The children at my centre just love the hot glue guns that we have out for them to use. At the moment the boys are really into making swords with them, the girls are more inclined to use them at the collage table when creating. Smorti 1999 defines technology as "helping people and solving problems" (pg 5). I think the hot glue gun can definitely be classed as technology because; the children use it to help make their creations and it’s often the alternative to cello tape. If cello tape won’t work the children always go to the hot glue guns to solve the problem.
As we have the hot glue guns out every day I was able to observe the children using them while not having to be at the centre of what they were doing. I think this is really important, to step back and let children make discoveries on their own. As I was watching I found that the children are just so capable and confident with the hot glue guns. They all seemed to have a plan or vision in mind of what and how they wanted to create. Te Whariki 1996 states that should develop “the ability to represent their discoveries, using creative and expressive media and the technology associated with them” (pg88). I believe this is what was happening at the collage table with the hot glue guns. The children were using a range of materials to create their own unique creations, while using joining technology eg, glue guns, staples, paper clips.
I noticed a range of learning as the children were using the hot glue guns, the first was social competence, as we only have four glue guns two outside and two inside when a lot of children are at either table, they have to wait for their turn or pass the glue gun on to the next child. I found that it was a real social event being at the collage table, the children were discussing what they were making with each other, asking questions like ‘how did you that?’. Somerset 2000 states that the special value of collage is “they make something new that has meaning by assembling odd bits that already exist in a different form” (pg 83). The child would then explain to the others how they had constructed and joined their creation. The children weren’t just learning from the materials but from each other. I also noticed that the children were using their fine motor skills to manipulate the glue gun to aim the glue in the right spot, which can be tricky sometimes.
The main benefit I saw to this technology being in my centre was that the children were able to make creations from their imaginations come to life, and be a real object. The hot glue opens up a range of different possibilities for children to explore. The New Zealand Curriculum states that “Adaptation and innovation are at the heart of technological practice” (pg32), I believe this is true. By using hot glue guns in early childhood we are setting children up for life to be able to rethink, rework, original designs and believe that they can invent worth wild creations.
Hey Chloe!
ReplyDeleteThis was awesome to read as I have learnt so much by reading through your reflection, some great ideas to take to my centre, different ways of thiking.
I think its great the way you took a step back and observed the children rather than being in the centre of their work. I also found doing this a great way to actually visualize and see the great things children are learning whilst engadged in an activity. Your not their consitantly and you see the real learning occuring.
We also have glue guns at my own centre and Ive always loved the way the children create their own special piece of work and quite often share with everybody what they have done. I agree with you in saying that this can be a very good way for the children to enhance their social competence skills, while sharing, talking and taking turns :) . They also are able to be free in expressing their idea's through this sort of technology. Have you always had the glue guns in the same place? Could be cool to move them some where else and add a few new materials to make this experience even more exciting and inviting.
Ministry of Education (2003) states that children develop familiarity with the properties and character of the materials and technology used in the creative and expressive arts, (pg.80). I believe that this is true as children are using a piece of technology to help and make their work more creative with materials .
Nice work, From jess :)
xx
I never would have thought of a hot glue gun as technology I mean you put the glue stick in, it goes through a heated column and goes out runny and hot from the nozzle.
ReplyDeleteTe Whāriki (1996) suggests that through exploration a child can learn “the confidence to choose and experiment with material, to play around with ideas and to explore actively with all the senses” (pg.88) the more i read through your reflection I could see how its technology in its not normal form. The children would be learning to share and improve their fine motor skills and create their own creation which is all about the child expressing their creativity.
Our centre does not often let the children use hot glue gun as they do not believe that there is much to be learnt from using them and they might hurt themselves. But I think I need to go back to centre and put the hot glue guns on the table and let them go wild with it.
Thanks for sharing your insights....I'll give glue guns a go
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