Reflection

A) Before choosing the unit topic, we brainstormed and talked about our past experiences. We
had a chance to observe many children when we went to practicum at previous semester.
Accordingly, we observed that they were quite interest to animals and their features. Also, we
noticed that traditional teaching methods, especially direct instruction model, do not work
efficiently. Therefore, we decided to support their interest with this unit plan by integrating
technology.

B) Because we were in practicum in previous semester, we are familiar the process of writing
activity plan and monthly plan. Therefore, we did not have difficulty in writing process
mostly. However, stating objectives step of ASSURE model is different from our objectives
and indicator which are specified in MEB 2013 Early Childhood Education Program.
Therefore, while writing the objectives, we spend a lot of time to change the structure of the
objectives. Secondly, we had difficulty in deciding which technological tools/materials
(powtoon, goanimate etc.) would integrate in which activities and we spent a little more time
for deciding these. Thirdly, we spent more time to create a website by using weebly because
we noticed that we did not have enough knowledge about how to use deeply this website, so
our advice is that in labs, using this website can be more detailed. Overall, we are familiar
writing lesson plan, making assessment, giving objective-indicator and having a sample which
is provided from Lady Göknur KAPLAN 😊, we do not have difficulty in this final
challenge. However, somethings which are different such as stating objectives and
measurement / evaluation part, made us challenged during this process. In addition to this, late
submission of template made us challenged because we had difficulty to finish this in time.

C) We assumed that children have background about animals that they see in their daily lives.
Therefore, we wanted to teach them to different kinds of animals like camel and chameleon.
Also, since our activities are integrated to other areas like language, art and math, we think
their background in these areas. For example, in the chameleon activity, children should know
the colors and matching skills. In addition to this, in the bird nest activity, children should
have knowledge about comparison in order to read and make a graph. Besides, children’s fine
motor skills are another prerequisite skill for most of the activities. That’s why, we choose 60-
72 months of age children. In the Deve Doki activity, children also need good communication
and language skills to create their own stories and tell them.
D) To determine our objectives, we first checked our MEB 2013 ECE program. After
deciding objectives-indicators in MEB, we modified these according to stating objectives
phase in the ASSURE model by considering A, B, C, D components. While modifying, we
got help from samples which given lessons and were provided in ODTUCLASS. We gave
importance our objectives that includes all components (Audience, Behavior, Condition,
Degree).

E) After deciding the activities, we selected the most appropriate technological tools for each
activity and then we again modify activities according to deciding technological tools. In this
process, we decided to use Goanimate, Pictochart, and Popplet for our stories because we
have already known that today’s children have difficulty to focus on something and teachers’
have difficulty to attract children’s attention while reading book. Accordingly, we decided to
attract children’s attention with technology and while reading book, instead of showing story
cards and books pictures, we thought that visual representation with technological tools more
attractive for children. All in all, while deciding the technological tools, we considered todays
children’s situation during reading process and we mainly focused on this problematic issue.
In addition, we tried to use cheap, recyclable and attractive materials to attract children’s
attention and keep children on the process.

F) Generally, we focused on different kind of teaching methods like questioning, co-

constructing, and documenting. That’s because, questioning method is important for
documenting and after questioning, teacher decides which child learned what. Also, we know
that children learn best when they work with collaboratively. Accordingly, we use the method
of co-constructing to arise their learning.

G) We used Pictochart while showing story pictures because we did not want to use
traditional story cards. The reason of this, showing the pictures with Pictochart is more
attractive and easiest way to see thereby all children at the same time without extra effort of
teacher. Also, we think that this website is appropriate for showing books. Like Pictochart,
Goanimate and Popplet are appropriate for showing books. In addition to this, we used
Powtoon as introduction activity because this activity will be a little long and this type of
beginning keeps children on the activity. Lastly, we used GoogleForms for parent
involvement to measure parent’s view about animals.
H) When we wrote the activities, we gave importance mostly for active engagement of
children. That’s because one of our activities gives children an opportunity to make drama
and other activities encourage children to work collaboratively and also individually.

I) To evaluate children’s learning, we asked different types of questions after each activity.
These types are descriptive, sensorial, daily life, objective oriented questions and these help
us to measure children’s learnings about activities. Also, we prepared some individual and
group activities to assess their learning. In addition to this, we add homeworks as parent
involvement activities to measure and to support children’s learning at home. Our rationale is
that we chose different type of measurements because we believe that each child should be
assessed by different methods according to their characteristic features.