Course Summary

Using Critical Reflection to Support Philosophical and Pedagogical Change

Reflecting critically invites us to remain responsive to changing societal contexts and children’s evolving needs, ensuring that early years environments are not only inclusive but responsive to the children and families they serve. 

Drawing on both historical and contemporary pedagogical approaches drawn upon in this course, consider how critical reflection can support the creation of responsive, equitable, inclusive, and socially just early years environments. By engaging with theories and practices from past and present, we can examine values such as respect for diversity, child care agency. Critical reflection allows educators to identify biases, challenge inequities, and intentionally design environments that affirm the identities, cultures, and experiences of all children.

Questioning questions

Open the Early Learning Framework to section 3 and choose three critical reflection questions that are interesting to you. 

Why did you choose these questions? 

• How might you use this prompt or question to provoke conversation in your ECE context? 
• How might you use these questions to evaluate programming? 
• How might you use these questions to lead change within your context?