Vesna Tofant, Vrtec Šentjur
The fact that a computer has become a part of our everyday life can not be changed or denied. Children are constantly exposed to ICT technology. In my opinion, the primary role of educational institutions is to present this technology in the right way so that the children learn how to use it properly and beneficially, learn how to communicate with as well as develop a critical attitude towards it. If we want to follow the rapid pace of development in this world, we need constant education and upgrade of our knowledge in all fields, especially in the field of ICT. This way children will not be a step ahead of us. In the article “The role of language and social contexts in the development of thinking and designing skills” Marjanovič emphasizes that we are the ones obligated, in combination with social interaction, to provide support for the children in all areas of activities and not vice versa. Only then, children can solve difficult mental challenges and move towards the goal (Marjanovič, 2/2011, str.74). But it is also important to sometimes admit to children that there are things we cannot do or we do not know … and this way we learn together. My professional path has also grown and developed. Being a person who is always striving to do new things and striving to upgrade my knowledge, my long time wish to create a stop-motion animation with a group of children from a pre-school institution has finally seen the light. Children were enjoying the process of creating the animated film. While creating the scene and the figures they were expressing themselves artistically. The activity enabled them to create a story in a simple and understandable way with the use of the elements of art. Through the working process they were developing hand skills, accuracy, patience, as well as building interpersonal relations. They became acquainted with the use of simple AV equipment (digital camera, sound recorder, web camera, microphone, computer program Monkey jam…). The work was delegated equally an according to the childrens strong areas. The activity of making a stop motion film is complex and every child was able to express his or her strong areas. Some children were expressing themselves artistically, some were reading the text while others were enjoying taking the photos or recording the sounds.
