In the article you can read about a verified program of emotional intelligence development combined with introducing ICT tools and elements of science into preschool education in the form of free play. The Program aims at preparing children for functioning in the world of the future. Such a young person is able to diagnose emotions, express them in a way that does not offend peers’ feelings, should broaden intellectual horizons on the basis of skillful selection of data (selected ICT tool and, above all, should naturally perceive science as great fun.

New model of preschool education

Authors:

Agata Hofman, PhD, director of Gedania 1922 Preschool
Anna Mietlarek-Kropidłowska, PhD, Eng., Gdańsk University of Technology, anna.mietlarek@gmail.com
Milena Lachowicz, PhD, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport, milena@kiero.net

What is already known about this topic?

Currently developmental psychologists are inclined to believe that children develop and verify theories in the same way as scientists do (Gopnik 2009). Gopnik and Kuhl (2010, 2011) not only look for similarities between their methods, but also claim that they are almost identical. Even few years old scientists are capable of formulating research hypotheses, verifying their observations and adjusting their knowledge about the world to the results of their own experiments (Gopnik 2012). Kuhl, on the other hand, proves that even infants have an inborn multilingual potential (Kuhl, Damasio 2012). Whereas Berger advocates that even four months old babies use statistical methods to verify the amount of objects around them (Berger et. al. 2006). Unfortunately, traditional didactic methods applied in preschools do not use children’s inborn capacities (Hofman 2008).

What this paper adds?

The paper presents a verified programme of emotional intelligence development combined with introducing ICT tools and elements of science into preschool education in the form of free play. It aims at preparing children for functioning in the world of the future. Such a young person is able to diagnose emotions, express them in a way that does not offend peers’ feelings, should broaden intellectual horizons on the basis of skillful selection of data (selected ICT tools^[1]) and, above all, should naturally perceive science as great fun. Most of the time spent in kindergarten is based on free play. This is the time when a foreign language serves as a tool of communication among the educator and the children whereas scientific stimuli are part of creative activities for children.

The main assumption is to arouse natural passion for science as well as searching for answers and asking questions. Children use ICT tools, nevertheless computer-based activities do not exceed 10% of classes.

^[1] http://htwins.net/scale2/<27.09.2013> scale of the Universe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvtAPH0b1lE <27.09.2013> introduction to astronomy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFuEo2ccTPA <27.09.2013> introduction to anatomy

For more information and references,
read the original paper of the authors!