Do it like Dewey

While reading the quote, our group found that it relates to Lev Vygotsky's belief of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). Once a child has mastered a skill or task, the process to build on the mastered task is called the Zone of Proximal Development.  For example, a child has mastered the task of putting on their shoes without any help from others. Their next step is to master the skill of tying their shoelace. The process of learning how to their their shoes is within the ZPD.

Although it may appear that children have mastered a skill, as early childhood educators, we need to encourage them to build upon what they have already learned. We felt that this quote reflected how learning never stops. As aspiring early childhood educators, we feel that this is something that every professional should practice not only on self but when teaching others.

This also emphasizes how the process of a child's learning is more important than the product. Therefore the educator's role is to scaffold the child's learning so that they can achieve more goals as well as learn and discover in a meaningful way.

According to John Dewey, as one of the progressive education components, teachers should act as a guide or facilitator (Wolfe, 2002, p.165). Dewey also created the first Laboratory School called, "The Dewey School". Here he was able to "test, verify, and criticize theoretical statements and principles" (Wolfe, 2002, p. 175). Although teachers are constanty guiding and facilitating children, they themselves are also in the learning process. Dewey created a labratory to test whether or not traditional styles of teaching and other theoretical beliefs are truly effective when teaching children.

-Jessica Su, Stacey Asuncion, Lubomyr Stasyszyn, Suvetha Suthakaran

Reference

Wolfe, J. (2002). Learning from the Past: Historical Voices in Early Childhood Education. 2^nd edition.  Mayerthorpe  Alberta: Piney Branch Press