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Sunday, 26 August 2012

Reflection Three

CD Player As A Media Technology

The history of music producing devices is a rich and varied journey. From the invention of the record tube by Thomas Edison to the multi -media player devices of today. Despite this varied past there was one theme with these technological devices- they played music for our enjoyment. However, they can do so much more and their uses are expanding all the time. My centre uses the CD player quite extensively. The children are welcomed with music, they are brought to the mat with music (minor transitions) and the day was ended with music. This is all made possible by the technology of CD players.



          I found one of my favorite books in the library- The Very Lazy Ladybird. It was a new edition with a CD. It was an audio-book. I wanted to have the children listen to the story as well as see the wonderful illustrations. I introduced the book during mat time. One of the girls helped me push the right button to open the CD player. She proceeded to insert the disc and play the right track. The volume was a bit low so she adjusted it. She was very confident in using the CD player. I believe this will make her competent with other technology as well. By the time she had finished adjusting the CD player, I had the rest of the students ready to follow the story. The children were really engaged with the audio-book’s sound track and sound effects.
The building of confidence in the use and operation of technology is in line with Te Whāriki’s technological goals. The Ministry of Education (2007) states that, “students will understand that technological systems have inputs, controlled transformations and outputs” (p.32). The child at the centre showed me that she understood how to input a compact disc and produce an output- the story playing through the CD player.
  
          CD players can be used to play music, poems, nursery rhymes and language listening posts. The use of audio books is just one way the technology of the CD player can be used in an early childhood centre. According to Johnson (2003), there are many benefits for using audio books in a classroom. Here are just a few:

  •          Introduce students to books above their reading level
  •          Language acquisition
  •          Teach critical listening
  •          Introduce new vocabulary
  •          Provide a read-aloud model
  •          Model good interpretive reading (¶6)

The CD player as a technology has exposed children to the wonder and power of music. Somerset (2000) recommends that every centre should have one tape player or CD player for the playing of music. She further states that by listening to music helps promote auditory discrimination which helps develop reading skills.  The Ministry of Education (1996) states that, “children develop familiarity with the properties and character of the material and technology used in the creative and expressive arts” (p.88). The technology of the CD player allows children to be exposed to the art form of music whenever and where ever they want.

           There are other technologies connected to CD players like microphones, earphones and compact discs that the children may encounter in an early childhood centre. According to Donohue (2003), “the technology of the CD- compact disc, can be used for more than just music but for storage and documentation of children’s pictures, artwork and progress” (p.19). The CD player may seem to be an outdated technology, but I believe it still has relevance in our centres here in New Zealand.

  •  The following clip illustrates how a child in kindergarten learned how to use a CD player through trial and error.

(Eggspudding, 2010)

  • This link is good for free audio books.
Audiobooks for Free   

  • A link for Peter Rabbit- audio and pictures.
Kids' Corner      




References

Donohue, C. (2003, November/December). Technology in early childhood education. Retrieved from    
          www.secure.worldforumfundation.org/library/5015417.pdf

Eggspudding. (2010, January 10). Cute 3 year old in preschool using CD player [Video file]. Retrieved from
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3CNoWSChBg

Google Image. CD player. Retrieved from http://www.google.co.nz/imgres? 
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          apple/&imgurl=http://onepithyparable.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/cd_player.jpg&w=
          360&h=360&ei=fsA4UP9BI_BiQfN6IDgAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&
          vpx=336&vpy=248&dur=3669&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=201&
          ty=166&sig=110660818834632523345&page=1&tbnh=112&tbnw=117&am
          p;start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:157

Google Image. CD players for children. Retrieved from  http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?   
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          amp;prmd=imvnsb&tbnid=voXR8a2G9fU2BM:&imgrefurl=http://cdplayersforkids.org/
          &imgurl=http://cdplayersforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cd-players-for-   
          children.jpg&w=400&h=533&ei=hLw4UKiWLeqziQeY5oDACQ&zoom=
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          149&tbnw=111&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:114,i:111

Google Image. zphaaJune 2011 210. Retrieved from http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?  
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          imvnsb&tbnid=q-Kr5qATJHOFZM:&imgrefurl=http://jen-peacefulparenting.blogspot.com
          /2011/07/music-in-our-home.html&imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-   
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          1&iact=hc&vpx=85&vpy=112&dur=19963&hovh=183&hovw=
          275&tx=170&ty=105&sig=110660818834632523345&page=3&tbnh=
          139&tbnw=179&start=28&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:28,i:205

Johnson, D. (2003). Benefits of audiobooks for all readers. Reading Rockets. Retrieved from  
          http://www.readingrockets.org/article/64/?theme=print

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa.
          Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand curriculum for English-medium teaching and learning in
          years 1-13. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

Somerset, G. (2000). Work and play in the early years (4th ed.).New Lyn, Auckland: New Zealand.   
          Playcentre Federation.

Here is the reference list for the YouTube videos in reflection two:

Smarteduemea. (2011, October 3). The history of technology in education [Video file]. Retrieved from     
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwWWsz_X9s&feature=fvwrel

Ucdavis. (2008, July 10). Computer games can help kids learn [Video file]. Retrieved from   
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfBiMmv4qt4&feature=related




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4 comments:

  1. UnknownTuesday, August 28, 2012 7:29:00 pm

    Hey lucy
    I believe compact disc players are a great piece of technology for centres to have, music is such a wonderful thing and can be used to express so many different things, (but we do need to know what we are putting on just to make sure the song doesn’t contain anything unsuitable). This ties in with The Ministry of Education (1996) who tell us “the arts are important to the growth of self-experssion and to a sense of self-worth and enjoyment” (p.94).

    I think the read along stories are great as they help children become familiar with the stories, and the children are able to feel like they have a part in the process when they are able to turn pages or point out pictures. Another great way to involve children with them is to record the children’s own story (if yours has a record function).

    I believe it was great that you allowed the children to use the c.d player with you as so often centres keep it out of children’s reach. Why do we do this, is it because we think it will get broken?
    We should let them use it so they can learn about it, Arthur, Beecher, Death, Docket and Farmer (2007) state that “children are competent users of technology, active agents in their own learning… (p.13).

    Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (2007). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4th ed.). South Melbourne, Australia: CENGAGE Learning.

    Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa : Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFriday, August 31, 2012 6:50:00 pm

    Hi Lucy,
    I like how you started your blog with a brief history on cd players and then got straight onto how your centre uses this technology. You introduced the children to an audio-book which is an excellent way for them to learn in a creative way. I like how you got children involved with this, letting the girl insert the disc and so on. You were able to create an atmosphere where children participated while they “gained experience in using communication technologies” (Ministry of Education, 1996 p.97). You recognised children’s interest in using technology and gave them your full attention when they showed their understanding. I agree with the idea that every centre should have one tape player or CD player to promote auditory discrimination which helps develop reading skills (Somerset 2000). You also gave examples of other technologies connected to the CD player and concluded with a relevant video clip. Thank you for sharing your ideas on how CD players are a significant technology which develops children’s learning, I enjoyed reading your blog.
    References:
    Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
    Somerset, G. (2000). Work and play in the early years (4th ed.).New Lyn, Auckland: New Zealand. Play Centre Federation.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sarajane.FrostSaturday, September 01, 2012 7:29:00 pm

    Hi Lucy,
    I found this reflection very informative. I only realised from reading your reflection the important role audio books play in the development of children’s reading. I liked how you included the points from Johnson (2003) these are highly informative as to what children benefit from the use of audio books in the class room. I think as technology becomes more and more advanced simple technology like the CD player gets forgotten about and not thought of when thinking about the word technology. You talked about the many other ways that a CD player could be used this was great have you tried using these in your centre to further the children’s use of the CD player? Something like the microphone could be left plugged into the CD player for the children to play CDs and sing along to. This experience would be great to allow the child explore music in his or her own way. This is supported by Gonzalez-Mena (2008) which states that “Exploring music, like exploring art or science, uses physical skills, involves feelings and social relationships, and enhances cognitive development opening up opportunities for honing problem-solving skills” (p.429).

    ReplyDelete
  4. Annalicia HiltonSunday, September 02, 2012 12:08:00 am

    Hey Lucy

    I think that it is great that you have chosen to talk about CD players as a form of technology. It is amazing to see how quickly children will come running when their favourite songs are being played through the CD player. I like how you allowed the child to put the disc into the player and turn it on for your mat time when she told you she knew how to do it. You gave her independence to complete a task without any help. This is supported by Ministry of Education (1996) which states “Children develop the confidence and ability to express their ideas and to assist others” (p.58).

    I also agree with you where you have linked the use of the CD player to promoting music, poems, nursery rhymes and language listening posts. This is supported by Ministry of Education (1996) which states “Children develop an expectation that music, art, drama, and dance can amuse, delight, comfort, illuminate, inform, and excite” (p.80).

    Have you thought about allowing each child to bring in their favourite audio book or CD to share with their peers?

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