Learning Theories for Early Years Practice

Sean MacBlain PhD is a distinguished author and academic  whose publications include: MacBlain (Sage, 2021) Children’s Learning in Early Childhood; MacBlain (Sage, 2020) Child Development for Teachers; MacBlain, Dunn and Luke (Sage, 2017) Contemporary Childhood;  Gray and MacBlain (Sage, 2015) Learning Theories in Childhood; MacBlain, Long and Dunn, (Sage, 2015) Dyslexia, Literacy and Inclusion: Child-centred Perspectives;  MacBlain (Sage, 2014) How Children Learn. Sean’s publications are used by students, practitioners and academics throughout the world and have been widely translated including into Chinese and Vietnamese. Sean was previously a senior academic at the University of St Mark & St John, Plymouth, England where he held the positions of Research lead for the Centre for Education and Applied Research, Research Lead for the Centre for Professional and Educational Research, Research Coordinator for the School of Education and Deputy Chair of the Ethics Committee. Sean has also worked as a Senior Lecturer in Education and Developmental Psychology at Stranmillis University College, Queen’s University Belfast. In addition to this, Sean has  worked for over twenty years as an educational psychologist and continues in this field as an independent practitioner.

• PART 1 EARLY INFLUENCESJohn Locke and the Emergence of EmpiricismJean-Jacques Rousseau and the Concept of ‘Child’Johann Pestalozzi and the Importance of NatureFriedrich Froebel and the Importance of PlayRachel and Margaret McMillan and Social ReformThe Psychodynamic TraditionRudolf Steiner and the Changing Needs of ChildrenMaria Montessori: The Environment and LearningPART 2 MODERN INFLUENCESJohn Dewey and Child-centred EducationBurrhus Skinner and BehaviourismJean Piaget: An Enduring LegacyLev Vygotsky: Learning and Social ConstructivismJohn Bowlby and Early AttachmentAlbert Bandura and Social Learning TheoryUrie Bronfenbrenner: Learning in the Wider ContextJerome Bruner and ConstructivismHoward Gardner and Theories of Multiple IntelligenceReuven Feuerstein and Instrumental EnrichmentNel Noddings and the Ethics of CareTe WharikiLoris Malaguzzi and Reggio EmiliaCarol Dweck and Children’s MindsetsGuy Claxton: Building Learning PowerBarbara Rogoff: children as Participants in their Cultural CommunitiesPART 3 CHALLENGES FOR THEORISTS IN A CHANGING WORLDChallenges for Theorists in a Changing World