Introduction
This is a short presentation describing how to develop strong relationships with young learners. It was developed for young learners aged below four years. The purpose of the presentation was to demonstrate how teachers should develop relationships through shared experiences. These relationships foster emotional connections with the young learners and deepen with time, thereby creating a favorable foundation for learning (“The roots of early learning,” 2021). It also results in the identification of the children’s unique talents and personalities as well as approaches to new problems and experiences.
Key Element
This artifact addresses element 4a of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) document. Element 4a focuses on understanding the positive relationships and helpful interactions as the basis of educators’ work with young children (“NAEYC professional preparation standards,” 2021). It demonstrates that strong relationships with young learners start with building new bonds with the family, which helps the educator in understanding their cultural beliefs and practices.
Demonstration of Competence
This artifact demonstrates my competence in Element 4a in three ways. Firstly, it shows that developing a strong relationship with learners is critical for learners to trust the educator. Secondly, it demonstrates that the educator understands that each learner is unique and requires special attention to bring out the best in them. Lastly, it shows that the educator understands that effective learning requires input from parents. For instance, by getting to know the parents, the educator can create a strong bond with the child that is founded on mutual trust. This will ensure a strong partnership between the parents and educators that will ensure a wholesome learning experience for the learner.
Artifact
Artifact 2. Technology in Early Education
Description of Artifact
The artifact is a presentation on the effective use of technology in teaching young learners. It was developed for educators for learners aged below four years. The purpose of the presentation was to demonstrate how educators could optimize the available technologies to deliver effective learning outcomes for young learners. In addition, the presentation was meant to prevent the negative use of technology that often results in negative learning outcomes, especially for young learners.
Key Element
The presentation addresses Element 4b of the (NAEYC) document. Element 4b focuses on knowing and understanding the appropriate strategies, tools, and technologies for early education (“NAEYC professional preparation standards,” 2021). The presentation shows educators can use technology to foster learners’ social and emotional development, follow multi-step directions, and encourage critical thinking from an early age (“Importance of technology in early education,” 2020). It also shows that technology can make learning enjoyable for young learners and assist the less gifted children in catching up with the rest of the class.
Demonstration of Competence
The presentation demonstrates my competence in this area in three main ways. Firstly, it shows that educators can use technology to enhance learning experiences. This is contrary to the notion that young learners are more likely to be distracted than to benefit from technology. Secondly, it proves that the integration of appropriate strategies and tools can enhance learning experiences in class, thereby creating excitement among learners. Lastly, it shows that developing new learning approaches stimulates learning even among young learners, which establishes a strong foundation for subsequent acquisition of knowledge. As such, technology makes it easier for the learners to solve complex problems on their own and without the teacher’s intervention.
Artifact
References
Importance of technology in early education. (2020). Athena Career Academy. Web.
NAEYC professional preparation standards. (2021). NAEYC. Web.
The roots of early learning. (2021). WGBH Educational Foundation. Web.