1S) CDL-1st Child’s development by their context: Practicum (03.10.2016)

 Name: - A.N. Bharghava Shyam

Admission No: - MAE15007 (3-Oct-2016)

Name of the Practicum School: - Shantiniketan Educational Institution.

1.     Questions

Based on your observations of the setting and interactions with children/a child at the practicum school, discuss how the physical, social and cognitive domains of a child’s development are influenced by his/her context.

1-Answer:

Introduction:-

My interpretations on these Physical, Social & Cognitive Developments

Social Development will come by following the rules and regulations of the society, for the betterment of society. Interacting with people politely, adapting the new situations, acceptable behavior for others, etc. other satisfactory qualities are the characteristics of social development.

Physical Development means the growth & well being of the physical body of a human in different conditions.

Cognitive Development means thinking ability, which we will get through thinking critically logically and creatively.

Cynthia Lightfoot is an American, she did her research in Cultural contexts in Human Development.

I went to Shantiniketan Educational Institution, where I interacted with some children informally, I asked them about their domicile place, where they will stay, what is the occupation of parents, such questions I asked in informal way.  And I observed the school environment, structure, teachers and students etc.

Here in all development’s I can only interpret through my observations and interactions in the practicum school, in which what I understood I am writing by relating to these developments

Observations in the context of Physical Development on the children:

In the school, a playground is there, but they are having only one game period was there in a week. In lunch time they are eating at classroom itself, after that they are chit chatting in the classroom, some are playing in lunch period & they also have Physical Training Period in the time table once in a week, but it’s not on Wednesday, so we didn’t observe that.

Interpretations (Understandings):

By this I can interpret that the school is giving priority to physical development by giving period to both physical training and games. For physical development not only school but also family (Home & genes) also plays major role, because they get food & nutrition and etc. will come there only.

The two Children (6^th Class), with whom I interacted, they are Middle class people, among them one child is migrant from Andhra Pradesh. Their physical growth is well, I asked them about routine work in home.

They are playing games after going to home, it help in physical development (Growth) rapidly. It helps them in motor development too.

Observations in the context of Social Development on the children: -

In the school I observed all children are sitting together, talking with each other, answering the questions which was asked by teachers, eating together, etc. They are submitting their home work to teachers.

My Interpretation

My opinion on this is the school made some environment to try to reduce the gender discrimination by keeping them sit together. All children are talking with each other nicely without any quarreling, beating, etc. this will surely help the child in social development. They are following rules & regulations of school that are wearing uniform, shoes, writing homework, etc. help in social development (All are equal in the school in front of education). Here they get idea of equality.

The Children with whom I interacted he is doing these all things

This will help children in social development.

Observations in the context of Cognitive Development on the children in my practicum school:

In our practicum school Library is there, teachers are teaching the classes. They have specific library period every week.

Interpretations & Understandings Based on my observations & interactions

My Interpretation the school provided an environment for cognitive development, but most of the children are using that period for doing writing books & etc. In school I think only teachers, friends & library are sources for cognitive development of child.

Mostly the teachers are teaching what is there in only textbook knowledge. Teachers are making them to think logically, which is there in textbook, they are not try to develop their creative cognitive development. Logical thinking takes us from A to B only, logical thinking is limited to particular topic, but creative thinking have no limitations it goes beyond the limits. 

The children parents and elder siblings are also educated. They are helping the children in teaching and also making an environment for children to develop their education.

2. Question

Discuss any one issue in developmental psychology that you have studied (e.g., nature/nurture, plasticity, continuous versus discontinuous development or individual differences). In doing so, explain how that particular issue is important for understanding children’s development. Provide suitable examples to illustrate your answer.

2. Answer:

Introduction:-

Selected topic in “Issue in Developmental psychology is Continuous vs Discontinuous Development

Psychology means “Study of Human behavior”, Where Developmental psychology studies about the developmental aspects of human behavior.  

Cynthia Lightfoot is an American, She is working with children & family in schools for better understanding of Contexts of Development. She did her research in Cultural contexts in Human Development.

My interpretations:-

Continuous development means the physical development related to the body growth, where Discontinuous development means motor development which are related to the movements of the body.

Both the Continuous & Discontinuous is a process of developmental change in behavior, actions, thinking ability & etc. both are mutually related having organic relationship (Organic relationship means if one part is not there means, it affects all the parts). If continuous development process is not good means it’s difficult to get discontinuous development. 

Continuous development majorly we can see in our particular body itself, it is very continuous & done always in unconscious stage, which mainly our body only takes care for continuous development, just we need to give basic needs for continuous development that are food, water, cloth, shelter. These are basic needs, but if we take healthy food & etc. then it is easily continuous development will occurs without any problems (it take care of diseases). Mostly it continuous development process in Infancy & adolescent age. 

Continuous development is generally natural process, here everything is developed but through action we have to enlighten that. In Continuous development all are equal. Here we are only the facilitators of the development but not the generators of the continuous development process. {Here all humans are equal-equality (Based on growth of the body)}

Whereas in discontinuous development is extremely opposite to continuous development. We can relate discontinuous development to motor development. Motor development means the physical movements of the body. Motor development discontinuous & difficult to follow in nature. It is not a natural process, but for this discontinuous development both trained & educated process are needed. Through the practice we can achieve this discontinuous development. Here in Discontinuous development process we are the generators of development, but not the facilitator of that development. For this discontinuous development we have work very hard to achieve the victory.

(Doing the same thing told by instructor- Trained & Instructor tells and then we can think about that and doing rational things- educated)

Here in the discontinuous development we have to keep some time for developing the abilities & practice, it is based on our will power. This we can’t do every time & after sometimes we may change that ability that I think it is called as Discontinuous development process. {Here all humans are unique- equity (Based on mind-set)}.

In Children if we introduce these discontinuous process (Motor development) in very early they put more concentration on this they will get success in life. For this I think more practice need. It’s not only relating to the development of external factors (Movements of the body) but also for the development of internal factors too (Thinking ability- Logical, Creative, Critical thinking etc.). Through this we will get solutions to the problems of life. (We can make some ambitions)

These will help in perfectibility (How much you can do perfectly) of the individual.

Examples:

For continuous development process example is physical growth. By increasing the age our body physical body parts will grow, everyone have legs, eyes, ears, hands & etc. it is natural to everyone. Under this continuous development only I think everyone is equal. 

For discontinuous development practice, hard work, Hand-Eye co-ordination plays major role. Everyone have legs & all can run it is physical development, but only some people will run very fast & will get medals for nation. Under this only I think everyone is unique based on their ability, perfectibility & etc.

All having same things but way of using is different from one another. In discontinuity.

References:

Lightfoot Reading (Development of Children).

Group & individual discussions with classmates and  friends

Google for knowing about author (Lightfoot).