Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection
NAEYC Standard:
STANDARD 6. BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs a) identify and conduct themselves as members of the early
childhood profession. They b) know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood
practice. They c) are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective and critical
perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that d) integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are e)
informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.
(NAEYC, 2010)

Brief Description of Evidence:

During the fall semester of 2014 for my ECED 260, Early Childhood Professional class, I held a meeting to brainstorm
new ideas for integrating technology into the curriculum for my daycare. This was a follow-up from a meeting in July.
Our panel was the same as those in attendance for our July meeting. I invited my assistant, a telecommunication major, a
first grade teacher who is implementing I-pads in her classroom, a Social Media expert, a daycare father, a former daycare
mother, and an individual to facilitate the meeting. We talked about the ways kids could use technology to document their
own work, make videos, and learn how they are communicating with one another.

Analysis of What I Learned:

Through this opportunity, I was able to hear many points of view and learn what parents want to see from their childrens
time in care from the parents I invited. I learned the most basic ways to teach a child to use technology for documenting
their work, and creating shows. I was introduced to a few new apps the children can use alone or with peers to make
puppet shows, story lines and encourage dramatic play. I also implemented the idea of inviting a facilitator for the
meeting instead of conducting the meeting myself. This really allowed me the opportunity to hear points of view without
already having a preconceived idea of what I wanted the results to be or controlling the direction it would go.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:

I was able to identify professionals in the community who are capable of helping me find a way to help children in an
early childhood setting to easily and independently use technology in our curriculum. I was able to address the ways our
last collaboration was successful and spoke of the ways the children are currently using the I-pads, Apple TV, and
scanner. I was also able to hear the collective suggestions to implement more opportunities through apps, websites, and
recording our gathering time as well as morning meeting so I can see how the children are interacting with one another. I
can also use the videos as a teaching tool in a sense, teaching the kids to be reflective in their environment as they watch
themselves interact through technology. Participating in the STEM class, I was able to identify the need to implement
technology into the classroom and implement professional standards learned in my continuing education course.