C&Ks Curriculum and Pedagogy - Essay Example

C&K’s Curriculum and PedagogyCurriculum is a set of courses to be taught or studied in school. It is the guide to be followed by the academicians in teaching the learners. Fundamentally, learners are educated in order to acquire knowledge. Curriculum usually provides the means in knowledge acquisition. Basically, it is prescriptive. This paper explores the curriculum and pedagogy employed by C&K, an early childhood educational institution. Also, this paper examines the relation of curriculum and the basic principles of pedagogy.

Critical analysis The main purpose of establishing the C&K is to provide the children with quality education and care. This is premise within the philosophy that the local community is supportive to the needs inherent in early education. C&K believes that education for children centers on care, fun, safe, and inspiring environment (“Mission,” 2010). And the type of content that C&K uses is on the emphasis of the learning process. The outcomes of this process are positive gain of relevant knowledge and skills.

The value of fun is an elementary approach for children to appreciate knowledge more. C&K’s teaching strategy utilizes the problem-solving approach (“Qualified,” 2010). This approach is embedded in children’s play. The teacher usually listens and observes the children’s ideas, observations, and stories. They do not instruct the children in the traditional way but rather teach them in the child-center educational methodology. Furthermore, C&K has professional consultants that ensure the quality services in the conduct of the early childhood education.

C&K’s consultants assess and evaluate children’s progress in knowledge acquisition (“Monitoring,” 2010). C&K is also supported and supervised by the Department of Education, Training and the Arts (DETA).Basic pedagogical principles There are three basic principles of pedagogy: (1) learning has to be an active process; (2) the relevance of social interactions among children in school; and (3) the priority of intellectual activity based on actual experiences rather than on language (Golby, Greenwald, & West, 1975).

First, education concerns more on the child’s learning less than the teacher’s pedagogy. In the practice of teaching, the teacher provides high importance to the active participation of the child. The learner is permitted to experiment. As a result, the child discovers for himself or herself an aspect of truth. Second, the child is allowed to share and discuss things to his or her fellow learner. When necessary, the children are encouraged to express their clashing convictions. In this way, pupils tend to be not egocentric.

They are more open in exploring the minds of others. And third, experience is more important than language. It is not to say that language is irrelevant; only that thinking is emphasized. Children are able to learn knowledge easily once they “experienced” it. Conclusion The C&K’s curriculum is consistent with the three basic principles of pedagogy. In fact, the type of their content is the leaning process one. C&K deviates from the traditional way of teaching the children. They value the process involved in the child’s knowledge acquisition.

Children are able to grasp new things through healthy play. Also, C&K is a community-based education. People participate in the learning process of children. Parents, for instance, are active participants in the course of teaching the children. There are elements involved concerning the consistency or complement of the C&K’s curriculum to the three basic principles of pedagogy. The most apparent of these elements is the role of play in the children’s knowledge acquisition. It is through play that these active processes, social interactions and experience are harnessed.

ReferencesC&K. (2010). An Australian first-children and families set to benefit from early childhood curriculum [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.candk.asn.au/Buildingwaterfalls.aspx.C&K. (2010). Kindergarten - pre-prep: 3 years to school age [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.candk.asn.au/Preschoolingoptions/Kindergartenpreprep.aspx.C&K. (2010). Mission statement [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.candk.asn.au/AboutUs/Missionstatement.aspx.C&K. (2010). Qualified, caring teachers [Data file].

Retrieved from http://www.candk.asn.au/AboutUs/Aboutourteachers.aspx.Kamii, C. (1975). Pedagogical principles derived from Piaget’s theory: Relevance for educational practice. In M. Golby, J. Greenwald, & R. West (Eds.), Curriculum design (pp. 82-93). London: Open University.