Assignment: Learning Approaches, Theory, and Practice
Prior to beginning work on this assignment, access the APA Template (available in the online classroom) for assistance with the writing process, formatting, documentation, and citations in your written work, and watch the video Social, Emotional, and Physical Development.
Becoming a professional in the field of early childhood education requires you to become familiar with the various developmental theories, as well as research that studies the effectiveness of various learning approaches. Throughout the last two weeks, you have learned about these different theories and approaches to learning. After engaging in discussions with your classmates, you now have ideas about which theories and approaches you would like to use in your work with children. Using the steps below, you will sort through these theories and approaches to shape who you are as a teacher and what you believe about how children learn best. This assignment will also help you prepare for your final assignment.
Step 1: Reflect back on your initial response in the Aspects of Theories discussion and the Learning Approaches discussion. Using the theories and approaches that were discussed, fill in the table below by ranking each according to how you connected with them ("most connected" at the top and "least connected" at the bottom; delete the example row provided). Please note that you will need to create your own table or graphic organizer.
Theorists/Theories - Most connected to least connected
Learning Approaches - Most connected to least connected
Ex: 1. Piaget - Theory of Cognitive Development
Ex: 1. High Scope
Step 2: Using the table as a guide, research your top two theories and top two learning approaches. You will create a Word document or a PowerPoint presentation that contains your responses to the points below as they are applied to each of your top two theories and top two learning approaches.
• Summarize the underlying principles or ideas for each of your two theories and for each of your top two approaches.
• Explain why your top two theories and your top two approaches are important to understand and how each will benefit your work with children.
• Discuss how your top two theories and your top two approaches will help you to be an effective teacher.
• Summarize the similarities you see between the theory and model of those you ranked first. For example, if Piaget's theory of cognitive development was your top theory and the Reggio Emilia approach was your top learning approach, share how these two ideas support one another.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also Include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.