self-confidence and better psychological quality. Te
Whariki states that”as part of a world revolution in communication, technology,
work and leisure” children will need to develop confidence in themselves and be
able to ‘continue acquiring new knowledge and skills’ (Ministry of Education,
1996).
l Team
work. Children learn that interaction with others during dance leads to a sense
of community, a sense of belonging and moving in relation to others.
I believe that technology is an important part of the living being.
It can change the way we live, and also to improve our lives. For example, like dancing, it can make
children healthier, but also make the children
more confident in their life. Te Whariki Stand 4, Goat 4
described that, “They discover and develop different ways to be creative and
expressive, children develop familiarity with a variety of types of music, art,
dance, and drama as expressions of feeling, mood, situation, occasion, and
culture” (Ministry of Education, 1996). I believe that the technology
can use in found that a child's
potential, at the same time make them more healthy, self-confidence, so that
they can have a better future.
Please enjoy the video. It is awesome!
Reference:
Marsh, J. (2002). Electronic toys:
Why should we be concerned? A response to Levin & Rosenquest (2001). Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood,
3 (1), 132-138.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Early Childhood
Curriculum Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga monga mokopuna o Aotearoa .Wellington,
New Zealand: Learning Media.
Dancing is technology and so is music, as a dance teacher myself, I am familiar with different aspects of dancing and normally people don’t introduce dancing in Ece. Dancing takes good coordination and problem solving, when introducing children to dancing they use all the strength and movements in their body. I am so glad that you used dancing in your reflection as not many people would think it is technology. I agree when you say dancing can develop children’s self confidence, it sure can dancing is basically body language and children often contribute to their own movements. Mixing this with music and you have such a great mix of technology. This is linked to “Through musical activities children learn to express joy and excitement and find out about the world that exists beyond their class room” (Kim & Robinson, 2010, p.46)
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! Great use of dancing and music for children to explore technology!
ReplyDeleteI think the children’s lives are shot through with music: music in the quiet cooing of a baby in her cot; the rhythmical banging of spoon on plate; the running around singing ‘Bob the Builder’ more times than can be possible and tolerate; the anticipation of the ‘Tickly tickly’ in a play rhyme with adults etc.
“Music can drive in many different directions. It is fundamental to our communicating, to forming relationships, with others. It can help to regulate emotions” (Susan, 2003)
As more is discovered about the abilities of children and their positive motivation to learn, the more we realise how important it is to provide them with the best to ensure their ‘well-being’ now and future.
That is amazing that children danced when you played the piano. Essa (1992) considers that children have already had numerous musical and rhythmic experiences by the time they enter an early childhood program. Songs with simple physical actions are favourites of this age group (Essa, 1992). Music linking to the technology, we can easily think of music arts, such as using electronic devices to play music, using computer software to composite, record, store and perform music, etc. From you reflection you also illustrates how dance benefits for children. It is a nice way to teach children the technology through their favourite activities, music and dance. Isenberg and Jalongo (2006) believe that music, movement and dance are rich and natural teaching resources for early childhood educators. It is also a domain of intelligence (Isenberg & Jalongo, 2006). Jacques D’Amboise thinks “our children can awaken to a knowledge of themselves-their community and their country-in ways that cannot be duplicated” (as cited in Isenber & Janlongo, 2006, p. 133).
ReplyDelete