Strong Foundation through Play-based Learning

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Abstract

The article provides program guidelines of developmental early education sketch an educational framework for transforming principles of Education for All to teacher education practice. Guideline goals and recommendations are based on fresh research findings on early learning and neuroscience, Vygotskian methodological principles of cultural development and international comparisons of early education services. The core of the program consist of integrated study units, which emphasize teacher competences in promoting children’s play-based learning, reflective skills in enhancing own and children’s creativity, and guiding inclusive classroom activities. Play-based learning is emphasized because of its inclusive function in heterogeneous early education classroom and effects on executive functions of special needs children.

General Information

Keywords: developmental education, inclusion, play-based learning, early education, master’s degree, teacher competences, assessment, creativity

Journal rubric: Developmental Psychology

Article type: scientific article

For citation: Hakkarainen P., Bredikyte M. Strong Foundation through Play-based Learning. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie = Psychological Science and Education, 2010. Vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 71–79.

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Information About the Authors

Pentti Hakkarainen, PhD, Editor-in-chief of Journal of Russian and East European Psychology, professor emeritus, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6725-1822, e-mail: phakkar@gmail.com

Milda Bredikyte, PhD, senior researcher and associate professor, Vytautas Magnus University, Vilnius, Luthuania, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0667-6477, e-mail: milda.bredikyte@vdu.lt

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