Unit 2: Historical Unit 2: Historical Overview and Influential Overview and Influential

PeoplePeopleBy Julie TorresBy Julie Torres

*Adapted from Verlinda Ruble’s *Adapted from Verlinda Ruble’s PowerPointPowerPoint

Tech Support: Tech Support: 866-522-7747 866-522-7747

Historical InfluencesHistorical Influences

Views regarding childrenViews regarding children

Role of family members in society and at Role of family members in society and at

homehome

International theories, research, and trends International theories, research, and trends

in United Statesin United States

Effects of socioeconomic statusEffects of socioeconomic status

Custodial care versus an educational settingCustodial care versus an educational setting

Historical Overview: 1600’sHistorical Overview: 1600’s

Views:Views: Children seen as small adults/ future contributorsChildren seen as small adults/ future contributors Childhood was not seen as important phase of life Childhood was not seen as important phase of life

Roles: Roles: Father: educator in the homeFather: educator in the home Children: contributors to family unitChildren: contributors to family unit Schools: taught Bible reading, piety, trade skills, and curbing Schools: taught Bible reading, piety, trade skills, and curbing

children’s wicked natureschildren’s wicked natures

Custodial care setting:Custodial care setting: Dame School’s created in 1647 to provide working moms with Dame School’s created in 1647 to provide working moms with

child care (Follari, 2007)child care (Follari, 2007) Taught work ethic, moral character, religious beliefs, and trade Taught work ethic, moral character, religious beliefs, and trade

skillsskills

Theorists of the 1600s: Theorists of the 1600s: Johann Amos ComeniusJohann Amos Comenius

Views of Comenius:Views of Comenius: Advocated universal education for all childrenAdvocated universal education for all children

Rallied for play as foundation for learningRallied for play as foundation for learning

Promoted “active learning”Promoted “active learning”

Believed education resulted in social harmony and Believed education resulted in social harmony and

peacepeace

Said mothers were best suited for role as educatorsSaid mothers were best suited for role as educators

Believed instruction should be individualized since Believed instruction should be individualized since

children develop at different rateschildren develop at different rates

(Follari, 2007)(Follari, 2007)

Theorists of the 1600s: Theorists of the 1600s: John LockeJohn Locke

Views of Locke:Views of Locke: Children should learn through first-hand Children should learn through first-hand

experiences (experiential education)experiences (experiential education)

Promoted early literacy instruction through playPromoted early literacy instruction through play

Believed parents should be primary educators of Believed parents should be primary educators of

childrenchildren

Emphasized reasoning with children over physical Emphasized reasoning with children over physical

punishmentpunishment

Promoted child-centered education, rather than Promoted child-centered education, rather than

religious-based educationreligious-based education

Historical Overview: 1700’sHistorical Overview: 1700’s

*Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a driving force during this time. His *Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a driving force during this time. His writings influenced European thinking and educational reform. Many of the writings influenced European thinking and educational reform. Many of the ideas listed below reflect his thinking.ideas listed below reflect his thinking.

Views:Views: Children as perfect beings Children as perfect beings Learning would unfold naturally if not interfered with by societyLearning would unfold naturally if not interfered with by society

Roles: Roles: Mother: not capable as educatorMother: not capable as educator Children should be taught by male tutors educator in the homeChildren should be taught by male tutors educator in the home

Education Model:Education Model: • Child initiated activitiesChild initiated activities• Rural setting with genuine, attention-grabbing experiences for the Rural setting with genuine, attention-grabbing experiences for the

child child

(Follari, 2007).(Follari, 2007).

Theorists of the 1700s: Theorists of the 1700s: Johann Heinrich PestalozziJohann Heinrich Pestalozzi

Views and Work of Pestalozzi:Views and Work of Pestalozzi: Viewed education as a means for reformViewed education as a means for reform

Educated impoverished childrenEducated impoverished children

Believed Believed all all children can learn; learning begins at infancychildren can learn; learning begins at infancy

Viewed parents as teachersViewed parents as teachers

Believed instruction should include the following:Believed instruction should include the following: Hands on learningHands on learning

Concrete objects or manipulativesConcrete objects or manipulatives

Real life experiencesReal life experiences

Arts & physical education Arts & physical education

(Follari, 2007). (Follari, 2007).

The 1800s: Infant School The 1800s: Infant School MovementMovement

In 1820, In 1820, Robert OwenRobert Owen, an Englishman worked to , an Englishman worked to

begin early intervention programs for infants in begin early intervention programs for infants in

AmericaAmerica

Targeted populations with impoverished children Targeted populations with impoverished children

Upper and middle class families rejected this Upper and middle class families rejected this

program and it fizzled outprogram and it fizzled out

Working class parents still needed child care; Working class parents still needed child care;

societal view changed to take on the social societal view changed to take on the social

responsibility to educateresponsibility to educate

Father of Kindergarten: Father of Kindergarten: Friedrich FroebelFriedrich Froebel

Froebel’s Work and Influence:Froebel’s Work and Influence: Promoted play-based learning environmentPromoted play-based learning environment

Teacher’s role was to observe and facilitate, Teacher’s role was to observe and facilitate,

but not to interferebut not to interfere

Advocated directed play with hands-on Advocated directed play with hands-on

materials to maintain engagementmaterials to maintain engagement

Advocated educational settings outside home Advocated educational settings outside home

(Follari, 2007)(Follari, 2007)

Moving onto the 20Moving onto the 20thth century and the century and the

progressive era…progressive era…

Dewey, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Dewey, Piaget, Vygotsky, and BrofenbennerBrofenbenner

The Progressive Era: John The Progressive Era: John DeweyDewey

Dewey’s Beliefs:Dewey’s Beliefs: Teacher’s role was to find out child’s interest and Teacher’s role was to find out child’s interest and

plan activitiesplan activities Believed that education should emerge from child’s Believed that education should emerge from child’s

unfolding development and interestsunfolding development and interests

Dewey’s Three Key Factors in Education:Dewey’s Three Key Factors in Education:

1. Education is “an active experience with authentic 1. Education is “an active experience with authentic materials”materials”

2. Education is “meaningful to the individual”2. Education is “meaningful to the individual”

3. Education is “based on problem solving” 3. Education is “based on problem solving”

(Follari, 2007)(Follari, 2007)

Constructivist Theorists:Constructivist Theorists:Piaget (1896-1980)Piaget (1896-1980)

Piaget’s Explanation of Learning:Piaget’s Explanation of Learning:Equilibrium:Equilibrium: When presented with new information, people seek When presented with new information, people seek

“equilibrium” (a state of balance in which the “equilibrium” (a state of balance in which the person feels comfortable with beliefs, ideas, and person feels comfortable with beliefs, ideas, and knowledge) knowledge)

Assimilation:Assimilation: Assimilation occurs when a child integrates the new Assimilation occurs when a child integrates the new

information into existing knowledge structuresinformation into existing knowledge structuresAccommodation:Accommodation: Accommodation occurs when new information Accommodation occurs when new information

challenges existing knowledge and the person challenges existing knowledge and the person changes his/her existing knowledge structures to fit changes his/her existing knowledge structures to fit the new informationthe new information

Constructivist Theorists:Constructivist Theorists:Vygotsky (1896-1934)Vygotsky (1896-1934)

Vygotsky’s Beliefs:Vygotsky’s Beliefs: Emphasized the role of language and social interaction on Emphasized the role of language and social interaction on

learninglearning

Believed language is primary means to organize informationBelieved language is primary means to organize information

Key Ideas for Vygotsky:Key Ideas for Vygotsky:

Private SpeechPrivate Speech: children use language to organize thinking : children use language to organize thinking

by talking aloud and then through internal/silent talkby talking aloud and then through internal/silent talk

Zone of Proximal DevelopmentZone of Proximal Development: learning occurs in supported : learning occurs in supported

environments where children are challenged beyond what environments where children are challenged beyond what

they can achieve alonethey can achieve alone

ScaffoldingScaffolding: a teaching technique using cues, prompts, : a teaching technique using cues, prompts,

suggestions to teach a skill or activity suggestions to teach a skill or activity

Bronfenbenner (1917-2005)Bronfenbenner (1917-2005)

Brofenbenner’s Work and Beliefs:Brofenbenner’s Work and Beliefs:

Developed ecological systems theory that suggests Developed ecological systems theory that suggests

that children are influenced by society from many that children are influenced by society from many

different levelsdifferent levels

Said children are most influenced by family, Said children are most influenced by family,

neighborhood, schools, and peersneighborhood, schools, and peers

Claimed families and children also have an impact Claimed families and children also have an impact

on society as seen in these examples: Head Start on society as seen in these examples: Head Start

legislation, school desegregation laws, and IDEA legislation, school desegregation laws, and IDEA

(Follari, 2007, p. 41)(Follari, 2007, p. 41)

Review of TheoristsReview of Theorists

PestalozziPestalozzi: Advocate for poor children: Advocate for poor children

FroebelFroebel: Founder of Kindergarten: Founder of Kindergarten

DeweyDewey: Child-Centered Learning: Child-Centered Learning

PiagetPiaget: Constructivist Theory: Constructivist Theory

VygotskyVygotsky: Social Learning Theory: Social Learning Theory

BrofenbennerBrofenbenner: Ecological Systems : Ecological Systems

TheoryTheory

Weekly QuoteWeekly Quote

““The future belongs to those who The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their believe in the beauty of their dreams.” dreams.”

~Eleanor Roosevelt~Eleanor Roosevelt

Assignments Week 2Assignments Week 2

Reading: Chapter 2 Reading: Chapter 2 Historical Overview: People and Beliefs that Shaped Historical Overview: People and Beliefs that Shaped the Field" in your text, the Field" in your text, Foundations and Best Practices Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education. in Early Childhood Education.

For this week's discussion, you are encouraged to For this week's discussion, you are encouraged to contact an area child care center or school. Explain contact an area child care center or school. Explain that you're a student in the Early Childhood Emphasis that you're a student in the Early Childhood Emphasis Program for Kaplan University, and you'd like to learn Program for Kaplan University, and you'd like to learn more about the school's mission and philosophy. more about the school's mission and philosophy. Ask if you can set up a time to meet briefly, in person Ask if you can set up a time to meet briefly, in person or by phone, with the principal, director, or other or by phone, with the principal, director, or other contact they recommend.contact they recommend.

Some Questions to Ask:Some Questions to Ask: How would you describe your school/child care center's mission and How would you describe your school/child care center's mission and

philosophy? philosophy?

How do you try to incorporate this into your school/center? How do you try to incorporate this into your school/center?

What are the biggest challenges in trying to follow your mission? What are the biggest challenges in trying to follow your mission?

In what ways do you feel you've been most successful? (Give In what ways do you feel you've been most successful? (Give

specific examples) specific examples)

What areas are you looking to improve? (Give specific examples)What areas are you looking to improve? (Give specific examples)

If you're not able to set up such a meeting, find a website for a If you're not able to set up such a meeting, find a website for a

school or child care center that describes the school's mission and school or child care center that describes the school's mission and

philosophy and gives examples of how they incorporate these ideas.philosophy and gives examples of how they incorporate these ideas.

ReferencesReferences

Follari, L. M., (2007).Follari, L. M., (2007). Foundations and Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Best Practices in Early Childhood Education. Education. Prentice Hall. Prentice Hall.