Wednesday, March 15, 2023

The Environment

You will have to start with creating the right type of environment in your classroom. "Much like Vygotsky, Malaguzzi believed that social learning preceded cognitive development (Gandini 2012). He emphasized that the environment plays a central role in the process of making learning meaningful. So important was this notion, that Malaguzzi defined the environment as the third teacher (Gandini 2011)." (Biermeier, 2015). When setting up your classroom try and make it inviting. Once you have set it up as you think you would like it to be sit on the floor. Not just in one area but many different areas of the room. What are you thinking, feeling and wondering?

What type of materials do you have for the children to explore? Try to create a space with a lot of open-ended objects. Things that don't just have one purpose. There is room for the play food in the house centre but pegs and loose part are valuable pieces to an inquiry and project-based classroom. These loose parts encourage children to use their imagination and explore things in different ways.

You need to look at your philosophy of the education. Are the children your partner in discovery? Do you have an open mind to learn new things and a natural sense for wonder? Children have a natural curiosity about the word around them. Take time to sit back and observe the children in your class what are they talking about, thinking about and wondering about? This is where you will start. 




Biermeier, M. A. (2015). Inspired by Reggio Emilia: Emergent Curriculum in Relationship Driven Learning Environments. Young Children Vol.70 No. 5. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/nov2015/emergent-curriculum#:~:text=Much%20like%20Vygotzky%2C%20Malaguzzi%20believed,third%20teacher%20(Gandini%202011).

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Where to Begin?

Inquiry-based and project-based learning has been around for a long time. There is often a great deal of mystery on how to do it correctly. I am hoping to add some resources in this blog that will help beginners navigate how to effectively create an inquiry-based or project-based learning environment. I think the first thing we need to do is look at what the words mean. What is inquiry-based learning? What is project-based learning? Are they the same? 

I found this amazing blog post that has a visual to describe it all. It also includes problem-based learning which is another facet to consider. As you scroll down the linked post below you will gain a clearer understanding of it all. 

The different types explained

The Environment

You will have to start with creating the right type of environment in your classroom. "Much like Vygotsky, Malaguzzi believed that soci...