Introduction:Physical Knowledge Action Research- Ramps and Pathways
ECE 630

Explanation:
• Why are you completing this activity?


This project is required as a part if the course ECE 630 as prerequisite class for the Early Childhood Education PhD program. The purpose is to observe children in how they construct knowledge bu acting on objects. 

• Describe your setting and population.. 

The setting is a suburban school in the Birmingham Metropolitan area in a kindergarten class. Students are all age 5. I worked with a group four students -two boys and two girls. Each child on the group was chosen by the teacher in order to provide diverse group with varying levels of communication and academic skills. One student is an English Language Learner.

“Brandon”- Caucasian male, age 5
“Jeremy”- Latino male, age 5, Spanish as primary language
“Autumn”- African-American female, age 5
“Kendall”, Caucasian female, age 5

Why are you completing this project?
I am completing this project as a requirement for ECE 630 to learn more about Piaget’s Theory of Constructivism. This Action Research Project is an opportunity to observe children constructing knowledge through play and exploration with ramps and pathways.

What are your learning goals?
My learning goals are:

• To observe students interacting with objects.
• To observe children constructing logico-mathematical knowledge
• To develop questions that stimulate children's thinking
• To determine how I can best serve as a facilitator to learning through this activity
• To observe children constructing knowledge through experiences. 
• To further explore how children learn and grow cognitively through play.
• To observe how children construct knowledge through building on their schema. 
• To learn questioning that promotes children’s learning as a facilitator with a focus on “asking and not telling”.
• To create authentic learning experiences that are child centered and promote critical thinking skills. 
• To explore adaptive processes and the Stages of Cognitive Development.
• To effectively create lessons that promote active learning, focus on the process, developmentally appropriate, incorporate questioning, and are collaborative learning experiences . 

                            
How will you reach them?
I will reach these goals by:

• Developing "challenges" for the children in the form of questions to guide the activity
• Refraining from giving directions or showing children how to complete the task
• Allowing children time explore the materials prior to beginning the Ramps and Pathways activity
• Providing needed materials and adequate space for children to explore the materials 
• Guiding students in cooperation and communication with each other in or to foster learning
• Setting boundaries or limitations to promote both safety and extend learning as needed
• Working with a small group of students using ramps and one marble.
• Introducing the expectations for using the materials and establishing boundaries for safety, cooperation, thinking, and problem solving. 
• Giving children a chance to explore the materials before the project begins.
• Assessing the students understanding and prior knowledge by asking questions.
• Posing “challenges” with effective questioning as a facilitator in the learning process.
• Allowing time for constructing knowledge through the exploration of ramps and buildings over a ten day time frame.
• Examining the role of teacher as facilitator by asking questions and interacting with students rather than “telling students what to do”. 
• Exploring language used by student in connection to their schema in order to pose questions that promote critical thinking and problem solving.

Day one experiences included discussion and questioning as well as exploration of the materials.