Trend+5


 * Trend Name: Child Initiated Learning

Basic Summary of Trend: Within the past few years, the practice of academics has been linked to the early years of childhood. There is strong emphasis on young children engaging in academics that will help them be successful in language arts and math. The practice of child initiated learning argues that direct instuction from teachers encourages young children to become dependent on instructions from adults and teachers. The child initiated learning approach believes that young children are free to create their own knowledge and becoming dependent on adult instruction interferes with that activity. Techniques of child inititated learning take placein a typical classroom that promote learning through play based activities and interaction amongst children in the class.

Key Manifestations: Learning is developed through interaction amongst children and child oriented activities instead of a teacher led classroom, where there are lectures and in class assignments. Children who experience child initiated learning develop good verbal and social skills when they are younger. Child initiated learning classrooms allow children to express their creativity, while enrolled in school.

Key Personnel: More and more preschools and elementary schools adopting child initiated learning because it is seen as becoming more and more beneficial. Compared to teacher led classrooms, child initiated learning examines how young children develop through means of creativity and expression.** As Katz ([|1999a]) says, "Most young children willingly do most things adults ask of them. But their willingness is not a reliable indicator of the value of an activity. The developmental question is not only, 'What can children do?,' but also, 'What should children do that best serves their development and learning in the long term?'"


 * How/Why a Trend: Most preschool classrooms offer some blend of child-centered and teacher-directed instruction, however child centered learning seems to pay off more because it benefits children in numerous academic characterisitics. Child initiated learning does seem to be growing in popularity amongst teachers and parents alike, but can never hold its stance because there will always be teacher - directed instruction in all types of schools for whatever age group.

Links: http://creep.crc.uiuc.ed/poptopics/preschoolcurr.html**