HMEC5123 QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

SEMINAR 1
HMEC5123 QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Welcome to seminar 1. The following will be discussed during this seminar; all

students are advised to read before coming to class.

 Ice breaking

 Introduction to course

 Discussion on assignment

 How philosophy informs practice

 How theories influence programme models

 Understanding the foundations for children’s learning

TOPIC 1 HOW PHILOSOPHY INFORMS PRACTICE

1. 1 Changes Views of How Young Children Learn

Learning Outcome

By the end of this topic you should be able to:

1. Reflect your personal views of how young children learn

2. Analyse the changes of views that had happened

3. Discuss the impact of philosophy on early childhood practice

Think

All early childhood practitioners are wondering how do young children learn. What

exactly is going through those little minds? As the nature vs. nurture debate is still

going on, many of us believe that environment plays an important role in young

children’s learning. Before we can plan the environment, we need to understand

how young children learn.

Prerequisite Reading

Samuelsson, I. P. & Carlsson, M. A. (2008). The playing learning child: Towards a

pedagogy of early childhood. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 52:6, 623-

641.

And

Grisham-Brown, J. (nd). Influences on early childhood development. EuroVarsity.

Retrieved from http://eurovarsity.com/elearn/upload/C64/P44/U155/FE/FE_U155_F1480671236.pdf

Group Task

You would like to set up your own early childhood setting. Currently you are

writing your own philosophy to guide yourself on the curriculum development as

well as the arrangement of spaces within your setting.

Discuss with your group members on your views and beliefs on how children learn

and what do children gain from your learning environment.

1.2 Understanding of Young Children’s Learning through Play

Learning Outcome

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1. Describe the characteristic of children’s play environment

2. Discuss the values of play as an early learning instrument

Think

Everyone believes that children should learn through play. However, have it ever

crossed your mind that what should be included into the environment to make

learning effective for young children.

Let’s us explore through the following articles.

Prerequisite Reading

Broadhead, P. (2006). Developing an understanding of young children’s learning

through play: The place of observation, interaction and reflection. British Educational

Research Journal, 32:2, 191-207.

And

Chowdhury, N. N. & Rivalland, C. (2012). Value of play as an early learning

instrument in Bangladesh context: A social-cultural study. Australasian Journal of

Early Childhood, 37:4, 115-122.

Group Task

Share your opinion of young children’s learning through play and the information

you get from the articles. Are there any new ideas you realized through your

reading?

What practices can we adopt in our local Malaysian context?

TOPIC 2 HOW THEORIES INFLUENCED PROGRAMME MODELS

2.1 Understanding the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Models

Learning Outcome

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1. Elaborate the different early childhood models

2. Identify the strengths and weakness of the different models

3. Link the practices of different models in Malaysian context

Think

What is your own preferred early childhood model? How well do you understand

the practices of the preferred model?

Prerequisite Reading

Byrne, G. (nd). Early Childhood Education Models. Young Children Ministries.

Retrieved from https://www.sites.google.com/site/youngchildministries/child-care/early-

And

McBride, B. A, Groves, M., Barbour, N., Horm, D. & Stremmel, A., Lash, M., Bersani,

C., Ratekin, C., Moran, J., Elicker, J. & Toussaint, S. (2012). Child development
HMEC5123 QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

laboratory schools as generators of knowledge in early childhood education: New

models and approaches. Early Education and Development, 23; 153-164.

And

Katz, L. G. (1999). Curriculum disputes in early childhood education. ERIC Digest.

Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED436298.pdf

Group Task

Discuss with your group members about the challenges that you will face in

implementing the different early childhood models in Malaysia context. Elaborate on

the adaptation that you will make to suit the models in Malaysia context.

TOPIC 3 UNDERSTANDING OF FOUNDATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN’S

LEARNING

3.1 Creating Early Learning Environment

Learning Outcome

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1. Identify the important components in creating early learning environment

2. Create early learning environment that are inviting for young children

Think

Have you ever felt your learning environment is not comfortable and inviting for

young children in your classroom? Do you wish to change your learning

environment to be more spacious and inviting for young children to explore?

Prerequisite Reading
HMEC5123 QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Saskatchewan Ministry of Education (2009). Creating early learning environments

into practice booklet: Supplement to play and exploration: Early learning program

guide. Retrieved from http://publications.gov.sk.ca/documents/11/86149-Creating%20Early

And

Bullard, J. (2018). Design considerations for early childhood classrooms. Retrieved

from https://www.education.com/reference/article/design-early-education-classrooms/

Group Task

Discuss with your group members about how you would like to change the

arrangement of your classroom. Remember to keep in mind to create an inviting

environment with accessible materials for all the children to explore.

3.2 Physical Environment impacts on Young Children’s Learning

Learning Outcome

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1. Identify different materials for children to explore

2. Analyse different accessible materials and the ways to present them in the

environment

3. Elaborate the impact of physical environment on young children’s learning

Think
HMEC5123 QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Have you ever wondered what are your children gaining from the physical

environment that you’ve created for them? Are they being stimulated by the

materials that you’ve provided?

Prerequisite Reading

Liu, Y. & Pan, Y. J. (2008). Development and Validation of Kindergarten

Environment Rating Scale. International Journal of Early Years Education, 16:2, 101-114.

And

Sandstrom, H. (2012). The characteristics and quality of pre-school education in

Spain. International Journal of Early Years Education, 20:2, 130-158.

Group Task
Let’s watch this video on “Foster Exploration”
http://resourcesforearlylearning.org/educators/module/20/6/14/

Discuss how are the environments set up to encourage children to explore with all their
senses? Explore on the importance of physical environment in young children’s holistic
learning.