Reflection on field trip
For this week’s field trips I was only able to attend the vocational schools and observe the kids in different classes. We first observed a semester-long course in which children with disabilities were crafting ukuleles (small guitars), and decorating them. The second class I observed was an art class that focused on the use of repetitive shapes made by paper strings.
It was very interesting for me to observe how different children benefited in different ways from the same activity. This distinction in the learning outcome depended mostly on their disabilities, as they all enjoyed different aspects of the same courses. For example, in the ukulele class, I observed this by seeing how arts and crafts in a small autistic girl, helped her maintain focus; whereas the same activity helped enhance motor skills in a boy with rather physical disabilities. A similar pattern seemed to occur in the paper crafting class, as there was a clear difference in children’s behaviors regarding the activity. Children with autism were enjoying and concentrated in the creation of repetitive patterns and shapes with paper; whereas another more energetic boy, was more enthusiastic by the presence of visitors, than by the nature of the class itself.
As an overall experience, the visit to the vocational schools were very insightful, as they provided a more hands-on experience regarding how children learn. I felt like for the first time I was able to truly interact with the children in ways beyond language, but through observing them and even helping them in some way with arts and crafts. I consider that different technologies in this specific situations would be beneficial to improve children’s learning in such a way that they all maximize from each activity, regardless of their disability. For instance, in the paper making class, a certain technological device could be made so that more active children are challenged into paper making, hence engaging them into the activity so it is just as beneficial for them as for children with autism. Seeing these areas where technologies could be implemented has inspired me into taking further action and realizing how there is still a lot of work left to do, as there is a broad range of projects that can be implemented for next semester that could assist many people with disabilities.
