Children's Growth, Development and Learning

Children's Growth, Development and Learning

1. Module One

   • Week One
     • What is social capital and how does it impact on children's learning?
     • What are the influences within the socio-cultural ecology that shape the developing child (Bronfenbrenner)?
   • Week Two
     • How does the relationship between nature and nurture impact on children's learning?
     • How influential are genetic predispositions on learning and development?

2. Module Two

   • Week Three
     • How does a developing child form their sense of self?
     • How can schools contribute to the formation of a healthy sense of self?
     • How can they influence learning and behaviour? What can teachers do?
   • Week Four
     • The importance of belonging (Maslow)
     • What activities could help you establish a community in your classroom?
     • What are McMillan and Chavis's four elements of community?
   • Week Five
     • How does the school community influence the formation of social and civic competencies?
     • How do teachers help children build healthy relationships and prepare them to engage in community as active citizens?
     • What role do they play in children's growth, development and learning?
   • Week Six
     • Foundations of morality?
     • How can teachers assist children in theor moral development?
     • How does moral reasoning and high-level moral thinking guide decision making in schools?

3. Module Three

   • Week Seven
     • Why is motivation important?
     • What are the foundations of motivation?
     • How do teachers help children sustain engagement in learning for a lifetime?
     • How does the application of goal theory, expectancy theory and attribution theory help teachers engage children in learning?
   • Week Eight
     • How does knowledge of brain development influence teaching and learning?
     • How does knowledge of the ZPD assist teaching and learning?
   • Week Ten
     • Why is it important that teachers recognise all domains (affective, physical and cognitive)?
   • Week Nine
     • What is meant by the Body/Mind link?
     • What elements of the physical domain impact on children's learning?
     • How and why can teachers help the children to build their gross motor skills?
     • What are the elements of fine motor skills and how can teachers address them?