Play and Learn through the Arts method and its linkages to the multi modal approach in teaching

Running head: EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING
Early Childhood Learning
Name of the Student
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Author Note

1EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING
Play and Learn through the Arts method and its linkages to the multi modal
approach in teaching
Before the discussion proceeds further to explain the Play and Learn through the Arts
method, I would like to clarify what a multi modal approach in the process of teaching, and multi
modal environment entails. That shall be beneficial for establishing the context upon which the
arguments further shall be built upon by me.
Modality in this particular context shall be the methods in which the educational
instruction is disseminated and received. Multi modal approach in learning thus means a
situation whereby the learner reacts positively to various methods of learning. It is an indication
of the fact that the learner can adapt very easily to a wide variety of styles, or modes of
instruction. Multi modal style of instruction involves a wide range of practices in teaching which
seeks to stimulate the sensory and cognitive capabilities of the learner with an effective and
balanced use of the visual and audible tools, or modes (Mroueh, Marcheret and Goel, 2015).
Apart from the visual and the audible modes, the usage of text based, linguistic and spatial
modes of communication are also used in multi modal method of learning. The conceptual
understanding of the term modes in this aspect, hints at the various methods which is used in
disseminating the course material. In simple words, they are the methods of teaching. The multi
modal method demands that the instructor is quite skillful and is quite deft at balancing the
techniques for effective learning and creating a multi modal environment which shall be crucial
for the success of multi modal learning (Di Mitri et al., 2018).
A multi modal learning environment is essentially an interactive one wherein the learners
and the teachers are involved in an active exchange of ideas, interpretations, questions and

2EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING
answers in making the process of teaching and learning vibrant and interesting (Aneke et al.,
2016). In a multi modal environment, the system is not strictly based on the continuum that the
learners are expected to learn and the teachers are supposed to teach. Rather, it is a vibrant
experience whereby both the learner and the teacher are expected to learn, grow and develop
themselves to their best. It shall not be possible if there lies no free flow of interaction between
the learners and the teachers (Yamasaki 2015).
Having explained multi modality as a particular method used by teachers to disseminate
education among the learners, I shall now be devoting the flow of discussion towards explaining
the Play and Learn through the Arts method, and establish its connections with multi modal form
of learning and teaching. As the name suggests, play and art are the modes employed, which are
central and most important to the particular pedagogical approach. It is also called as the play
way method of teaching, and is more appropriate for children who are at the pre-school, nursery
or kindergarten level (Kumar 2016). The method of teaching involves the creation of an
environment of joy and positivity by the teacher using various activities, which could be both
simple and complex. Thus it is clear that the method of learning is through playing, in simple
words, it is an activity oriented process of teaching and learning. The guiding philosophy behind
the application of this particular method in teaching is to nurture the intellectual and cognitive
growth and development of the learners by imbibing emotions in to the process of teaching.
Since the intellectual capacities of each learner is different, hence the teacher must device a
subjective and customized method of providing guidance (Palmer 2017). Learners at the junior
school level must be provided very meticulous guidance for the development of their emotional
and intelligence quotients, and this particular approach of Play and Learn through the Arts
method has provisions for dedicating efforts to the individual requirements of the learners. It has