Effectiveness of Play Based Learning on Thinking Skills

Effectiveness of Play Based Learning on Thinking Skills The effectiveness of play-based learning in developing thinking skills in young children. There is wide-held support for the thesis that a play-based curriculum will directly enhance cognition in young children. The effectiveness of play-based learning is founded on the pedagogical applications of the theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Semenovich Vygotsky. Both theorists wrote about the importance of play in the world of children and recent research in the area builds upon their ideas to confirm that play has a significant role in the development of cognitive skills in young children. In this essay, I will explore how play-based learning is linked to the development of thinking skills in young children, especially when the processes involved in play are made explicit, so that children, while enjoying the experience of play also explicitly recognise the mechanics of play, understand the role of play in their learning and anticipate the outcomes that will be achieved. I will consider both theoretical and practical levels and conclude that the benefits of play are so vital that children need to be given an abundance of opportunities to experience learning through play, because play directly affects their capacity for cognition, metacognition and problem solving, skills which are fundamental to their longer-term academic and social achievements. In a detailed synthesis of the recent research on the relationship between play and cognition, Bergen (2002) lists how such studies link play to young childrens mathematical reasoning, cognitive strategies, linguistic ability, problem-solving skills and mental representation ability. However, despite the positive literature on the importance of play in the learning experiences of children, there still exists an underlying bias – both parental and pedagogical – that sees play as a â€Å"trivial,† â€Å"purposeless† and â€Å"aimless† activity or a â€Å"jumbo category† that includes all sorts of activities, some of which are â€Å"conducive to learning† and others which are not (Wood and Attfield, 2005, p. 2). It is pertinent then to ask the same question that Moyles (2005, p. 2) asks: â€Å"Can play be equated with anything that is worthwhile in the twenty-first-century world?† A play-based curriculum includes play as a pedagogical tool. This is based on the understanding that the characteristics of play are always present in the world of the child (Piaget, 1999) and it is through play that children naturally learn about the world. Play involves a wide variety of activities and behaviours that take place in different meaningful contexts. Adults, however, according to Piaget (1999), tend to distinguish between â€Å"serious endeavour† and â€Å"play† and see a childs play as a â€Å"world of irresponsibility, in which unreality reigns supreme† (p. 366). The very nature of play might indeed be founded on behaviour that is seemingly spontaneous and idiosyncratic, but these characteristics are often mirrored in young childrens thinking patterns. Wood and Attfield (2005, p. 87) clarify that while young childrens thinking exhibits elements of disorganisation and inconsistency, there are actually very consistent patterns being developed in pla y which later integrate into a childs accumulated body of knowledge and experience. This occurs successfully when children are encouraged to become consciously aware of the processes at play in their play-based learning activities. It is when play is made explicit – that is, when it is understood at the metacognitive level – that it becomes an especially effective tool in developing thinking skills in young children (p. 87). Thinking skills are a group of skills that govern how new knowledge is learned. Clarke (2008, p. 1) defines thinking as a â€Å"complex process that involves a variety of skills that are often used together when confronted with a new and interesting situation.† Thinking skills also require â€Å"knowing about thinking.† This is metacognition. Metacognitive abilities include planning how to approach a learning task or problem, evaluating a specific learning process or approach to problem-solving, and being motivated to do this (Clarke, 2008). The development of thinking skills in young children requires that children be given opportunities to think â€Å"for themselves† and apply the knowledge they have acquired in one learning situation to another situation. Thinking skills are also often called â€Å"critical thinking† or â€Å"creative thinking† because of the assumed ability of a learner to reason, evaluate, solve and process, while being aware o f executing these skills. Clarke (2008) stresses that children need opportunities for questioning and answering in a â€Å"variety of contexts† and â€Å"play situations.† In these situations, adults should serve as guides to model the skills required for developing cognition and metacognition. Children develop thinking skills through their interactions with adults as well as with other children and through â€Å"their explorations and use of mind-engaging materials† (Puckett and Diffily, 2004, p. 36). Play is effective in developing thinking skills because different play situations offer cognitive challenges, provide opportunities for young children to form new connections between ideas and concepts, and consolidate cognitive competence by incorporating â€Å"practice, rehearsal, repetition, mastery and extension† (Wood and Attfield, 2005, p. 88). Moreover, cognitive development in young children is linked to their ability to acquire the skills that Vygotksy called â€Å"symbolic representation† (Whitebread and Jameson, 2005, p. 65), which are linked to abstract thought, the type of cognitive competence developed in later years. Young children between the ages of two and seven are in, what Piaget calls, the â€Å"pre-operational† period of cognitive development, a period characterised by the â€Å"acquisition of representational skills: mental imagery, language, and drawing† (Puckett and Diffily, 2004, p. 105). During this phase in their cognitive development, children use words, concepts, images, signs and symbols. A play-based curriculum can effectively foster the acquisition of such skills. Even a game of tag can offer opportunities for the development of thinking skills (Little, 1998) if the teacher makes explicit the mechanics of the game. For example, the physical education activity of â€Å"chasing and tagging† becomes an opportunity for thinking as well as â€Å"having fun.† Thinking skills are developed when students discuss the rules and objectives of the game with the teacher in the guiding role. For example, the teacher might ask about the strategies students used in tagging, seek ideas on how it is best to play the game, question how well students understood directions, and encourage students to consider novel ways for playing the game. Similarly, playing with play dough in the classroom can become an opportunity for developing thinking skills (Dimech and Pace, 2005) when the teacher introduces the concept and symbol of CAF (Consider All Facts.) Students are offered the opportunity to develop thinking skills when asked leading questions by the teacher, for example, â€Å"Where are we going to play?† â€Å"What should we do so as not to dirty the tables?† and â€Å"What should we do when we have finished playing?† (p. 5). Hereford and Schall (1998) also consider how guiding children through â€Å"dramatic play† can help develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills. For example, playing a â€Å"trip to the moon† could begin with guided questions that identify a problem (the need for helmets), brainstorm solutions (what can be used) and choose and evaluate a solution. Here the teacher supports the choices of the students even when impractical or illogical (p. 22). These activi ties encourage students to think for themselves and to understand the mechanics of their playing and thinking activities at a metacognitive level. In both theory and practice then, the evidence supporting a direct link between the effectiveness of play-based learning in developing thinking skills in young children is significant. The development of thinking skills thrives best when young children experience learning in a variety of complex contexts. A play-based curriculum offers the ideal multidimensional context in which young children are able to develop cognitive competence and metacognitive strategies. Young children should therefore be given ample opportunities to experience play, because play can indeed be equated with something â€Å"worthwhile.† References Bergen, B., 2002. The Role of Pretend Play in Childrens Cognitive Development. [online] In Early Childhood Research Practice, Vol. 4 No. 1. Available from: http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v4n1/bergen.html [Accessed: 21 November 2008]. Clarke, J., 2008. What are thinking skills, and how can they be nurtured in young children? [online] In Teaching Expertise. Available from: http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/fostering-young-childrens-thinking-skills-3193 [Accessed: 21 November 2008]. Dimech, N., and Pace, D., 2005. Thinking Skills Lesson Plans for Kindergarten [online] Skola, Available from: http://schoolnet.gov.mt/tsearly/LESSONPLANS/lessonplansforkindergarten.PDF [Accessed: 21 November 2008]. Hereford, N.J., and Schall, J., 1998. Learning Through Play: A Practical Guide for Teaching Young Children. New York, NY: Teaching Resources/Scholastic. Little, N., 1998. Sharks and Barracudas: Chasing and Tagging Activity: An Educators Reference Desk Lesson Plan [online] The Educators Reference Desk. Available from: http://eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Physical_Education/Games/GAM0005.html [Accessed: 21 November 2008]. Moyles, J.R., ed., 2005. Excellence of Play. Berkshire: Open University Press. Piaget, J., and Inhelder, B., 1999a. The Growth of Logical Thinking from Childhood to Adolescence: : Classification and Seriation. London: Routledge. Puckett, M.B., and Diffily, D., 2004. Teaching Young Children. Clifton Park, NY: Cengage Learning. Whitebread, D., and Jameson, H., Play, Storytelling and Creative Writing, p. 59-71. In Moyles, J.R., ed., 2005. Excellence of Play. Berkshire: Open University Press. Wood, E., and Attfield, J., 2005. Play, Learning and the Early Childhood Curriculum. California: SAGE Publications Inc. 5/ 5

How to Write a Thesis Statement (2018)

How To Write A Stronger Thesis Statement – Essential Tips Writing a strong thesis is one of the most important things that you can do in regards to essay writing in college. If you’re going to become one of the top student OR anything else that you do in life, knowing how to structure a correct thesis statement is going to help you. So, how to you go about Writing a Thesis Statement Let’s explore this together: A thesis statement is an interesting thing to consider as it is part of the main idea of your essay If your goal is to be a better writer, than the following tips are just for you. This is a solid option that is going to give you a great option to move forward with, especially if your goal is to master the art of essay writing.Thesis Statement DefinedThe first thing that you need to consider is simple, you need to consider what this truly is. A thesis statement is an interesting thing to consider as it is part of the main idea of your essay. This should appear in your essay as a way to inform readers what you’re going to be discussing and explaining. It can be a single sentence statement, or it could be a couple of sentences. Your thesis topic needs to explain to the reader what you’re going to be proposing with your writing.Dividing The Thesis StatementsThe next thing that you need to know is that you are going to have to deal with two major statements. These are thesis options that will make or break your essay. This is an option that is going to help you gain the upper hand when writing. The first option is an informative thesis, which gives the reader a better idea of what you’re going to be writing about. The best way to do this is to write a cause and effect sentence. An example of this could be similar to this: To ride a skateboard, you first need to get a board, and then kick and push in one direction. This is not the only type of thesis that you are going to want to consider. There’s several other options that you need to know about. The second solution is known as a persuasive thesis. This is something that will help you create a reason why you’re trying to write your essay and why the premise is stated as you want it to be said. For instance, use a sentence similar to this: Skateboarding is the best type of sport, because it lets you be creative, and is easy to learn. As you can see, this option lets you create an opinion that you will then talk about in your essay. This is different than the informational solution, which lets you have a full narrative based on one statement. This is something that you will need to consider overall, as it is an important example as to how to divide thesis elements. This is an important thing to learn if you’re going to create a strong thesis overall. You may also review how to structure a PhD thesis.Style and Substance of Your ThesisIf you’re going to create a good thesis, you’re going to need to either go with one point or several points. This is something that can be a matter of your own assignment. For instance, if your teacher is going to ask you to write an essay that is about one topic, and there’s one point that you need to make in a small essay, then you don’t need to have a list of topics. Instead, you’ll need to work with one overarching point into the paragraphs that you’re going to be creating. You’ll find that the length of your essay is going to mean a lot. An essay that is shorter than 5 pages, will ensure that you will not have to write about several different points. You’ll find that one topic will be easy to work with if you’re going to write five pages or under. Now, if you’re going to write a larger paper, you’re going to need to put in a lot of effort to create a serious push into your points. Your thesis will need a list of statements and topics because you’ll be writing an extensive amount of information about the topic.What To Look For In A Solid ThesisYour thesis statement has to have 3 major components. These are going to help you gain the upper hand moving forward. The length for instance, will be the first thing that you need to consider. Your sentence shouldn’t be too long. Anything longer than 30 words is too long, and anything less is ok, but you have to ensure you have a complete position. The position of your thesis also matters. This is something that you will need to write that has an opinion on the matter. You need to write as though you believe the statement on a small scale, to then discuss it on a larger scale. The last thing that you need to have is a moment of strength, meaning that your statement has to be fully realized and closed overall. What does a strong thesis look likeWell, here’s an example of what you can do. Skateboarding is a great sport because it’s fun to learn. In that sentence, you have an argument that answers itself in one sentence. Now, if you were to write an essay around that sentence, you could easily bring about several elements to discuss the question of â€Å"why†, which is why essays are written in academia and in professional settings. You may also like to review how to avoid plagiarism in an essay or dissertationComposing Thesis StatementsOverall, when you’re thinking about writing an essay, make sure that you look into creating a simple way of describing arguments overall. What are you trying to explain with your essaySeriously, what is it that you want to conveyIf you consider this, you’ll be able to write a sentence that explains things with relative ease. This is a great option to consider. Direct your research towards the sentence of your thesis, and you will see a positive push forward, no doubt. If you are worried that you need to survive the uni, head over to our site and let our expert writers help you write a top class essay, on time and to the highest possible quality.

Essay on Biography of Edward Kennedy Ellington - 2081 Words

Biography of Edward Kennedy Ellington â€Å"I’m just an up and coming musician struggling to find another new note.† -Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy Ellington was born April 29th 1899 in Washington, DC. From an early age, Ellington was instilled with solid, conservative morals. He was taught to pride himself and his family and to achieve to the utmost of his dreams. At such a crucial time in the history of the African American, there was a struggle to be accepted and to fit into the American culture that so far had not embraced them. This held true for Ellington’s family. As Ellington said of his father, he always â€Å"acted as though he had money, whether he had it or not.†[1] This sentiment and†¦show more content†¦Not only was Ellington raised in a refined and proper manner, he was also exposed to luxuries unimaginable to most lower class black families of the time. They would receive china and silverware, clothes and anything else naturally only gently used. If it were not for this, it would probably be impossible for the Ellington’s to own a piano, let alone two of them! Ellington’s family was â€Å"part of a social group whose morals were steadfastly Victorian and often puritanical in outlook†¦Ellington was encouraged to become an achiever, and was taught pride in his race and a duty to represent it well.† [3] The attitude and confidence that his family possessed is what led Ellington on the path that he took. The steadfast belief and faith that his family had in him is what encouraged Ellington to continue on and to persevere in life. Piano lessons did not go well in Ellington’s early life. He was uninterested in the hobby and as he said, â€Å"I missed more lessons than I took†¦After all, baseball, football, track and athletics were what real he-men were identified with†.[4] It was not until several years later, while working in a hotel down at the Jersey shore that someone suggested Ellington stop in Philadelphia on the way home to hear a pianist by the name of Harvey Brooks. Brooks was around the same age as Ellington and seeing another pianist

The Definition of Success Essay - 523 Words

What is success? How does one succeed in life? A few moments thought will convince us that the question is by no means an easy one to answer. We say this, that, or the other man is successful, but what do we mean by it? One man has houses and lands, has a large bank account, drives fast horses and has many apparent friends, such a man is accounted successful. Yet all of these things that minister to his pleasure have been acquired by unremitting labor, by hard, avaricious dealings with his fellow-men, by trampling upon the hearts and affections of thousands; in the face of these facts is the man a successful one? The question will be answered differently, according; to the views of life of the one answering it. Some think wealth is the†¦show more content†¦The man who becomes wealthy is in a measure successful, but only so far as the acquirement sharpens his intellect, broadens his powers, and develops him into a self-reliant, powerful member of society for its good. Selfish wealth is never good. One may be a millionaire, but if with it comes greed, avarice, oppression of others, the success is small indeed. Scattered along the path of life we find examples of men whose success brought them fame and glory and proved an unqualified blessing to all mankind. . . . [Scientist Louis] Aggasiz was at one time importuned to go upon the lecture platform and make money out of his vast knowledge as a naturalist. His reply will be ever memorable: â€Å"I have no time to make money.† Such a man would be hooted at on Wall Street by the men who speculate in the earnings of others and imagine themselves the great business men of this age. Yet whose success is greatest, that of Louis Agassiz standing among his pupils . . . teaching them the secrets of nature, or that of Jay Gould heaping together millions wrung from the failure of thousands of his fellows? 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