Early Years Movers & Shakers

Question 1

What are the ‘early years’ ?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Why are the early years considered a critical phase of development?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is meant by ‘movers and shakers’ ?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Who was Jean-Jacques Rousseau? (1712-1778)

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What are the key contributions to educational philosophy?

Answer 5

• Natural education
• Critical view of society
• The educator’s role
• Emphasis on emotional development

Question 6

Whose educational theories were influenced by Rousseau’s emphasis on learning through exploration and experience?

Answer 6

• Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
• Friedrich Froebel
• Maria Montessori
  ^ All of whom sought to implement educational practices that respected the natural development of the child

Question 7

Who was Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi? (1746-1827)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Who was Friedrich Froebel? (1782-1852)

Answer 8

An educator and founder of ‘kindergarten’, his educational philosophy emphasised the importance of play in a child’s development and learning

Question 9

What did Friedrich Froebel view play as?

Answer 9

A means through which children express their thoughts, feelings and understanding of the world

Question 10

What are key contributions from Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi’s theory?

Answer 10

• Holistic education
• Learning by doing
• Emotional environment
• Individualised instruction
• Education for all

Question 11

What are key contributions from Froebel’s theory?

Answer 11

• The kindergarten
• Educational play materials
• The role of the educator
• Connection with nature
• Social development

Question 12

Whose educational movements did Froebel’s introduction of the kindergarten influence?

Answer 12

Generations of educators worldwide, including Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner

Question 13

Who was Maria Montessori? (1870-1952)

Answer 13

A physician and educator who developed a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood

Question 14

How did Montessori’s work in education begin?

Answer 14

WSith her interest in the care of children with special needs and expanded to include education for all children

Question 15

What are the key concepts of Maria Montessori’s approach?

Answer 15

• Emphasis on independence
• Freedom within limits
• Respect for a child’s natural, psychological, physical and social development

Question 16

What are key contributions from Maria Montessori’s theory?

Answer 16

• Child-centered learning
• Prepared environment
• Montessori materials
• Sensitive periods
• Role of the educator

Question 17

Who was John Dewey? (1859-1952)

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What are the key contributions of John Dewey’s theory?

Answer 18

• Learning by doing
• Democratic education
• The school as a social institution
• Reflective thinking
• Progressive education

Question 19

Who was Jean Piaget? (1896-1980)

Answer 19

A psychologist who is best known for his pioneering work in the study of child development

Question 20

What are the key contributions of Jean Piaget’s theory?

Answer 20

• Stages of cognitive development
• Schemas, assimilation and accommodation
• Constructivist theory of learning

Question 21

Who was Lev Vygotsky? (1896-1934)

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What are the key contributions of Lev Vygotsky’s theory?

Answer 22

• Sociocultural theory
• Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
• Mediation
• Role of language in cognitive development

Question 23

What are key global trends in ECE?

Answer 23

• Play-based learning
• Inclusion
• Professional development
• Parental engagement
• Technology integration

Question 24

What are key aspects of ECE in Makaysia?

Answer 24

• National Preschool Curriculum (NPSC)
• PERMATA program
• Accessibility and quality improvement
• Parental involvement
• Integration of technology

Question 25

What are the challenges of ECE?

Answer 25

• Ensuring equal access to quality education for all children
• Adequately training and retaining qualified educators
• Balancing traditional educational methods with the integration of technology

Question 26

What are future directions of ECE?

Answer 26

• 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