Technology Project

 

Technology Project
4th May to 12th June 2009

Technology has always been a very visible feature of the Odyssey program. Technology serves as the tool for learning content and skills, for inquiry and research, and for communication and representing knowledge. Extensive infusion of technology complements the Odyssey objective statements based on the changing educational trends where the goal is to effectively equipped our children with the skills necessary for success as well-rounded, resilient and capable individuals in a globalized and technological world of the 21st century. Children from all levels and their teachers had participated actively in this project. A variety of project plans were proposed with the objectives of encouraging children’s ideas of how they could use technology as a tool for research and learning, as well as a media for representation in the classrooms.

The children’s technology project explorations were culminated with a big bang at the respective Odyssey centers; at Alexandra on 10th June, and at Wilkinson on 12th June 2009.

Video Camera & Sound Recorder Project by the Nursery1, The Discoverers

The Nursery 1 children have been showing very high interest in their teacher’s handphone camera, and often asked if their classroom activities have been recorded. At the same time, teachers often observed the children’s curiosity with the CCTV camera installed in the classroom, and how intrigued the children were when they realized that their classroom could be seen in the CCTV screen at the Piazza. They asked why there were no sounds in the CCTV. This prompted the idea for a project involving the video camera & sound recorder.
 

                                         

Exploring with the video camera/ sound recorder

The project commenced with the children’s actively exploring with a video camera/sound recorder. They experimented with the different types of video cameras and sound recorders, and teachers helped them research for related pictures of video camera and recorders on the internet.
 

                

 

Experimenting - Recording

In this part of the project, the children explored with the technological gadgets. The first group of children with their digital cameras went around the school campus to take interesting pictures of places or things they saw, while another group of children  experimented with the idea of recording sounds. They identified places or things that made sounds like the shower in the bathroom, the water fountain, windchimes and so on.
 

Show N Tell ‘Our Creations’

Parents were actively involved in the project too. They worked with their children at home to construct 3D models of video camera and sound recorder. These creative  models of the technological gadgets were brought into the classroom for show and tell. In showing and sharing their work with their teachers and friends in class, the children had the opportunity to reinforce their verbal competencies as they expressed their ideas and feelings. Cognitively, the children were able to expand their knowledge and social, emotionally, develop their confidence in public speaking.
 

 

 

Pen Drawing

One of the project representation activities had involved the children in interpreting their ideas and learning of the video camera and sound recorder through pen drawing. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

In consolidating the project, the children made video bookmarks for their parents. This was an enriching experience that helped children revisit their project experiences while enriching their linguistic and spatial experiences. The children chose pictures of themselves and talked about what they were doing in the photo while decorating the bookmark.

 

 

 

 

Young Composers Project by Kindy 2, The Travellers

Music is a part of our lives … it is everywhere. Children are surrounded by music; on the TV, radio and ipods.  At the Odyssey, music is part of the children’s daily programme.  The children wanted to explore and make their own music.  They also wanted to investigate the technology involved in creating music.  Their technologically-inspired music experiences led to the Young Composers Project and the production of a music CD and music video. The Young Composers Project incorporated 3 key project experiences
1) Instrumental, 2) Children’s Songs and 3) Nature Song.

                                             
 

 In Instrumental, children explore the sounds and rhythm created by the different instruments on GarageBand such as guitar, piano, violin and so on. Their exploration led to them to creating their very own song.

                            

                  

 

The second part of the Young Composers’ Project, Children’s Song had involved another group of children in composing the music and lyrics using Garageband too. The children worked as a team to write the lyrics and they named their newly created song, “A Friend’s Song”.

                                                               

Nature Song involved the children in exploring the natural environment outside the classroom.  This group of children explored sounds in nature such as the sound made by the water fountain, recorded these sounds using a sound recorder, which they put into creating a soothing piece of music.

 

 TechnoComm Project by the Kindy 1, The Adventurers

The children have always been interested in, and enjoy exploring with technology, such as surfing websites for games, using the classroom scanner and digital camera. The idea for embarking on a TechnoComm project came about when children decided that they would like to explore with gadgets like the computer, digital camera and the scanner, and how these could be used as the media for creating simple projects. TechnoComm project had showcased the children’s learning as a journey of exciting discovery and exploration with the computer, digital camera and scanner.

The three main investigation areas involved in this project were 1) Exploring with the Digital Camera, 2) Photo Journal and 3) Digital Art.

                                 

Exploring with the Digital Camera
The initial explorations involved the children in taking pictures of interesting places and things in their surroundings. Armed with digital cameras, the children explored the outdoor environment and identified places or things of interest for taking pictures.
 

                       

Photo Story
With the pictures taken, children began an active process of downloading the pictures onto the computer, to create a slide show on powerpoint. They discussed and brainstormed ideas for a story using the photos they have taken. This was used to create a photo story.

Digital Art
In this part of the TechnoComm project, children explored and experimented with the software program – Paint. They made discoveries and learned about spatial concepts while enjoying an enriched aesthetic experience of exploring with forms, designs and colors. Working collaboratively in small groups had also enabled these children to learn about negotiation skills as they discussed about their drawing.
 

                

 

Techno-Literacy Project by Nursery 2, The Inquirers

This project is the result of children’s interest in using technology to represent their ideas. Their interest was observed while reinforcing their learning in various curriculum areas. Through the Techno-Literacy Project, teachers hope to orient children towards various features of computers, digital cameras and printers. The project should also provide the context for children to use technology in exploring their environment and reinforcing their learning from various skill areas. 




Technology is…
After the introduction to the word ‘Technology’, each child chose pictures of objects from newspapers and magazines that represented their understanding. Elaborate explanations regarding the technological aspects of these technological objects were offered by children.

                                                    

Capturing Technology
Real objects that represented technology in the classroom were identified and photographed. These photographs were uploaded to a computer and printed on the colour printer

Take a Shot
An opportunity to use a semi-professional digital camera was made available for the children. Bracket Fungus contributed by a parent was the object of focus for this exploration. Children explored taking close-up shots using the camera. Another opportunity was made available to explore the use of a digital camera. Children explored taking long distance shots of trees on the Odyssey campus.

                                                                  
                      

E-Book
Two groups of children decided to create E-Books. They had group discussions to decide on the topic of their  E-Book. The result was the creation of two E-Books – ‘Numbers’ and ‘In the Odyssey’.

                                                   


Photocube
Two groups of children decided to create Photocube. The focus for Photocube was Letterland. Each child photographed objects starting with a chosen Letterland character. Using the software provided by Tabblo, the children created Photocubes.

                                                  


PowerPoint
The photographs taken by the children during the project were inserted into PowerPoint slides. Accompanying words and voice recordings were added.
The execution of this part of the project led to children using their collective technological skills that had been acquired during the project.

                 

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