Scenario:
Based on your years of working first as an assistant teacher and then as a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom, you are well aware that it is thrilling to be involved in child-centered learning—whether observing, guiding, or at key times, taking a bit of a lead. In fact, it is what has kept you in the field so long. Now, you are very excited that your area Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) has asked you to present a workshop on Creativity and Child-Centered Learning. You are hopeful that—along with sharing what you have learned—you can help other early childhood professionals consider what children and adults gain by leaving teacher-directed and thematic units behind, in order to engage children in active inquiry and creative thinking. One of your colleagues has reviewed the outline you wrote for your presentation, given it a “thumbs up,” and suggested you try the activities your participants will be involved in before you present them. You agree.
Workshop Outline: Creativity and Child-Centered Learning Scenario Given to Workshop Participants
Imagine that you have been tasked with explaining to other early childhood professionals how child-centered learning (emergent curriculum, investigations, and project-based learning) and creative teaching fosters children’s creative thinking, creative skills, and creative arts/expression.
This assessment has two-parts. Click each of the items below to complete this assessment.
Part I: How Child-Centered Learning Fosters Creativity
First: Review The Dog Project resource. (This project offers an excellent example of young children engaged in child-centered learning through the project approach.)
Next: Consider what you have learned about:
Child-centered learning (emergent curriculum, investigations, and project-based work) and its relationship to fostering creativity in young children
Research-based information about creativity, included in the following resources:
“Encouraging Children and Young People to Be Creative” (Read the “What is Creativity?” and “What are the Benefits of Creativity?” sections.)
“What are Creative Skills"
How music, creative movement, creative dramatics, and/or the visual arts can be integrated to enhance opportunities for creative expression
Analyze how child-centered learning in the Dog Project fosters children’s creative thinking, creative skills, and creative arts/expression. Substantiate your analysis with at least five (5) examples from the project. (3 paragraphs)
Full Answer Section
. Freedom to Explore and Question:
- Curiosity takes center stage: Child-centered learning replaces passive absorption with active inquiry. Children are encouraged to ask questions, investigate freely, and follow their curiosity wherever it leads, whether it's building a miniature city out of recycled materials or dissecting the intricate world of insects. This constant questioning and exploration fuels creative thinking, as children make connections, form hypotheses, and experiment with solutions.
2. Ownership of Learning:
- From consumers to creators: In child-centered learning, children aren't simply recipients of knowledge; they are active participants in constructing their understanding. This sense of ownership fosters a deep engagement with the learning process, encouraging children to take risks, experiment with different approaches, and express their ideas in unique ways. This ownership fuels creative confidence and a willingness to think outside the box.
3. Collaboration and Connection:
- Creativity thrives in community: Child-centered learning prioritizes collaboration and peer interaction. As children work together on projects, solve problems, and share their discoveries, they learn to build on each other's ideas, negotiate, and compromise. This collaborative environment not only fosters empathy and social skills but also sparks creative inspiration, as diverse perspectives and experiences come together to create something new and unexpected.
4. Embracing Diverse Intelligences:
- Beyond the textbook: Child-centered learning recognizes that there are multiple ways to be intelligent and creative. This approach caters to different learning styles and strengths, allowing children to express themselves through various mediums, be it music, movement, art, storytelling, or hands-on exploration. This inclusivity celebrates the unique creative potential within each child, empowering them to find their own voice and expression.
5. The Joy of Discovery:
- Learning becomes a joyful adventure: When children are free to explore their interests and passions, learning becomes a journey of discovery, filled with wonder and excitement. This intrinsic motivation fuels a love for learning that extends far beyond the classroom walls, encouraging children to be lifelong learners and creative problem solvers.
Remember, child-centered learning is not about abandoning all structure or guidance. Skilled educators act as facilitators, providing resources, setting up provocations, and offering gentle nudges when needed. But ultimately, the focus is on creating an environment where children's creativity can flourish, leading them down unexpected paths and equipping them with the skills and confidence to become innovative thinkers in a world that desperately needs their unique spark.
By embracing child-centered learning, we open the door to a future brimming with creativity, innovation, and the boundless potential of young minds.
I hope this overview gives you a good starting point for your workshop. Feel free to adapt and expand on these ideas to fit your specific audience and objectives. Remember, the key is to share your passion for child-centered learning and inspire your colleagues to create classrooms where creativity can truly take flight!
Sample Answer
Imagine a classroom buzzing with curiosity, exploration, and the joyful exclamations of discovery. This is the magic of child-centered learning, an approach that puts the child at the heart of the educational experience, fostering not just academic skills but also a vital spark: creativity.
Stepping away from pre-determined themes and rigid curriculums, child-centered learning embraces the emergent curriculum, where children's interests and questions guide the journey. This dynamic environment ignites creativity in several ways: