Historical Milestones in the ECE Profession

By ahoff3738
  • 1483

    Martin Luther (1483-1546)

    One of Luther's major contributions was he advocated establishing schools to teach children how to read. Luther believed that the primary role of education is to teach children to read.

  • John Locke (1632-1704)

    Introduced the term “blank tablet” meaning that children were born with nothing in their minds; no knowledge, thoughts, etc. and that the environment fills with knowledge. His environmentalism theory suggested that what goes on around children and what they go through is where their knowledge comes from. The quality of the learning environment will impact the quality of children’s learning and development.

  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

    Jean- Jacques Rousseau thought of the concept, naturalism. Naturalism is a process for children to learn at their own pace in a natural, and comfortable setting.

  • Johann Pestalozzi (1746-1827)

    Johann Pestalozzi believed that all education is based on sensory impressions. That the object of lessons are to focus on learning through manipulatives are a critical tool in ECE. He also thought that education should follow the child’s nature, and mothers are children’s most important teachers and that the teacher’s role is that they should focus on teaching children, not subjects.

  • Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852)

    Froebel also designed teacher-training programs emphasizing the need to observe children and develop activities based on readiness. He believed that the children develop though, “un-folding”, that children develop through play, and that guidance, direction, and the environment were critical in supporting appropriate play experiences.

  • John Dewey (1859-1952)

    Developed the Progressivism Theory:
    He believed that education should be experiential and focused on the needs and interests of children. He also believed that it is important to promote an interest in solving problems and figuring out how things work- it’s important for the teachers to provide children opportunities for inquiry and discovery.

  • Jean Piaget (1896-1980)

    Developed three stages of intellectual development: Sensorimotor Stage, Preoperational Stage, and Concrete Operations Stage.
    Piaget’s Theory that Cognitive Development is based on ages and stages. The rate of development may vary, but the sequence in the stages does not.
    Piaget’s Theory of Learning: Piaget believed that children develop cognitively through logical and mathematic abilities. That knowledge is constructed through interaction with the environment.

  • Erik Erikson (1902-1994)

    Psychosocial Theory: Cognitive and social development occur simultaneously and cannot be separated. Development occurs in stages and each stage will result in positive developmental outcomes.
    Stages:
    I. Trust vs. mistrust, II. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt, III. Initiative vs. guilt, IV Industry vs. inferiority
    Believed that children’s personalities and social skills are impacted by society, that parents/ teachers play a role in supporting children’s psychosocial development.

  • Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

    Self- Actualization Theory:
    Children must have basic needs met in order for learning to occur. These needs exist in a hierarchy that includes life essentials, safety and security, belonging and love. He believed that the environment in education plays an activist role in meeting children’s basic needs.

  • Howard Gardner (1943- Current)

    Theory of Multiple Intelligences: consisting of eight Intelligences:
    Visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, Mathematical/logical, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Musical/rhythmic, Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Naturalistic.