WEBVTT

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So last week we looked at observation and
how we as educators observe our students.

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So that we can understand how they learn.

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Understand their needs and no where to
take them in terms of they learning.

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This week, we're going to have
a look at how we help children

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develop keen observational skills
so that they can become curious.

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The Oxford dictionary.

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Defines observation as the act
of watching somebody or something

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carefully for a period of time,
especially to learn something.

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So it's through observation, that
children, and of course, Us adults too.

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Learn about the world around them,
including how to behave socially.

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Observation teaches us to question
and one day and be curious.

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Even animals are inquisitive and curious.

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So I have to ask myself sometimes.

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Why so many of us.

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are so oblivious to the world around us.

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There's nothing more disheartening
or even challenging to a teacher

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than a disinterested learner.

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And as parents and educators, our job
is to spark that curiosity so that

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kids become interested in learning.

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In wanting to know more and wanting
to find answers to life's questions.

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It's not our job as teachers to impose
our own beliefs or opinions on students.

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But it is our role to encourage
and facilitate students to ask

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questions and then to seek the
answers to those questions.

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And it's observation that
sparks and ignites curiosity.

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So, where do we start?

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At the beginning, of course.

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When they're young and pliable
and full of zest for life.

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We start with where we are with
our immediate surroundings.

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If you're in the playground
and it's playtime.

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You observe those students,

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and you have a look at what
is it that they're doing?

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If you're going for a walk with
young children, have you noticed that

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they'll stop and pick up objects?

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And then they'll continue
on with that object in hand.

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Or they crouch down and they observed
the ants marching across a path.

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Or they stop to look at a flower or
a dandelion or a lady bird on a leaf.

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That's your opportunity right there.

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To take that object home.

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Or to use that moment to look more
closely at what it is they're looking at.

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Counting the petals looking at the shape.

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Finding the tiny details.

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I wrote a blog post on how to foster
curiosity in children, and I'll link

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it in the show notes for you so that
you can have a look more at that.

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The next thing we do apart from
looking for those teachable

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moments is we asked questions.

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We ask questions and we encourage
children to ask wonder questions.

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We engage children in
conversation about that object.

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Expert observation forms the
basis of scientific inquiry.

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Going deeper and encouraging children
to observe and compare and explain

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form the basis of scientific inquiry.

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I wonder if all flowers have
the same number of petals.

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I wonder what type of bird
that feather belongs to.

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I wonder what type of ants those are
and where do you think they're going?

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Where do you think they live?

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And then once we've asked those
questions, we don't give kids the answers.

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We help them look for answers.

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We need to encourage children
to look for answers, but don't

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just leave that question hanging.

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So, depending on the question.

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The investigation will
begin to take shape.

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Your questions are the
provocations in a way.

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Well, actually, they are.

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But perhaps.

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You'll need a book on the subject, or
perhaps you'll need to watch a video

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on YouTube or go to the library or a
museum, or ask an expert, you know.

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You check that that child understands
the learning by encouraging them to

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explain their findings in their own words.

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So they find the answers.

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And then they explain
it in their own words.

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That really shows that they've actually
also understood what they've just learned.

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We spark creativity.

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Perhaps the observation of that
object might spark some creativity

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in your child or your learner.

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They may like to draw or paint.

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Or even create a story about that
object or that animal or that flower,

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the possibilities are endless.

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We also model our new learning.

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It's obvious that the road to
inquiry will depend on the age of the

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child and the child's capabilities.

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All new learning requires modeling.

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So you, as the adult will need to model
and together, go on this inquiry journey.

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Eventually as the child becomes more
independent as a learner, they'll

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learn that process on their own.

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So modeling new learning and how
to learn, how to ask questions, how

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to look for the answers is really
important part of the inquiry process.

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We don't just leave small children
and chuck them into the deep

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end and say, well, there you go,

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go and inquire.

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It's actually an explicit process that
we model to them and they then copy,

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but for their own interest, eventually.

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So if this is something you want to know
more about, Follow, blooming' curious

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because in some future episodes, we're
going to be unpacking that whole inquiry

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cycle and process and how you can use
it to integrate it into your existing

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classroom and into your existing lessons.

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Finally, we also need to be intentional.

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All learning and teaching
needs a goal or an intention.

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So make it your goal today to go
outside with your children and

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see where your walks lead you.

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See what they're doing on the
playground whilst they're playing.

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Is there something there, are there
moments there that you can capitalize

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on so that you can start observation
and you can start sparking that

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curiosity and interest on something
that's right there in front of you.

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And remember.

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Your children are watching you.

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Everything that we as adults
do is carefully observed.

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That's why it's called
observational learning.

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By our children and students.

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If we want thinking, curious kids.

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Then we ourselves at the very least have
to model thinking, curious behavior.

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You can find out more about
observational psychology at the very

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well mind, where they have an article
on what is observational learning.

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And I will link that in the
show notes for you to go and

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have a greater in-depth look at.

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So just to conclude.

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If we want kids that are curious.

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We ourselves need to be curious.

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If we want our students to be curious.

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Then we ourselves need to be curious.

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So today.

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I really want to encourage you
to take a moment and reflect.

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What behaviors.

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Are you modeling to children
that they are picking up on?

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Are you being curious and inquisitive?

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Are you being enthusiastic
when you see something.

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Are you getting kids excited
and interested about learning?

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So if there's anything in today's episode
or in fact in any of the other episodes

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that resonates with you, that you think.

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there's something there that
I want to explore further.

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Then do me a favor  could you
please share this with someone

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that you know, or someone that
you think might benefit from this?

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Share it on social media, email
it to a friend, however you want,

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but let's get the word out there.

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So that we can encourage more curiosity
in the world so that we can ask questions

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to the big problems that we're facing.

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And so the children can actually start
having some agency and enjoying the

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learning process in our classrooms.

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I'll see you all next week.

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Cheers.