Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

How do children build knowledge in early childhood education? Susan Isaacs, ‘Young Children Are Researchers’ and what happens next.

Murray, J. (2021) How do children build knowledge in early childhood education? Susan Isaacs, ‘Young Children Are Researchers’ and what happens next. Early Child Development and Care. 191(7-8), pp. 1230-1246. 0300-4430.

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Murray_Jane_2021_How_do_children_build_knowledge_in_early_childhood_education_Susan_Isaacs_Young_Children_Are_Researchers_and_what_happens_next
Murray_Jane_2021_How_do_children_build_knowledge_in_early_childhood_education_Susan_Isaacs_Young_Children_Are_Researchers_and_what_happens_next.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
Information
Abstract:
This article considers the relevance of Susan Isaacs’ practice and research for twenty-first century early childhood education, reflected in two studies conducted discretely nearly a century apart that theorize young children’s constructions of knowledge: Isaacs’ Malting House School study and the ‘Young Children Are Researchers’ study. The article reviews Isaacs’ work with particular focus on ‘discovery, reasoning and thought’, her values and three key disciplines that informed her practice and research: pedagogy, philosophy and psychology. Selected findings from Isaacs’ Malting House School Study and the ‘Young Children Are Researchers’ study are critiqued to build the argument that not only has Isaacs’ work left a powerful legacy to the field of early childhood education, but that it also has potential to benefit the field now and into the future. However, this proposition is contingent on early childhood educators who are highly knowledgeable and skilled: factors that have policy implications.
Additional Information:
Jane Murray PhD is Associate Professor and Co-Director at the Centre for Education and Research, University of Northampton, UK. Her research interests include early childhood education and social inclusion and she has published extensively in these areas. The article is reprinted as chapter 21 in the book The Influence of Theorists and Pioneers on Early Childhood Education, ed. Roy Evans and Olivia N. Saracho (Routledge, 2022).
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/quality_education
Creators:
Murray, J.
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for Education and Research
Research Centres > Centre for Education and Research
Date:
2 July 2021
Date Type:
Publication
Page Range:
pp. 1230-1246
Journal or Publication Title:
Early Child Development and Care
Volume:
191
Number:
7-8
Number of Pages:
17
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1080/03004430.2020.1854242
ISSN:
0300-4430
Status:
Published / Disseminated
Refereed:
Yes
Related URLs:
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