The fact is children and youth learn in various ways. We believe play plays a huge , huge role in education in general and in the the process of teaching and learning. Children develop their language skills, and their speaking, and listening skills better when they are interacting and playing with other children. We believe children would develop their thinking, and problem solving skills what they are engaged in various learning activities, and play. We believe children develop sense of empathy and care for others when they are engaged in some meaningful activities that would teach them about the world around them. We believe children would develop their logical thinking and also developing a moral values when they are given proper guidance and provided an environment conducive for learning. They would learn to become better in their studies and other aspects of life if they are taught and given proper trainings and conducive environment that promotes learning.
That is the reason why we are developing and testing various activity based programs in TFLCS Inc. We designed and launched the Afterschool Program with the main purpose of providing these children program that would engage them , that would help them learn . We are designing programs that would engage these students in various ways . In our programs we have been trying to bring a programs related in reading , a program related to design it science, a program related to art and creativity. We are also giving these children an opportunity to just play , to chose a types of paly they want to paly and just play. The very basic idea behind these activities and these programs are simply , we believe children learn more through play and activities, and interaction among each other.
We can see various theories of teaching and learning explained their theory indicating what is important in the process of learning. Before I present you what I have learned in the past few years about the importance of play, activity based learning, art , and play , which is the actual playing a character , or playing in drama or in acting, I will present one theory of learning. This is the most common theories of learning, which is the cognitive theory of learning.
Today, as I indicated above I will be sharing about a well known theory of learning, which is the cognitive theory of learning. Cognition simply refers to our processes of understanding things through the process of thinking using our mind. This theory focus on how our brain work, how we think , and formulate knowledge. Jean Piaget is considered the father of modern cognitive theory of learning who developed a theory of cognitive development throughout his study. In his theory he indicated that there are four stages of cognitive development. He leveled them sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operations. In his theory Piaget explained his theory indicating these four stage. He indicated sensorimotor stage lasts from birth to two years of age. According to this theory its suggested Infants and toddlers acquire knowledge through motor skills and the five senses. The second stage is preoperational stage which lasts from two to seven years. In this stage the theory suggests that children learn to make connections based on symbols by playing pretend, connecting letters to sounds and eventually to words. The third stage is concrete operational stage lasts from seven to twelve years. He indicated that it is in this stage that children and preadolescents would develop logical thinking, moral values ,and forming their own thinking. The fourth and last stage is the formal operational stage which begins around age twelve and lasts through adulthood. In this stage he indicated that youth would develop the ability of understand their world in extended manner. Its in this stage that they would start talking about abstract ideas, and develop critical thinking skills.
Source: Principle of educational phycology By Jeanne Ellis Ormero: Donald H. Saklofske; Vicki L. Schwean; Jac J.W Andrews; Bruce M. Shore
