Early Years Movers & Shakers Flashcards
What are the ‘early years’ ?
The period of a child’s life from birth to the age of five or eight, depending on the context and definitions used by different educational systems and policies globally
Why are the early years considered a critical phase of development?
Because it includes rapid physical, emotional and social growth.. Experiences and environments that children are exposed to during these years can have have a profound and lasting impact on their development and future learning
What is meant by ‘movers and shakers’ ?
Individuals / groups famous for their ability to introduce groundbreaking theories, visionaries and pioneers whose innovative ideas, research, and practices have greatly influenced our understanding of the early stages of human life
Who was Jean-Jacques Rousseau? (1712-1778)
A philosopher whose ideas had a profound influence on the development of education. His thoughts on education laid the foundation for modern educational thought and continue to influence educational practices and philosophies today
What are the key contributions to educational philosophy?
- Natural education
- Critical view of society
- The educator’s role
- Emphasis on emotional development
Whose educational theories were influenced by Rousseau’s emphasis on learning through exploration and experience?
- Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
- Friedrich Froebel
- Maria Montessori
^ All of whom sought to implement educational practices that respected the natural development of the child
Who was Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi? (1746-1827)
An educational reformer whose ideas about education and learning profoundly influenced the development of modern educational systems. He put Rousseau’s principles into practice, focusing on the holistic development of children
Who was Friedrich Froebel? (1782-1852)
An educator and founder of ‘kindergarten’, his educational philosophy emphasised the importance of play in a child’s development and learning
What did Friedrich Froebel view play as?
A means through which children express their thoughts, feelings and understanding of the world
What are key contributions from Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi’s theory?
- Holistic education
- Learning by doing
- Emotional environment
- Individualised instruction
- Education for all
What are key contributions from Froebel’s theory?
- The kindergarten
- Educational play materials
- The role of the educator
- Connection with nature
- Social development
Whose educational movements did Froebel’s introduction of the kindergarten influence?
Generations of educators worldwide, including Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner
Who was Maria Montessori? (1870-1952)
A physician and educator who developed a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood
How did Montessori’s work in education begin?
WSith her interest in the care of children with special needs and expanded to include education for all children
What are the key concepts of Maria Montessori’s approach?
- Emphasis on independence
- Freedom within limits
- Respect for a child’s natural, psychological, physical and social development
What are key contributions from Maria Montessori’s theory?
- Child-centered learning
- Prepared environment
- Montessori materials
- Sensitive periods
- Role of the educator
Who was John Dewey? (1859-1952)
A philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. He’s considered one of the fathers of functional psychology
What are the key contributions of John Dewey’s theory?
- Learning by doing
- Democratic education
- The school as a social institution
- Reflective thinking
- Progressive education
Who was Jean Piaget? (1896-1980)
A psychologist who is best known for his pioneering work in the study of child development
What are the key contributions of Jean Piaget’s theory?
- Stages of cognitive development
- Schemas, assimilation and accommodation
- Constructivist theory of learning
Who was Lev Vygotsky? (1896-1934)
A psychologist whose work was largely overlooked until it was rediscovered in the West several decades after his death. His theories stress the fundamental role of social interaction in the development of cognition
What are the key contributions of Lev Vygotsky’s theory?
- Sociocultural theory
- Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
- Mediation
- Role of language in cognitive development
What are key global trends in ECE?
- Play-based learning
- Inclusion
- Professional development
- Parental engagement
- Technology integration
What are key aspects of ECE in Makaysia?
- National Preschool Curriculum (NPSC)
- PERMATA program
- Accessibility and quality improvement
- Parental involvement
- Integration of technology
What are the challenges of ECE?
- Ensuring equal access to quality education for all children
- Adequately training and retaining qualified educators
- Balancing traditional educational methods with the integration of technology
What are future directions of ECE?
- Expanding access to quality ECE
- Further inegrating global best practices tailored to local cultural contexts
- Leveraging technology to enhance learning while ensuring the well-being of young children
