Organization and Management of ECDD Programmes

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ECCD PROGRAMMES

Lesson 02: Application of Developmental theories in ECE

Jerome Bruner

Biographical note

Jerome Bruner: Bruner approached the study of cognitive development from the standpoint of “psychological-experimental” framework. According to him “one finds no internal push to growth without corresponding external pull given”. Bruner emphasized continuity of development, importance of language and importance of education in cognitive growth. He explained three ways of learning namely, through doing, through sensing, and through symbolic means such as language.

Educational implications of Bruner’s theory:

Bruner emphasized role of environment and education more clearly in the individual’s development. Any subject can be taught effectively in some intellectually honest form to any child at any stage of development.

Bruner included in “some intellectually honest form” the three modes of his interacting with the environment namely

• action
  
• imagery and
  
• symbols
  

Therefore, Bruner’s message for the teachers of young children is that they should use all the three modes in their teaching.