Keyword: teaching strategies

ABSTRACT: The birth-to-five-year period is a critical stage in a child’s development. Most brain growth occurs during this time, laying the foundation for future learning. Early childhood education plays a pivotal role in shaping early development. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are essential components of early childhood education, influencing children’s identities and socio-cultural development. Introducing DEI concepts at an early age equips children with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate a globalized world while fostering an appreciation for diverse perspectives. Children exposed to multiple languages and cultures tend to develop empathy and acceptance of others. This qualitative study explores how educators integrate DEI into early childhood settings through semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Teachers and administrators from Belize, Canada, the United States of America, Egypt, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates share their approaches toward promoting DEI in early childhood programs and the challenges they face in implementation. Purposeful, convenience, and snowball sampling were utilized to recruit participants. Findings demonstrate that while educators value DEI and aim to foster inclusive learning environments, the manner in which DEI is implemented varies. Recommendations will equip educators and policymakers with best practices for fostering inclusive, respectful learning environments that support all children and their families. Future research examining the intersectionality of educators’ identities, including gender, sexual orientation, race, culture, and professional roles, may offer deeper insight into how lived experiences shape DEI understanding and practices in early childhood education.

ABSTRACT: Previous research has suggested that Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) practices positively impact student performance and if so they may also affect teacher performance. The purpose of this study was to explore VTS on teachers’ perceptions of their general teaching practice. A qualitative, multiple case study was conducted to investigate the experience of teachers using VTS. Eligible teacher participants were identified through the VTS Organization and the Watershed Collaborative. The two cases – teachers practicing VTS in Kindergarten Grade 12 (K-12) setting and teachers practicing in VTS outside of the K-12 setting – were investigated separately and then compared in a crosscase analysis. An analysis of the data indicated that using VTS in teaching relates to a humanistic teaching style. These findings have implications for educators and educational institutions wishing to implement humanistic teaching practices and raise further questions pertaining to VTS and humanistic education practices that might be explored through future research.

ABSTRACT: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, design education experienced a significant shift as traditional studio teaching went online. This transition coincided with industry demands for adaptable, technology-proficient graduates prepared to work and collaborate as part of a decentralized workforce. This study examines how design educators in seven countries adapted their post-pandemic studio pedagogy to align with these industry needs. An online survey was used to efficiently reach the wide, geographically dispersed participant pool of educators. Findings indicate a rising acceptance of online technologies in studio teaching. The majority of design educators are now incorporating online elements into their design teaching. Pre-recorded lectures, online feedback and critique sessions, self-paced learning activities, and the use of cloud-based collaboration tools are among the most frequently employed methods. Nearly a third of surveyed educators are even considering teaching fully online design courses. This shift reflects a forward-thinking approach aimed at better aligning design education and industry. However, the study also highlights the importance of remaining open to disruptive technologies like generative artificial intelligence which is currently reshaping the design industry and work practices.