STEM and Inquiry-based Learning Concepts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on STEM education and inquiry-based learning for early childhood.

Inquiry-based Learning

An educational approach that encourages students to ask questions, investigate, and explore to construct their own understanding.

Active learner

A child who engages actively with materials and ideas, as opposed to being a passive recipient of information.

Concrete materials

Tangible objects children can manipulate to help them understand concepts.

Rational counting

The understanding of the number of items in a set based on counting principles such as one-to-one correspondence and cardinality.

STEM

An acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, areas of study that are emphasized in education due to their relevance in the job market.

Seriation

The ability to arrange objects in a logical order, such as size or quantity.

Sorting and Classification

The process of grouping objects based on shared characteristics.

Subitizing

The ability to instantly recognize the number of objects in a small group without counting.

Bruner's Stages of Knowledge

A theory describing three modes of representation: concrete, pictorial, and symbolic, through which knowledge is acquired.

Cardinality

Understanding that the last number word spoken when counting represents the total quantity of items in a set.

Invitation or Provocation

Stimulating materials or experiences that inspire children to generate questions and hypotheses.

Ontario Ministry of Education

The governmental body responsible for setting educational standards in Ontario, Canada.