Innovation in Education

         There are many innovative examples in education that foster learning in early childhood education. One particular inspiring approach is Mindful Awareness Training in ECE. This area of Executive functions has been studied and has been used to improve behavior regulation in children and in adults. Mindful Awareness Practice (MAPs) improves spatial processing¸ working memory, and other executive functions. Evidence from Neuroscientist suggests that executive functions are affected by various factors. These factors can stall or delay the processing so that the executive functions are not working properly (Burke, 2010). Areas affected are attention which can cause attention deficit disorders or attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Other areas affected are planning and decision making. Neuroscientist also suggests that executive functions can be affected by PTSD, autism, bullying, and delinquency.




         There has been research that shows how MAPs improves mental processing, working memory, analyzing, and self-regulation. There has been much outcome-based research in this area and it has concluded that MAPs does improve cognitive functioning, increases self-esteem, and improves emotional self-regulation and self-control (Flook, Kitil, Galla, Kaiser-Greenland, Locke, & Kasan, 2010). It has many academic reasons for its usage such as increasing a person’s ability to pay attention and reduces stress. It has shown that early intervention in the ECE has help with many children’s self-regulation therefore the students are able to attend to classroom tasks more appropriately. It also has benefits for teachers as well because it has improved teacher ability to manage their classroom more effectively.




         One example of this inspiring approach occurred in a study done in California of 64 second and third grade students. These students received thirty minute session of MAPs two times a week for 8 weeks. The results showed that less regulated students made gains in behavior regulation, improved thought processing, and overall increases in all areas of executive functions. This research also gives information on how MAPs could be instrumental in helping student with ADD and ADHD become more attentive.


         I have been reading about MAPs for some time. I have read here and there about its benefits. In reading some scholarly articles on this topic, I find that it could potentially be a useful tool in the classroom or school. This is something that I think many school systems should look into and possible use in the exceptional education programs or in it's general education programs. This is an innovation that could help many students and well as teachers make schools a better place to learn and to teach.

Burke, C. A. (2010). Mindfulness-based approaches with children and


          adolescents: A preliminary review of current research in an emergent


          field. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19(2), 133-144.






Flook, L., Smalley, S. L., Kitil, M. J., Galla, B. M., Kaiser-Greenland, S.,


          Locke, J., ... & Kasari, C. (2010). Effects of mindful awareness


          practices on executive functions in elementary school children.


          Journal of Applied School Psychology, 26(1), 70-95.










Link to study ---- http://skolenforoverskud.dk/Artikler%20-%20mindfulness/Flook-Effects-of-Mindful-Awareness-Practices-on-Executive-Function-1.pdf