What are the key factors to consider when evaluating the credibility of Internet sources? How does “contribute anonymously,” “volunteers,” and “anyone with Internet access” impact the quality of the source material presented by the Wikipedia community? Is this a source that should be used for academic and scholarly research? Why or why not? 150 words

What ocean dynamics keep ocean pollution from being a local coastal problem? Do you think this is good or bad? What features of the ocean floor can be explained by plate tectonics? How do plate tectonics explain them? 50 words

respond to student posts

Rebecca post

At convergent plate boundaries, the plates shift towards each other and collide. This high degree collision forms underwater volcanoes. When two plates collide, one of the two plates subducts beneath the other and oceanic trenches are formed. This causes the underlying magma in the mantle to erupt, but the water and pressure released by the subducting plate cools off the hot magma and causes it to solidify. On reaching the surface, volcanoes are formed. 

Michelle post

The deepest sea floor in the Atlantic Ocean can be found in the Puerto Rico Trench. Why is it so deep? The North American tectonic plate is to blame. However other trenches of the same size can be found in the Pacific Ocean. What sets this particular trench apart from the others is the fact that the most negative gravity anomaly on earth can be found here. This means that there is force pulling down in that area. I did some further research on Puerto Rico and the surrounding islands. I was not aware that these islands are threatened by earthquakes and tsunamis. I knew that these islands were often hit by hurricanes, but the other two natural disasters I did not. It’s a little scary how some of the most beautiful places on Earth, are also some of the most dangerous.

How do other learners feel about play? Can you see diverse opinions in our beliefs about this activity? Respond to at least one other learner, discussing your commonalities.

Linnea post

    Play is intrinsically motivated, freely chosen by the participants, pleasurable and engaging, nonliteral, activity engaged in by the player, process orientated, and self-directed (Driscoll & Nagel, 2008, 98). I believe that Hartley (1971) defined play the best: “play is the essential ingredient, the vehicle by which children communicate, socialize, learn about the world around them, understand themselves and others, deal with their problems, and practice some of the skills they will use in the future” (98). According to Driscoll & Nagel (2008), play is important in the lives of children because it allows children to develop a sense of competence, practice skills, develop socially, solve problems and make decisions in a safe situation, gather and process information, and express emotions, release tension, and explore anxiety-provoking situations (101-102).

            I believe that play should be held to the highest importance in early childhood education. Theorists, well-known early childhood educators, and other teachers like myself all understand the importance of play. Play is how our students learn and grow. When observing the three 4-year-old girls play doctor and patients with dolls, I recognized different developmental areas that they were being learned/developed during this interaction: social-emotional (solving problems and makings decisions in a safe situation), cognitive (gathering and processing information), language (expressing emotions), and physical (practice skills). Furthermore, I think it’s unfortunate how many parents see play as not learning; therefore; I believe that it is up to educators to inform and educate parents on why play is so important.

            Lastly, I believe that play can promote diversity by being what it is–unbiased. All children are able to play—no matter their skin-color, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, or abilities. Also, play needs materials (for the most part), therefore; a wide-variety of developmentally appropriate materials can be used to facilitate play. Lastly, play can promote diversity by allowing children of different backgrounds to play with each other. This allows children of different backgrounds to learn from each other. 

Veronica post

 What is play? Why is it important in the lives of children, and what role should it hold in education? How can play help promote diversity? Use this unit’s video and readings to help you in this discussion.

When your child plays, they learn about them self and their surroundings. As educators you have to be creative and open-minded. Although, it is important to be intentional and have prepared activities sometimes plans change. Being flexible gives the opportunity for learning opportunities in any situation. Play is an opportunity for child guided learning. “Developmentally appropriate practice is grounded in the research on child development and learning and in the knowledge base regarding educational effectiveness” (Driscoll & Nagel,2008).
“Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional toward healthy brain development” (Ginsburg, 2007).
As an educator there are still lessons to be learned. Educators work a variety of children with varying abilities and disabilities. “Play encourages adults to communicate with the children in their lives” (Singer, Golinkoff, & Hirsh-Pasek, 2006). Adults support play by giving children opportunities to play, and by knowing when to intervene, and when not to intervene. Educators should be intentional and encouraging children to learn. Play is a way for children to learn about the world around them and to learn cultural values Although, it is ideal that people will do their job educators have to be held to a standard as well; ensure their practices are working. “Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth” (Ginsburg, 2007).
 

Review the approaches described by your peers. Choose one learner’s post that covers a different program than your own, and respond in depth to that person, comparing and contrasting their presentation to your own. I chose Montessori

Tiffany post

I chose to further explore the High Scope approach as it is an approached I have used in a center prior. High scope is a curriculum based on active learning and is a child-focused approach to learning. Child construct knowledge through materials, interactions with people, events, and ideas. This curriculum promotes problem solving, decision making, independence, and creative thinking. High Scope focuses its approaches around 8 content areas identified by the National Education Goals Panel. These content areas are Approaches to learning, Social and emotional development, Physical development and health, Language, literacy, and communication,  Mathematics,  Creative Arts,  Science and technology, and Social studies. The High Scope curriculum includes intentional teaching methods allowing educators to create effective and engaging early childhood programs. This program also focuses heavily on adult-child interactions, the classroom, and the daily routine. High scope curriculum has resonated well with me as I am rather familiar with it. We used this approach in an early learning center I worked in 6 year ago. I really enjoyed the easy to follow curriculum and how the curriculum integration across the different content areas was so prevalent. I was unaware that the name had been change from High Scope. The content of the curriculum is very child based as identifies of the child interests. This curriculum guided teachers to plan activities and participate side by side with the active learning student as they construct their own knowledge. I found wen using this curriculum it was very child focused and allowed the child to direct their own learning and build off the environment to make discoveries.

Heidi post

        I’ve chosen to explore the Bank Street approach, also known as the Developmental Interaction Approach, because it is one that I was not already familiar with (as I am familiar with Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and other “popular” early education philosophies) but it is one that I discovered to be similar to my own way of thinking. To get a better sense of the Bank Street approach, I went to the source – the original Bank Street School’s website (https://school.bankstreet.edu). According to their webpage detailing their approach, “at the heart of everything we do is an ongoing process of inquiry into what works best for children at each stage of their development” (https://school.bankstreet.edu,Our Approach). They go on to discuss how students are encouraged to be active and inquisitive in their learning, and to work collaboratively with their teachers and peers throughout the learning process (Our Approach). Bank Street is a whole child approach: “the philosophy engages the whole child for optimal cognitive, social, and emotional development,” which intuitively resonates with me as an effective means of learning (Our Approach).  

        A second website that focuses on Developmental Interaction Approach is that of The Children’s School in Boise Idaho (http://www.tcsboise.org). The Children’s School philosophy states that “A child learns best through active and independent investment of self in a stimulating environment – solving problems with other children, wondering, conferring with a teacher, expressing ideas, pretending roles, and being expressive with materials” (http://www.tcsboise.org, Philosophy). All of these ideals correspond gretly with my own. The Children’s School exemplifies the Developmental Interaction Approach by focusing on development as a process. This process is influenced and affected by the child’s interactions with their “social and physical world,” as well as their “emotional and cognitive experiences” (Philosophy).  

        The Bank School—or Developmental Interaction Approach—resonates with me because it allows children to develop at their own rate and through exploring their own interests. As Driscoll and Nagel (2008) point out, this approach does not depend on “normative child development stages” but instead makes space for each child to learn and grow at their own personal rate (p. 155). Additionally, the Bank School approach is “child-centered,” “experience-based,” and “process-oriented” (p. 154). It is the process oriented nature of this approach that is particularly appealing to me as I truly believe the most effective learning occurs during the process of reaching a goal, not simply due to the fact that a goal has been reached. 

Review the plans of other learners and provide them with encouragement and guidance. Give substantive feedback to at least one other learner.

Tina post

My center has 8 classrooms; infants (6 weeks- 10 months), infant-toddler (10 months -20 months), toddler (15 months-2), two’s, early preschool (2 1/2 -3 1/2 years old – not potty trained), preschool (3-4 years old), pre-K (4-5 years old) and Kindergarten (5-6 years old).  In addition, we have school aged children enrolled during the summer/school breaks.  As a childcare supervisor, I have been very fortunate to work all of the varying age groups.  Due to ratios or scheduling issues, I often work with children ages 6 weeks through 10 years old every day.  I have the luxury of being able to visit/observe children whenever I need to. 

Jhevanie post

This summer I worked at one of my child care center in my town. I worked at my school district as a preschool teacher for 5 years this coming school year. Throughout my experienced I have enjoyed and learned many things from my students, caregivers and families, I do have a good relationship with them so far. I leaned different cultures, and religions. I felt great to know that they were comfortable allowing myself to talk, discuss, read and play with my students. I am grateful for the opportunity that I was presented to observe a different kind of learning and education. I am willing to share to my students what I have been learning throughout my education in Capella University. Regarding with my parents I am willing and open to discuss with them about their children’s learning in my class. It is my honor to know such a beautiful children in my surroundings.