Pedagogical Approaches for Curriculum Transactions:
Theme-based Approach
Theme-based approach is commonly used by educators across the world. It attempts to tie in various skills and knowledge to be acquired by children into a coherent whole, organised around a specific theme, such as myself, plants, animals, fruits, vegetables, etc. A deliberate focus on a given topic enables even very young children to be more efficient in acquiring skills and processes required to gather and process information in later life.
When we take a particular theme and help children to actively and visibly build knowledge on that theme, we enable children to acquire skills to make learning more efficient in the future. To plan the content following a thematic approach, each theme could be spread over about 1–2 months, with sub-themes that cover a smaller period, such as a week or two weeks, so that the information surrounding a large unit is organised in a way that makes sense to the children. For example, if the chosen theme plants, it could be spread over a duration of 1 month with various sub-themes such as parts of plants, types of plants, uses of plants, taking care of plants, etc., each covered in detail over a one-week period.
Theme teaching is generally carried out according to a detailed pre-designed lesson plan. Such an approach is largely teacher-directed with very limited scope to allow for child-initiated learning.
Play-based Approach
Children learn best through play. Children should engage in play activities that are neither too challenging nor too easy for their developmental level. In a play-based approach stimulating materials and activities are made available by the teacher and children self-select activities according to their interests at each point of time and learn at their own pace. The teacher’s role is that of a facilitator and she does not carry out any specific structured activities. In order to enable children to benefit from this approach, teachers need to observe and identify learning opportunities and make play materials available accordingly. If a teacher is unskilled and ineffective, it may lead to a loss of learning opportunities and learning by doing. Any pleasure-giving activity is playing for them and is central to a child’s well-being. Play stimulates curiosity and exploration and leads to mastery of body controls, encourages creativity and social skills and develops emotional balance and language skills.
Activity-based Approach
The primary belief of the activity-based approach is that children learn through 50 participation in activities, which provides opportunities for exploration and experimentation with different teaching-learning materials. The sensory experience and action make the learning better and more impactful. This leads to an exciting journey of discovery and enhanced understanding. A preschool teacher embeds the learning goals in various types of activities, such as outdoor and indoor play, storytelling, art and music activities, organised in a preschool class.
Projects or Inquiry-based Approach
A project is an inquiry-based, investigation or in-depth study of a topic or theme, usually done by small groups within a class, an entire class or sometimes by individual children. The teachers offer some open-ended triggers and then observe the children, listen to their stories, and their questions, see how they navigate the activity, take note of their interest levels and talk with the children. Children decide what they want to know more about and investigate further.
Then, with the variety of materials on offer to the children, the teachers encourage children’s engagement in activities, to go deeper and deeper to find the answers to their questions and, in turn, ask new questions to help them to make their learning visible through modelling or building, collage or drawing, dramatic play or music; any means at all. These activities are not pre-planned/ designed. They are subtly suggested to the children and the discoveries from one experience lead to the next. A project may not constitute the whole day’s schedule. Teachers may allocate half a day for the project and plan activities for the remaining half.
Montessori Method (Sensorial Approach) – Maria Montessori
The Montessori Approach was developed by Dr Maria Montessori (August 1870 – May 1952). She was an Italian physician and educator best known for the philosophy of education that bears her name and her writing on scientific pedagogy. Her educational method is in use in several schools throughout the world. Her most effective and famous method was the use of sensorial materials to teach the children. The sensorial materials provide a kind of guide to observation, for it classifies the impression that each sense can receive; the colours, notes, forms and sizes, touch sensations, odours and tastes. She developed didactic apparatus to train the senses and also to train in language and Mathematics. Principles were based upon the development and education of the child from within, without any material reward and punishment through self-education by catering to individual differences, sense training and motor efficiency and muscular training.
Apprenticeship Learning
Apprenticeship learning is a method used by teachers to teach students about a specific task. It is utilized in a problematic situation so students know how to react when faced with a similar situation. Students work very closely with an expert at learning a specific skill. Information the student acquires is then applied through practical applications in the field of study. Students are not learning skills at a basic level but rather at a level that is accepted in the specific industry.
Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is a visual form of note-taking that offers an overview of a topic and its complex information, allowing students to comprehend, create new ideas and build connections. Through the use of colours, images and words, mind mapping encourages students to begin with a central idea and expand outward to more in-depth sub-topics.
Graphic organizers improve reading comprehension benefit students’ achievement levels, enhance thinking and learning skills and increase retention.
