Evaluating Curricula Frameworks

Evaluating Curricula Frameworks 6CF010 Student number:

Learning Outcomes

LO1 to demonstrate an ability to apply and synthesise key theories and research and critically reflect on the curricula design.

LO2 to appraise and critically evaluate your own value system and relate this to your own practice and professional goals.

LO 3 to critically examine and evaluate some of the wider issues and challenges in implementing a creative curriculum.

Use this proposal template to address the points highlighted in blue. Please note the boxes will expand as you type. You can still add images if you wish

INTRODUCTION

Introduce your creative learning environment/ opportunity /activity stating clearly which curriculum you are looking at

Why have you chosen this? How is it a creative approach to delivering the curriculum? You may want to include an image or a picture of the artefact you would have brought to the interview

My creative learning environment is outdoor learning environment where children cannot only learn about nature and relate with it but also take part in outdoor play. This creative learning environment will be part of early childhood development curriculum that provides children with the knowledge and skills necessary to learn and grow well during and past their childhood.

VALUES AND BELIEFS

How is it a creative approach to delivering the curriculum? You may want to include an image or a picture of the artefact you would have brought to the interview

VALUES AND BELIEFS

How does this reflect your own values and beliefs What you feel is important when developing a creative approach to the curriculum

Considering your values and beliefs why may be challenging to develop a creative approach to the curriculum?

INFLUENCES

What are the influences on your plan?

What theoretical ideas have shaped how you want to approach this creative learning experience?

Have you been influenced by any pioneers or international perspectives?

I have chosen this creative learning environment because evidence suggests outdoor play is essential for developing or growing the minds of children. Additionally, it allows children to engage with mystery and wonders within nature. Outdoor play also offers children the freedom to explore and try new things or experiment with the world. Outdoor learning environments also provides children the opportunity to have adventure, take risks and overcome challenges. Lastly, play outdoors provides children the ability to have meaningful learning in different areas of their curriculum.

This creative learning environment reflects my own values of teamwork and sharing and the belief that human beings should be in a relationship with their environment and protect it. Outdoor play, for instance, engaging learners in a garden and in nature brings them together and closer to nature and they are able to protect and care for it.

The most important factor to consider when developing a creative approach to the curriculum of learners is ensuring that their interests and needs are considered, that is what they are interested in learning. Therefore, their voices must be considered when developing a plan for a creative approach.

The values of sharing and kindness may be difficult to implement when developing a creative approach because not all learners are brought up in such environments. Outdoor play also needs good communication in order for the children to share and learn together efficiently. Children with difficulty communicating might find it quite difficult learning in outdoor creative learning environments.

Some of the influences on my plan include Freidrich Froebel (outdoor play pioneer) and Lev Vygotsky (early childhood development theorist) (McLeod, 2019).

Lev Vygotsky’s model played a significant role in influencing the incorporation of play in early years learning. According to Vygotsky, play promotes cognitive, social, physical, social and emotional development (Taber, 2020). Including play in the curriculum of children is thus supported by theory and is essential for the whole development of children during their early years.

My plan is also inspired by Frederic Froebel who came up with the concept of kindergarten ‘kids’ garden’. His thinking have influenced early childhood care, as well as education today. His brilliant thinking and emphasis on nature resonate with my thinking of outdoor play and outdoor learning for children’s early years (McLeod, 2019).

What you consider is important regarding the role of the adult within your creative approach?

What are your reasons? Make connections to theory/pioneers to show your reasoning

According to Vygotsky, play promotes cognitive, social, physical, social and emotional development. Meanwhile, Froebel believes that the presence of an adult is to enhance a child’s awareness in terms of acquiring and growing knowledge about themselves and their surroundings, by facilitating learning through outdoor play (Solovieva and Garvis, 2018).

The challenge with adults supporting outdoor play and learning is that they may focus on mundane matters like organising turns on play activities, solving disputes and stopping children from taking risks rather than interacting and responding to the children’s interests and learning needs.

Some of the challenges that might be experienced while developing this creative approach is limited space to create play areas or kids gardens.

The other challenge that might be experienced is bad weather that limit outdoor play and learning The first challenge of space can be overcome by looking for space outside the school and utilising unused spaces that are occupied by junk material. Outdoor learning can be scheduled to happen on days when the weather is friendly and not on poor weather seasons.

Outdoor play embraces my values of teamwork and sharing. These are the values that I would like to instil in my learners to develop individuals who can collaborate and work together on similar tasks and challenges.

What are the challenges of implementing your creative approach within the current curriculum?

The challenges that are likely to be experienced during the implementation of this creative learning are limited space and bad weather.

How is the approach/activity significant to your long term career/professional goal?

Creating and engaging learners in outdoor play is significant to my long term career because it will give me the opportunity to learn different theories related to child development and the importance of outdoor play in the development of children and their learning.

Dig deeper into Ethnic Cleansing: Historical Context and Contemporary Relevance with our selection of articles.

References

Lockhart, A., 2017. Playing pioneer: imagination, mythology, artistry and play in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House (Doctoral dissertation, Rutgers University-Camden Graduate School).

McLeod, N., 2019. Danish outdoor nature pedagogy. In Empowering Early Childhood Educators (pp. 175-200). Routledge.

Solovieva, Y. and Garvis, S., 2018. Vygotsky’s conception of preschool development: play with orientation and narration. In Vygotsky’s theory in early childhood education and research (pp. 97-110). Routledge.

Taber, K.S., 2020. Mediated Learning Leading Development—The Social Development Theory of Lev Vygotsky. In Science Education in Theory and Practice (pp. 277-291). Springer, Cham.