Overview
For this Performance Task, you will use a take the role of a lead teacher who has developed a workshop presentation on Creativity and Child-Centered Learning. You have decided before you give the presentation you will work through the activities yourself by completing the Creativity and Child-Centered Learning Template.
Instructions
Before submitting your Assessment, carefully review the rubric. This is the same rubric the assessor will use to evaluate your submission and it provides detailed criteria describing how to achieve or master the Competency. Many students find that understanding the requirements of the Assessment and the rubric criteria help them direct their focus and use their time most productively.
Assessment:
Scenario:
Based on your years of working first as an assistant teacher and then as a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom, you are well aware that it is thrilling to be involved in child-centered learning—whether observing, guiding, or at key times, taking a bit of a lead. In fact, it is what has kept you in the field so long. Now, you are very excited that your area Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) has asked you to present a workshop on Creativity and Child-Centered Learning. You are hopeful that—along with sharing what you have learned—you can help other early childhood professionals consider what children and adults gain by leaving teacher-directed and thematic units behind, in order to engage children in active inquiry and creative thinking. One of your colleagues has reviewed the outline you wrote for your presentation, given it a “thumbs up,” and suggested you try the activities your participants will be involved in before you present them. You agree.
Workshop Outline: Creativity and Child-Centered Learning Scenario Given to Workshop Participants
Imagine that you have been tasked with explaining to other early childhood professionals how child-centered learning (emergent curriculum, investigations, and project-based learning) and creative teaching fosters children’s creative thinking, creative skills, and creative arts/expression.
This assessment has two-parts. Click each of the items below to complete this assessment.
Part I: How Child-Centered Learning Fosters Creativity
First: Review The Dog Project resource. (This project offers an excellent example of young children engaged in child-centered learning through the project approach.)
Next: Consider what you have learned about:
Child-centered learning (emergent curriculum, investigations, and project-based work) and its relationship to fostering creativity in young childrenResearch-based information about creativity, included in the following resources:“Encouraging Children and Young People to Be Creative” (Read the “What is Creativity?” and “What are the Benefits of Creativity?” sections.)“What are Creative Skills”How music, creative movement, creative dramatics, and/or the visual arts can be integrated to enhance opportunities for creative expression
Analyze how child-centered learning in the Dog Project fosters children’s creative thinking, creative skills, and creative arts/expression. Substantiate your analysis with at least five (5) examples from the project. (3 paragraphs)
Part II: How Creative Teaching Fosters Creative Learning
First: View the following video Thinking Big Extending Emergent Curriculum Projects. (Hilltop Educator Institute. (n.d.). Thinking Big Extending Emergent Curriculum Projects [Video file]. Used with permission of Hilltop Educator Institute.).
Note: This child-centered learning experience offers an excellent example of young children engaged in child-centered learning through emergent curriculum and creative teaching.
Next: Review the following resources on creative teaching:
“Encouraging Children and Young People to Be Creative” (Read the “How to Encourage Creativity in Children ” section.) http://www.handsonscotland.co.uk/flourishing_and_wellbeing_in_children_and_young_people/creativity/creativity.html“30 Things You Can Do to Promote Creativity” (Blog post) http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/30-things-you-can-do-to-promote-creativity-in-your-classroom/
Summarize your definition of a creative teacher, including an analysis of why being a creative teacher is essential to fostering children’s creative thinking, creative skills, and creative arts/expression. (2–3 paragraphs)
Analyze how the teachers, in the Thinking Big Extending Emergent Curriculum Projects video, exemplify creative teaching. Substantiate your thinking with at least five (5) examples from the video. (3 paragraphs)
