Technologies for Children by Marilyn Fleer

Author:Marilyn Fleer [Fleer, Marilyn]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2016-05-10T04:00:00+00:00

Figure 5.5 Imagining digital solutions

David and Karen let me pretend. They put in the disk and then press the ‘L’. L is for Laura you know!

The next case example looks at the first year of school.

Looking inside a classroom: Foundation to Year 2

This section builds upon the concepts and program ideas introduced in the previous section, where the EYLF promoted experimentation by children with different technologies. In the Foundation to Year 2 level it is possible for children to ‘have had opportunities to create a range of digital solutions through guided play and integrated learning, such as using robotic toys to navigate a map or recording science data with software applications’ (ACARA, 2015, p. 77). The case example that follows shows how Mandy, a teacher in the Foundation level, introduced her children to a range of robotic toys. One of the toys introduced to the children was a Furby. This particular toy, although not programmable, did provide children with many opportunities to explore the relations between the Furbies as they interacted, and to consider the patterns of sounds noted by the children. The children were able to program the other robotic toys that they brought in from home. In the example that follows, the practices and investigations with the Furbies is presented as a final example featuring programming with robotic toys.

Digital toys: The example of a Furby is introduced, but any digital toy that is available and of interest to the children could be used. Examples of three design briefs follow. The first two are for the Foundation to Year 2 level. The third example illustrates how the same materials can be used for Years 5 and 6 children.

Design brief 1: Our class has been asked to adopt a Furby family and their robotic friends.

Context: how do we look after our Furby? What things do we need to do to look after it? Do we need to design a system of care? Do we need to make things for it (e.g. Furby house)? Will we take it home on weekends?

Draw up a roster for children to take the Furby home to look after it.

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