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Period: 1483 to 1546
Martin Luther
Martin Luther translated the Bible into German because he believed that people should learn in their own language. This is a major influence in modern culture in which it is important for learners to be educated in their own language. Luther also advocated for literacy for all ages, a goal we hold dear today. -
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John Locke
John Locke's most famous statement was that children are blank tablets that use their experiences in the world to learn. He advocated for early-aged learning (such as preschool and kindergarten ages) and believed the environment was the source of all learning. This environment included caregivers and parents as well that would help guide the child. He also believed that teaching was important at an early age to help integrate children into their society -
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Robert Owen
Owen was looking to develop a utopian style society through infant programs. He actually opened an infant school in 1816- which predates any other formal school for young children. He believed that society shapes the character of its people, but that education was capable of reforming society. -
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Friedrich Froebel
Froebel is well known for founding the first coined Kindergartens after his belief that children are like seedlings and will grow into plants through their environment when given the right stimuli. He believed the best learning was through playing and self-activity that was carefully planned by adults through manipulatives and materials that would promote learning as the child used them. -
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Maria Montessori
Montessori is well-known for her belief that those with mental disabilities could still be taught - which ties into the inclusive education we see today. She believed children were in a constant state of growth and it was the duty of parents and "teachers" to offer prepared environments that offered opportunities for responsible decision making and learning. She strongly advocated parental involvement. In addition, her curriculum consisted of life skills taught through sensory activity. -
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Jean Piaget
Piaget built theories of cognitive development that focused on INDIVIDUAL learning through activities and projects (i.e. constructivist learning) He believed that children were capable of developing their own intelligence and abilities to assimilate new experiences into existing knowledge as well as adapt to new ideas that they couldn't yet understand. -
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Lev Vygotsky
Vygotsky had similar beliefs to Piaget, except that he felt strongly that learning was best cultivated in SOCIAL situations. Through the Zone of Proximal Development, Vygotsky believed it was of upmost importance that teachers scaffold learning for each child to address their levels of cognitive development and help them achieve the next level through conversation, guidance, and social environments. He was also an advocate for group learning by those levels. -
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Howard Gardner
Gardner is the most recent theory we look at today. He believes that there are multiple types of intelligence that children may possess. This brought awareness to the different ways children may learn and thus programs that are geared to meet the needs of all 9 forms of intelligence. This helps to identify and include diversity in the forms of intelligence, abilities, language, and culture - a main focus in our schools today.