Effect of Teachers’ Contemporary Pedagogical Practices on Learners’ Cognitive Development in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

The study aimed to explore contemporary pedagogical practices in early childhood education, and recommend certain measures to apply modern pedagogical practices. The study was a survey and descriptive. The quantitative as well as qualitative (QUAN-qualm) method was adopted. The population of the study comprised all ECE teachers and learners. Sample of the study comprised thirty-two schools. The questionnaires as research tools were filled out by thirty-two ECE teachers and checklist was used to obtain information about the learning materials available in school and its usage in the classroom. The researcher analyzed the collected data in SPSS twenty-three version. The study revealed that most teachers were capable, qualified, and apply modern teaching practices. They taught ECE classes by applying contemporary pedagogical practices and teaching strategies. Further, this study revealed that learners learned with new learning styles. Teachers are using modern AV aids for teaching. The study also revealed that when comparing the infrastructure and materials available in the ECE class, rural schools were found to be better than urban schools in infrastructure and materials in ECE. It is recommended that teachers be more focused on children's learning processes by giving them more attention and helping them with completing their tasks. Professional training, workshops, refresher courses, and seminars should be conducted frequently for ECE teachers and caregivers.

Keywords: Pedagogical Practices, Cognitive development, Early Childhood Education, Caregiver