Strong Foundation through Play-based Learning

2790

Abstract

The article provides program guidelines of developmental early education sketch an educational framework for transforming principles of Education for All to teacher education practice. Guideline goals and recommendations are based on fresh research findings on early learning and neuroscience, Vygotskian methodological principles of cultural development and international comparisons of early education services. The core of the program consist of integrated study units, which emphasize teacher competences in promoting children’s play-based learning, reflective skills in enhancing own and children’s creativity, and guiding inclusive classroom activities. Play-based learning is emphasized because of its inclusive function in heterogeneous early education classroom and effects on executive functions of special needs children.

General Information

Keywords: developmental education, inclusion, play-based learning, early education, master’s degree, teacher competences, assessment, creativity

Journal rubric: Developmental Psychology

Article type: scientific article

For citation: Hakkarainen P., Bredikyte M. Strong Foundation through Play-based Learning. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie = Psychological Science and Education, 2010. Vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 71–79.

References

  1. Carlson, S. M., Moses, L. J. & Claxton, L. J. Individual differences in executive functioning and theory of mind: An investigation of inhibitory control and planning ability // Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 2004. № 87. [Free full-text]
  2. Carlson, S. M., Beck, D. M. Symbols as tools in the development of executive function. In: A. Winsler, C. Fernyhough, & I. Montero (Eds.). Private Speech, Executive Functioning, and the Development of Verbal Self-regulation. New York, 2009. [Free full-text]
  3. Carneiro P., Heckman, J. Human Capital Policy. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series. 2003. [Free full-text]
  4. Davidson, M. C., Amso, D., Anderson, L. C., Diamond, A. Development of cognitive control and executive functions from 4–13 years: evidence from manipulations of memory, inhibition, and task switching // Neuropsychologia. 2006. 44. [Free full-text]
  5. Diamond, A. The Early Development of Executive Functions. In: E. Bialystok, F. Craik. Lifespan Cognition. New York, 2006.
  6. Diamond, A., Barnett, S., Thomas, J., & Munro, S. Preschool program improves cognitive control // Science. 2007. № 318. [Free full-text]
  7. Elkonin, D. B. Psikhologiya igry. M., 1978.
  8. Hill, E. Evaluating the theory of executive dysfunction in autism // Developmental Review. 2004. № 24. [Free full-text]
  9. Hakkarainen, P. Learning and development in play. In: J. Einarsdottir, J. Wagner (Eds.). Nordic childhoods and early education. 183–222. Connecticut: Information Age Publishing. 2006.
  10. Hakkarainen, P. The challenges and possibilities of a narrative learning approach in the Finnish early childhood education system // International Journal of Educational Research. 2008a. № 47.
  11. Hakkarainen, P. Curriculum models of early childhood education. // Early Childhood Practice. 2008b. Vol. 10, p. 1.
  12. Hakkarainen, P. Development of motivation in play and narratives. In S. Blenkinshop (ed.). The Imagination in Education: Extending the Boundaries of Theory and Practice. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009. [Free full-text]
  13. Hakkarainen, P., Bredikyte, M. The zone of proximal development in play and learning // Journal of cultural-historical psychology. 2008. 4.
  14. Heckman, J. J.Skill Formation and the Economics of Investing in Disadvantaged Children // Science. 2006. Vol. 312. № 5782.
  15. Hirsh-Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R. M., Berk, L. E., & Singer, D. G. A mandate for playful learning in the preschool: Presenting the evidence. New York, 2009. [Free book summary]
  16. Hyson, M. Enthusiastic and engaged learners: Approaches to learning in the early childhood classroom. New York, 2008.
  17. Hughes, C., Graham, A., Grayson, A. Executive functions in childhood: development and disorder. In: Oates J. & Grayson. A. Cognitive and Language Development in Children. Oxford UK. Blackwell Publishing. 2004.
  18. Isquith, P. K., Gioia, G. A, & Epsy, K. A. Executive function in preschool children: Examination through everyday behavior // Developmental Neuropsychology. 2004. 26:1. [Free full-text]
  19. Martin, J., Fairlows, L. Executive function: Theoretical concerns. In R. Sokol, U. Muller, J. Carpendale, A. Young & G. Iarocci (Eds). Self and social regulation. Social interaction and the development social understanding and executive functions. New York, 2010.
  20. UNICEF The child care transition, Innocenti Report Card 8, Florence: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2008. [Free full-text]
  21. Vygotsky, L. S. Lektsii po psikhologii detei doshkol’nogo vozrasta. [Lectures on the psychology of preschool age children] In: D. B. El’konin. Psikhologiya igry. M., 1978.
  22. Vygotsky, L. S. Collected works. Vol. 4. New York, 1997.
  23. Zelazo, P. D. & Cunningham W. Executive function: Mechanisms underlying emotion regulation. In J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation, New York, 2007.
  24. Zelazo, P. D., Muller, U., Frye, D., Marcovitch, S., Argitis, G., Boseovski, J., Chiang, J. K., Hongwanishkul, D., Schuster, B.V., Sutherland A., & Carlson, S. M. The development of executive function in early childhood. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development. Serial No. 274, 68 (3). Ann Arbor, MI: Society for Research in Child Development, 2003.

Information About the Authors

Pentti Hakkarainen, PhD, Editor-in-chief of Journal of Russian and East European Psychology, professor emeritus, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6725-1822, e-mail: phakkar@gmail.com

Milda Bredikyte, PhD, senior researcher and associate professor, Vytautas Magnus University, Vilnius, Luthuania, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0667-6477, e-mail: milda.bredikyte@vdu.lt

Metrics

Views

Total: 4485
Previous month: 20
Current month: 12

Downloads

Total: 2790
Previous month: 5
Current month: 3