Great Insights!

Being an early childhood major, I had never really thought about using engineering experiences in my future classroom but after reading this article, I have gained a new insight. I really li... See More

Being an early childhood major, I had never really thought about using engineering experiences in my future classroom but after reading this article, I have gained a new insight. I really liked that the article explained how and why engineering should be in our early childhood classrooms. Engineering experiences allow students to use their natural curiosity and thinking skills to solve a problem or make a plan. The author explained specific ways engineering could be integrated and it was very helpful to have a better understanding how the practices could be used with young children.

Early Childhood Engineering Experiences Review

Being an early childhood educator myself, I found this article very insightful and beneficial. As educators, we always encourage our students to become problem solvers, but I never realized ... See More

Being an early childhood educator myself, I found this article very insightful and beneficial. As educators, we always encourage our students to become problem solvers, but I never realized that this is a skill that they begin to explore before even stepping foot into a classroom (i.e. reaching for an object, holding something that is imbalanced, etc.). The article states that during engineering activities, teachers have the opportunity to strengthen soft skills such as collaboration and persistence. I highly agree with this statement because when students are given the opportunity to engage in an activity with others it allows them to share their ideas, collaborate, and problem solve until a solution arises. However, I don’t believe soft skills are strengthened just through engineering activities. Students can exercise their collaborative and perseverance skills through math problems, scientific explorations, and technological experiences. The skills the students learn when they are younger are vital for them to carry on to their adolescence and their adult life.