Megan Sunderman

Reflection Paper

Foundations of Instructional Technology

EDIT 603

9/26/2017
 Due to the fact that I just graduated in May with my Bachelor’s Degree and I am just

starting out as a teacher, I do not have a teaching position in a school. However, I am starting my

own daycare business and I would one day like to turn it into a pre-school. Since my business is

just starting out I do not have a mission or a vision statement. My idea for my mission statement

would contain something like this; “At Ducky Day Play, we believe that every child has the

potential to learn, every child is treated equally, and every child should have fun. Our staff are

highly trained and devoted to their students and their learning. My idea for my vision statement

would contain something like this; “At Ducky Day Play we aim to meet the needs of each and

every child, engage each child in their learning, and create, as well as, provide a

welcoming/respectful community. We work to provide the best learning experience.” To support

the mission and vision statement of a school teaching practices are aligned.

Within in my daycare/pre-school my roles and duties include greeting the children as they

enter each day, maintaining a healthy and safe environment for all children and parents. Teaching

and caring for the children. Engaging with the children and encouraging them. My roles and duties

also include meeting and fulfilling each child’s need. How I would and will align my teaching

practices to support the mission and vision of my daycare/pre-school is by always talking with the

children in a respectful and appropriate way. I would get down on the children’s level and I would

talk to them, not at them. I would constantly talk to the parents about their child, whether it is about

how their child is doing or explaining what their child did that day. Communication is key and I

believe parents need to be involved in their children’s schooling. Learning and activities would be

hands on and each child’s need would be met. According to the Scholastic article Hands-On Is

Minds-On by Samantha Cleavertion, “Hands-on projects engage kids who are tactile or kinesthetic

learners, who need movement to learn best. They also engage students who are auditory leaners,
who talk about what they’re doing, and visual learners, who have the opportunity to see what

everyone else is creating. For social learners, the time spent in small group conversation will

strengthen their knowledge.” The article also stated “When you combine activities that require

movement, talking, and listening, it activates multiple areas of the brain. ““The more parts of your

brain you use, the more likely you are to retain information.” Says Judy Dodge” (Cleaver). In my

daycare/pre-school the mission and vision statements will be fulfilled everyday throughout the day

so that children receive a great experience and education. Concerns, frustration, and/or challenges

will be faced in supporting the mission and/or vision of a school.

Due to the fact that I am just starting out as a teacher, I do not have a teaching position in

a school, and I my daycare is just starting out I do not have concerns, frustrations and/or challenges

that I face in supporting the mission and/or vision of my daycare/pre-school. I think concerns,

frustrations, and/or challenges that I could face in supporting the mission and/or vision in my

daycare/pre-school is financial challenges, in which might prevent certain learning materials to be

bought or certain activities to occur. A Financial challenge might also prevent children’s needs

from being met, and/or certain materials bought to enhance learning. I think another concern,

frustration, and/or challenge that I could face in supporting the mission and/or vision is parents.

Parents might not like something that is being done, parents might complain and/or have concerns

about certain things and this can affect future learning for the children. I think there will always

be concerns, frustrations, and/or challenges that a teacher will face in supporting the mission/

and/or vision of a school. Teachers need to be strong and face the concern, frustration, and/or

challenge and think about how they can handle it and/or fix it.

My sister and I run the daycare together and one day when we open up a pre-school we

hope to hire more people and teachers. My sister and I collaborate with each other. We plan out
ideas together. We might not always agree on something or an idea, but we work it out and find a

happy-medium that is best for our business and the children. My sister and I work together to make

everyone feel welcome. We also work hard and discuss what is best to meet the needs of each

child. We engage each child and work as a team. Mattie J.T. Stepanek once said “Unity is

strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration wonderful things can be achieved.” Working

as a team and being on the same page is very important, teamwork helps create a better place and

helps achieve a common goal.

Since I do not have a classroom there is no big technology being used, such as computers,

iPads, SmartBoards, etc. In my daycare though I do have educational technological toys, such as

talking books, talking animals, a toy tablet and a toy phone in which all these toys talk, sing and,

dance. These toys help children learn the Alphabet, letter sounds, animal sounds, numbers, shapes,

colors. These toys also help teach young children how to use real technology, such as how to use

a phone, and how to use a tablet or iPad. Children are learning about their future. These toys help

children prepare for the future as well. As my business grows I would love to integrate more

technology into my daycare and one day into the classrooms at my pre-school. I would like to add

computers and iPads because these technologies are capable of so much and can teach children so

much more. We can read and watch videos on a variety of technology devices. Technology keeps

children engaged and actually gets them involved. I think it is important to start showing children

how to use a computer and iPads at a young age because today we basically do everything on

computers, iPads and/or tablets. Our technology is constantly changing and children need to be

prepared for the future and need to know how to use these devices from the start. According to the

article, Teaching Curriculum with Technology: Enhancing Children’s Technological

Competence During Early Childhood by Belinda Gimbert and Dean Cristol from the Early
Childhood Education Journal, “Developmentally appropriate software that is infused with current

curriculum encourages children to explore, use their imagination, and solve problems.

Technological tools enhance the development of attention span in young children. Specifically,

studies by Guthrie and Richardson (1995) and Talley et al. (1997) concluded that children were

intrinsically motivated to use computers. These researchers claimed that children spent longer and

more focused sessions at the computer than they did in other non-computer related activities.

Young children with special needs benefit from multiple uses of technology. For example, assistive

technologies such as alternative keyboards, PowerPads and Touch Windows can support children

with special physical needs. Children with language disabilities and autism were afforded

opportunities that advanced verbal, non-verbal, and social interactions. The role of the classroom

teacher and the learning environment determine how effectively technological tools, curriculum,

and standards support children’s” (Gimbert & Cristol, 2004). Technology can be used for any age.

I believe young children need to be taught how to use technology because technology benefits us

greatly. Technology is constantly changing and therefore we also need to keep ourselves and

children/students up to date with the technology. Technology can teach students so much, such as

math, science, social studies, ELA, etc. Not only can technology teach these subjects it can help

teach them in many different ways, such as through physical interactions, visual, and auditory.

Starting out as a teacher and starting my own daycare business leaves me with so much

opportunity to learn. There is a lot I still don’t know and a lot I need to learn. I will have to create

a mission and vision statement and align them to my teaching practices to support both the mission

and vision statements. I will be faced with concerns, frustrations and/or challenges in supporting

my mission and/or vision of my daycare/pre-school. I will incorporate technology into my lessons

and into my daycare/pre-school. I will use technology to its full potential. I want to teach the young
children how to use technology and learn from the technology. I will incorporate the technology

to enhance learning with the Alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, songs, reading, etc. Technology

benefits everybody and enhances the school setting.

Works Cited
Cleaver, S. (n.d.). Hands-On Is Minds-On. Retrieved September 26, 2017, from
Scholastic/Fiskars: http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3751901

Gimbert, B., & Cristol, D. (2004, March). Teaching Curriculum with Technology: Enhancing
Children's Technological Competence During Early Childhood. Retrieved September 26,
2017, from Springer Link:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/B%3AECEJ.0000012315.64687.ee