Philosophical Discourse of Children in the Multi-Dialogical Kindergarten

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present part of a research study investigating development of social communication patterns among children in a multi-dialogical kindergarten. This was a mixed method research. The qualitative part of the research was conducted in two parallel phases: conducting participatory observations on 25 kindergarten children learning according to the MDA; some of these observations were recorded in writing while others were video-filmed and transcribed. In addition, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 kindergarten teachers, seven of whom work according to the MDA and eight who work according to the traditional educational approach. To supplement the qualitative study, a closed-ended quantitative questionnaire was constructed. This questionnaire was administered to 130 kindergarten teachers, 73 of whom were teachers working according to the MDA or undergoing training for the MDA and 57 teachers working according to the traditional approach. The data from this part were analysed statistically. The article focuses on philosophical discourse among kindergarten children. The research was based on participatory observation of discourse among children on a topic which interested them. They presented their theories about the topic and using developmental thought, they expanded them. This led to peer learning, re-examination of theories and participation of the teacher. The teacher was thus regarded as a participant in the discourse rather than the only source of knowledge.

Keywords: Multi-dialogical approachchildren's participationphilosophical discourse in kindergartenchildren’s theories

Introduction

This work deals with the use of the multi-dialogical approach (MDA) in the kindergarten. Its aim is to examine the connection between the MDA and the development of social and communicative skills of kindergarten children like discourse and philosophical discourse. One of the purposes of preschool education is to allow the child to grow and to evolve into a person involved in society, who has the ability to judge and criticize and is a curious independent thinker, demonstrating initiative. The fundamental idea of multi-dialogical education, which is at the basis of this work, is that a child who learns about his world out of an inner interest will evolve into that type of a person. The aim of this study is to examine the central aspects of this educational method namely, the patterns and social communicational processes of children who learn in a multi-dialogical kindergarten.

The contribution of discourse to the dialog is reflected by the fact that during discourse, the participants can exchange ideas, listen to other ways of thinking, investigate a problem in depth and understand its complexity, consolidate assumptions and apply them to external criticism. Another aspect of discourse is the philosophical discourse in which children raise questions regarding the world around them, and independently investigate their answers and theories, while acquiring discourse capabilities.

The qualitative part of the research was conducted in two parallel phases: filmed and transcribed participatory observations of 25 kindergarten children learning according to the MDA. In addition, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 kindergarten teachers, seven of whom work according to the MDA and eight who work according to the traditional educational approach. To supplement the qualitative study, a closed-ended quantitative questionnaire was constructed and given to 130 kindergarten teachers.

Literature review

The dialogical education approach argues that optimal learning is performed when it stems from the child’s internal curiosity (Fisher, 2007).

Hypotheses

Considering the findings in the literature review, the hypotheses are as follows: The research hypothesis: 1. Differences will be found in social and communicative patterns among children educated in multi-dialogical kindergartens and children educated in traditional kindergartens. 2. Differences will be found mainly in the manner of discourse and the extent to which philosophical discourse is conducted in multi-dialogical kindergartens and children educated in traditional kindergartens.

Methodology

A mixed-methods approach using quantitative and qualitative data was chosen. Part of the qualitative research is an ethnographic study. This has included the use of filmed and transcribed participatory observations performed in a multi-dialogical kindergarten. These observations are meant to clarify the different types of kindergarten children's interpersonal communication. In addition, the research employed semi-structured interviews and closed questionnaires. Qualitatively, semi-structured interviews were administered to a small number of kindergarten teachers in order to examine the application of the multi-dialogical approach (MDA) in kindergartens.

In the quantitative part of the research, closed questionnaires were administered to a large number of kindergarten teachers in order to identify and explore ways to implement the MDA in kindergartens.

The qualitative research data was analyzed by content analysis based on categories. The quantitative data was analyzed statistically using t-test variance tests in a purposeful sample.

The research population included three groups: The first group included 25 children aged 3-6; the second group included 15 kindergarten teachers and the third group included 130 kindergarten teachers. The participants were selected in a purposive sample method (Bocos, 2007; Stake, 1995; Shkedi, 2003; Mason, 1996).

Findings

Analysis of the qualitative data from the participatory observations conducted in the multi-dialogical kindergarten revealed that the children learn to discuss things independently. The children manage to discuss a problem that worries them without the intervention of the teacher but solely in her presence. As a result they learn the rules of discussion in practice, under the teacher’s guidance. The children negotiate allowing them to internalize these rules.

The following example from Participatory Observation 1 relates to the children exercising the rules of discussion. Shani (5.1) turned to the teacher and asked her if all the kindergarten children could hold a discussion on a subject that worried her. The conversation went like this:

Teacher: “Children, Shani came to me … and she asked us to discuss something that concerned her on the subject of … if anyone has anything to say they are invited to do so. I remind you of the rules – only one person can speak at a time”.

Shani (5.1): “And we also don’t interfere when someone is talking”.

Nira (5.2): “And we don’t need to raise our hands”.

Social conflicts between children are resolved in the multi-dialogical kindergarten through negotiations between them. The children learn to help their friends to resolve disputes independently. An example appears in Participatory Observation 5 in which there is a game activity led by a girl for all the kindergarten children. They were asked to arrange themselves in a circle:

Yotam (4.0): “I don’t want to hold Ofri’s hand”.

Ofri (4.2): “Yotam won’t give me his hand”.

Dalit (5.0) turning to Yotam: “Will it help you if Matan is next to you?”

Yotam (4.0) nods his head in agreement, Matan and Ofri change places in the circle.

Analysis of the qualitative data from the interviews with the teachers supports what was seen in the participatory observations. It appears that “the children learn how to converse and they learn the rules of discussion and how to speak to one another and how to solve problems and how to pay attention” said Liron. Thus, as Ora notes, they actually “acquire skills” and Noam adds that this means that the “inter-personal discussion and the general discussion is at a far higher level when using this [dialogical] approach”. Michal indicates that “this MDA is actually one large discussion”, whereby “the children are exposed to the concept of discussion, and they learn and know how to use it” adds Irit.

It was found that philosophical discussion is part of the discourse that is conducted in a kindergarten working according to the MDA. Philosophical discussion is a discussion that arises because “children bring all sorts of theories, they raise all sorts of questions in the kindergarten … and we conduct a discussion on the question. It’s actually a philosophic question that they raise” explained Irit. “The fact that they know how to give answers to a question that they raise in such a philosophical discussion is something they learn from the MDA” added Judith.

The films also show that the children raise philosophical questions, discussing them independently and expressing philosophical thoughts derived from the questions, as can be seen in this excerpt from Film 5:

Afiq (5.2): “I wanted to ask if you think that someone lives in the sky?”

Ronen (4.5): “I think they do. God”.

Dalia (5.0): “If there is no God then who gave birth to our parents?”

Noia (4.8): “Ah, that’s right … but our grandparents gave birth to our parents…”.

Dan (5.5): “So who created the world … only God can”.

Dalia (5.0): “I think it’s not like that, it’s not God and I don’t think there is any God who lives in the sky”.

It seems that discussion in general, and in particular philosophical discussions are types of dialog that take place in kindergartens working according to the MDA. They have clear rules that the children learn to assimilate as part of the social communication patterns developing in the kindergarten.

Analysis of the quantitative data from the questionnaire revealed that significant differences were found in the extent of philosophical discourse reported by MDA teachers and reports of traditional teachers. Thus the extent of philosophical discourse was found to be highest in the reports of the MDA teachers in comparison to the reports of the traditional teachers (3.63 in contrast to 2.2 respectively, t=7.83, p<0.01). More specifically, the extent of philosophical discourse in the kindergarten according to different characteristics examined in the questionnaire was found to be significantly higher in the reports of MDA teachers in comparison with the reports of the traditional teachers.

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Discussion

Regarding the differences between the MDA and the traditional kindergartens, hypothesis 1 proposed that differences would be found in social and communication patterns between children educated in multi-dialogical kindergartens and children educated in traditional kindergartens. Hypothesis 1was confirmed.

The findings reveal a connection between the MDA in kindergartens and the development of social-communicative patterns in the kindergarten children.

Discourse in general and philosophical discourse in particular emerged as types of dialog employed in the MDA. When philosophical discourse is involved, different viewpoints on one subject are presented and the children are exposed to the possibility of examining a particular subject from multiple angles and the fact that there is not just one way of thinking. On this point, previous research shows that, in general, children have the ability to state their own opinion and attitudes (Harcourt, 2011), and that it is possible to teach kindergarten children to discuss things (Mercer & Dawes, 2010; Mercer & Littleton, 2007). However, to do this requires the teacher’s awareness and the teacher and children need to train their participation in discourse (Wells, 1986; Wells & Ball, 2008). In practice, during the discourse the participants need to learn the rules: timing – when to enter the discourse and say your piece, speaking without interrupting, respectful consideration of other participants even if they contradict their own opinions (Blum-Kulka 2008; Cohen, 2008) and the use of expressions such as “in my opinion” or “I think” (Callander, 2013). With regard to philosophical discourse, it seems that children’s philosophical investigation is based on their natural curiosity, so that they develop the ability to ask questions (Fisher, 2007).

In the multi-dialogical kindergarten, social communication patterns such as the ability to discuss in a manner that involves attentiveness and tolerance for others, without judgment, while demonstrating restraint and acceptance of the opinions of others is shaped and acquired with the help of coaching in the rules of discourse in general and philosophical discourse in particular. Also, patterns such as autonomy and empathy for others are expressed through the “active listening” that is exercised by the teacher and the children. In summary, it is concluded that the way children are equipped with social communication patterns depends on the teacher’s approach that, unlike the approach of the teacher in the traditional kindergarten, facilitates the expression of the children’s initiatives and fields of interest. The way to equip the children with social communication patterns such as flexibility and thinking outside the box depends on the teacher’s own ability to do this and thus the teacher acts as a model.

As proposed in hypothesis 2, significant differences were found in the extent to which philosophical discourse is conducted in the kindergarten between the reports of the MDA teachers and reports of the traditional teachers. Hypothesis 2 was confirmed.

According to the MDA, philosophical discourse is a structured part of the learning curriculum. Underpinning this type of discourse is the belief that there is no need to teach the children an opinion; rather they should be allowed to ask questions, to think about their own theories, to test them, to try to draw conclusions from this process and in this way to investigate and develop their thoughts. In contrast, in the traditional approach philosophical discourse only occurs occasionally and randomly and not as part of the structured learning curriculum.

In summary, in the multi-dialogical kindergarten, social communication patterns such as ability to ask questions, to test things from different angles, to draw conclusions and to make decisions, to consider others and to be attentive are shaped through philosophical discourse that is a structured part of the kindergarten’s learning curriculum.

Research significance

The significance of the research lies in its ability to inform a change in the practical perception and approach to early childhood education in the context of the multi-dialogical kindergarten, by offers foundation for promotion and shaping of social communication patterns among early childhood children learning in the multi-dialogical kindergarten.

The teacher needs to increase her own awareness regarding the substance of attentiveness in the educational act, and to learn how to apply this at her own personal level and in the kindergarten.

Limitations

The qualitative study was ethnographic, providing a low level of objectivity. Thus, the researcher used a wide range of sources of information to increase validity. In addition, in the participatory observations, the researcher’s presence could influence the participants’ behavior. However, in the many hours of observation, the participants became used to the researcher and ignored her. In the semi-structured interviews, participants tend to want to please the interviewer. The researcher thus avoided judgmental reactions.

Conclusion

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