Secondary abstract: |
The thesis is based on the fact that active learning is the best starting point for complete development of children. In the theoretical part of the thesis I provide a detailed description of the fundamental principles of the High/Scope curriculum and point to some of the weaknesses in transmission learning. Then I focus on project work with children and try to determine which skills children can acquire in such a way. In the theoretical part of the thesis I devote my attention to research and the fact that research should be encouraged and desirable. The adult in charge of the research must always follow certain rules.
»Research as a process is very similar to a journey where, at the beginning, we do not know where and how we will travel, what we will see and hear and where we will find our purpose« (Kobal, 1989: 7). Children learn how to work towards the right answers to the questions through the method of research. By using this approach, children are encouraged to plan, find solutions, collaborate, collect and compile information.
The empirical part presents a closed-ended research project entitled Children becoming acquainted with the Irish-international project Comenius. The children were looking for answers that were also the main objective of the thesis – to enable them to identify the characteristics of Ireland through research. |