What is the High Scope Approach? - Explained

Summary

The High Scope Approach, developed in 1971 by David P. Wart and colleagues, aimed to address cognitive and emotional development for children in underserved communities. It became widely known through the Perry Preschool Study, which demonstrated long-term benefits such as reduced arrests, higher earnings, and better academic outcomes for participants. The approach centers around active learning, adult-child interactions, and developmentally appropriate routines. While initially criticized for focusing too much on cognitive growth, the curriculum has since evolved to better incorporate social and emotional learning, making it a highly effective model for early childhood education.

Takeaways

• 😀 The HighScope approach, originally known as the cognitively oriented curriculum, was developed in 1971 to address educational disparities among children from low-income neighborhoods.
• 😀 The approach emphasizes active learning, where children make choices about what they want to learn and engage in the planning, doing, and reviewing of activities.
• 😀 The Perry Preschool Study, which followed children for 40 years, showed that children in the HighScope program had better life outcomes, such as higher graduation rates and fewer arrests.
• 😀 HighScope focuses on cognitive development, but it also incorporates social and emotional development, helping children grow in multiple dimensions.
• 😀 The program is structured around key development indicators (KDIs), which guide the learning process and help educators assess children's growth in various areas.
• 😀 The teacher’s role is to facilitate learning by observing, encouraging, and providing materials that align with children's interests and developmental needs.
• 😀 The HighScope curriculum includes both small group and large group activities, where children explore materials and engage in cooperative play and projects.
• 😀 Teachers assess children's progress through daily observations, reflections, and conversations with parents, making adjustments to the learning plan as needed.
• 😀 Despite initial criticisms for focusing too much on cognitive development, the HighScope approach has evolved to include a stronger emphasis on social and emotional development.
• 😀 The Perry Preschool Study revealed that children who attended the HighScope program had higher income levels and better academic performance as adults compared to those who did not.
• 😀 The video encourages viewers to think critically about whether the HighScope approach would work in their own educational contexts and invites them to share their thoughts in the comments.

Q & A

What was the original name of the HighScope Approach?

The original name of the HighScope Approach was the 'Cognitively Oriented Curriculum'.

Who were the key figures involved in developing the HighScope Approach?

The HighScope Approach was developed by David P. Weikart, W. Roger, and others in 1971.

What was the main issue that the HighScope Approach aimed to address?

The HighScope Approach aimed to address the educational struggles of children in low-income areas, particularly in Michigan, who were failing academically due to poor neighborhoods and lack of early learning opportunities.

What is the key concept behind the HighScope Approach?

The key concept of the HighScope Approach is active learning, where children are engaged in hands-on, interactive learning experiences with the guidance of adults.

What is the Perry Preschool Study, and why is it important?

The Perry Preschool Study was a long-term research project that followed two groups of children, one of which attended a preschool using the HighScope Approach. It is important because it demonstrated significant long-term benefits for children who attended the preschool, such as better academic performance, higher earnings, fewer arrests, and greater emotional stability.

What are the three main teaching methods in the HighScope Approach?

The three main teaching methods in the HighScope Approach are 'Plan-Do-Review', where children plan their activities, execute them, and reflect on their learning; small group time, where children explore materials based on their interests; and large group time, where children engage in collective activities like music, movement, and storytelling.

How does the HighScope Approach encourage children's intellectual development?

The HighScope Approach encourages intellectual development by providing children with opportunities for hands-on exploration, problem-solving, and reflection. It emphasizes adult-child interactions, a structured learning environment, and activities that challenge children’s thinking and reasoning skills.

What are Key Development Indicators (KDIs), and why are they important?

Key Development Indicators (KDIs) are specific developmental goals used in the HighScope Approach to guide children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth. They are important because they help ensure that children’s learning is balanced and meets developmental milestones in various areas.

What criticism has the HighScope Approach received, and how has it evolved over time?

The HighScope Approach has been criticized for placing too much emphasis on cognitive development at the expense of social and emotional growth. However, over time, the curriculum was adjusted to better integrate social-emotional learning, addressing the gap pointed out by critics.

What are some of the observed long-term outcomes for children who participated in the Perry Preschool Study?

Children who participated in the Perry Preschool Study and were part of the HighScope program had better life outcomes, including fewer arrests, higher earnings, more high school graduates, and better social-emotional development, especially among male participants.