Video Observation Analysis/ Week 1 STEM PLAY OBSERVATION

This week I am asking you to take your accumulated knowledge from earlier information gleaned in this course and integrate them into an insightful look at the role of the teacher in provisioning the classroom with appropriate, authentic STEM, science and math experiences for young children. 

Online Resources:

The Role of the Teacher in Block Play video.  https://youtu.be/mN3rKe2z9sA

Building STEM skills video https://youtu.be/Ghzp9IKlOKw

Blocks are Essential for Play and Learning: Every Learning Environment Should Have Many of Them!  Blog post

https://tecribresearch.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/blocks-are-essential-for-play-and-learning-every-learning-environment-should-have-many-of-them/

Science in Early Learning: The Root of STEM Education. Blog post

https://tecribresearch.wordpress.com/2018/09/15/science-in-early-learning-the-root-of-stem-education/#content

https://www.cityandcountry.org/programs/blocks-program

Use the following format: ( please add the answers separately… 1-, 2-

Part 1:

1. Who was Caroline Pratt?  If you do not recognize her name, do a Google search and explain her connection to block play in early childhood education.  Utilize Kashins Blocks are Essential blog post listed above.                                                                                      (Make note of the Caroline Pratt quote within that blog post in your answer.)

2.After reviewing the online resources above, explain, in your own words, what STEM education is in early childhood.  Cite information from the material above and uploaded here.

Part 2:

Now please turn your attention to the video clip and still photos uploaded.  This material is courtesy of Congregation BNai Israel Preschool and as such is not to be used for any purpose other than the completion of this assignment for this course.  For your information, the child in this clip is 4 years of age.

1.Describe the context and setting of the experience you are viewing in the video clip as well as in the still photos provided here.  Where does this experience occur, how did the adult set up the provocation, how many children are involved with it at one time, and what materials (quantity and quality) are provided to the children?

2.  Look for evidence of the following aspects of construction play in the video clip and images provided in Module #6, (not all areas will be present, focus on the main aspect you are seeing/hearing).  What scientific aspect, or multiple aspects below,  best relates to what you are seeing in the video clip?  Explain your answer. 

Role-playing:  Building a farm, city, etc.

Problem-solving:  Figuring out how to do something and experimenting with the materials.

Cooperative Play:  Working with peers to make things together.

Oral Language:  Talking about what is being made and how to accomplish it

Pattern:  Using the blocks/objects to create a pattern (Ex:  a fence, building, etc)

Measurement:  Figuring out how many blocks/objects are needed to make the construction equal

Classifying:  Sorting blocks/objects according to similarities in size, shape, etc.  Might be done in cleaning up or in building.

Balance:  Keeping structures standing, avoiding toppling over.

Vocabulary:  Utilizing terms to support understanding.  Ex: rectangle, square, triangle, bridge, etc.

Size Relationship:  Comparative terms…short, shorter, long, longer, longest, etc.

Architectural awareness:  Demonstrating understanding of components of structures…base, supports, roofs, doors, etc.

3.  Review the following information from Diane Kashins blog post, specifically the following quote:

Bruner (1960) adopts a different view and believes a child (of any age) is capable of understanding complex information: ‘We begin with the hypothesis that any subject can be taught effectively in some intellectually honest form to any child at any stage of development.

a.  How would you describe the role that this childs classroom teacher took in creating a place to allow children to think?

Utilizing the Do You Know Anything About Loose Parts? resource, as well as the Malaguzzi Image of the Child resource:

b.  Connect with the Reggio Emilia concept of the Image of the Child as being capable and competent. Make the case for how children can and do take everyday materials and demonstrate to adults that they are capable of complex thought.  Cite the video as your evidence.  Be specific….what is complex about his play with these materials provided to him? 

4.  Reference to refresh yourself of questioning with young children as a means of supporting their play, specifically, Promoting Inquiry-Based Science Education. 

a.    Develop 3 questions using I wonder…’, or what would happen if… formats that you might use to initiate discussions with this child, in order to acknowledge his work, and further encourage his use of math/STEM concepts in play.   

Predictive question:
Reactive question:
Recall question:

5.  Summarize the role of the teacher in supporting authentic experiences via provocations in the classroom: 

a. What is the role of active teacher observations of childrens play?  Specifically, what was this classroom teacher able to learn about this childs understanding of STEM concepts, engineering in this case, by simple utilizing loose parts materials, observing his play, and documenting it through photo and video?  How would this compare to a traditional classroom which was also trying to implement the same aspects of STEM learning? 

b.What is the role of questioning?

c.What is the role of provocations/invitations with loose parts?