Technology- Non Digital

Construction                                                              

Construction is one of the experiences that children tend to learn through hands on experience. Technology is about solving problems and making work easier for individuals (Smorti, 1999). Children learn about technology when they end to use the tools themselves, joining pieces of wood together to make objects for play. Construction enables children to learn about construction tools such as hammer, nails and wood. Children learn how to place nails on the piece of wood and hammer it together.

Technology has become an everyday use both in early childhood settings and in other places. Carpentry is one of the construction methods which enable children to learn about building and how children tend to learn through hands on experience (Sommerset, 2000).  Carpentry enables children to experience holding tools joining two pieces of wood together, exploration of new tools that through technology it has made it easier to build objects. Through construction and carpentry, children are offered with mathematical skills where measuring, counting and weighing are used.  This fosters children’s self- esteem and children’s experience a sense of contribution and practice through using social and language skills (Penrose, 1990).

In reflecting to my teaching and children’s learning about technology in construction, I can see that children find an interest in new objects and their observation of the tools and equipment supports their cognitive development and thinking skills. Encouraging children to place pieces together in order to join through using hammer, they find it exciting and interesting to construct objects on their own under my supervision. Providing variety of resources encourage construction play with children to encourage their learning through variety of experiences. Construction materials encourage children to combine materials in different ways to create objects (Isenberg & Jalongo, 2010).

Through scaffolding children to use tools so that children can participate effectively. Children tend to learn through observation and require thinking skills to create objects that they can confidently use and build confidence in learning about technology. Children tend to develop fine motor skills of holding the hammer and nails properly in order to construct objects. This learning experience and technology enable children to problem-solve and gain achievements through obtaining challenges (Penrose, 1990).

Through technology, toddlers seem to be learning different objects at a time and observation enable them to gain confidence to use construction as a learning opportunity. Te Whāriki- He Whāriki Mātauranga mo ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa states that technology used in variety of ways and purposes to explore the world. Growing experiences enable children to problem solve and develop the respect of differences and understanding their responsibilities in relation to others .Children gain experience in communication technologies that assist children to learn to communicate through diverse ways (Ministry of Education, 1996). Te Whāriki also states that technologies whether it is digital and non- digital ways. Use of different materials enable children recognise the different technologies to be used in various places and settings (Ministry of Education, 1996).Isenberg & Jalongo (2010) states that technology materials that promote creative thought and arts- based learning that are appropriate for children.