Workshop Title

Play Based Learning

When

10 Dec 2015 - 11 Dec 2015
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Asia/Singapore

Where

Hong Kong - The Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers
33 Canton Road, , Tsimshatsui, Kowloon

Event Tag

The Play Based Learning workshop aims to introduce participants to play as the work of children. During the two day, interactive, reflective, and discussion rich session, participants will come to a fully articulated definition of play, in terms of its role in a child’s creation of culture, negotiation of relationships with others, reflection on their actions and choices, and their efforts to make meaning of their world.

Through invitations to play, participants will be better able to create play based teaching and learning communities that challenge children to inquire and investigate, invent and design, problem solve and hypothesize. Consideration of learning environments rich in invitations to play will be explored, in terms of their potential to offer endless opportunities for children’s enhanced learning within traditional academic subjects in a way that also supports self-efficacy and self-regulation.

Objectives
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Articulate theories of play
  • Reflect on the connections between emergent curriculum and play based learning
  • Integrate connections between play, inquiry, creativity and learning
  • Develop plans for the creation of rich, playful learning communities
  • Discuss the experience of play based learning through engagement in the process of Messing About
  • Critique the role of loose parts in play based learning
  • Consider the significance of intentional teaching and child agency in play based learning
  • Evaluate play based learning invitations that enhance academic understanding (science, technology, art, math, science, literacy, and engineering)
  • Formulate a pedagogy of play
  • Design environments with consideration for the value of outdoor play and children’s connection to nature
  • Reflect on a Reggio inspired image of the child
  • Define self-efficacy and self-regulation
  • Establish strategies for continued professional support

Outline
Day 1:  What is play based learning and what can we learn as educators through play?

  • What does play based learning look like?
  • What connections can be made to other curriculum models and pedagogies?
  • How do children create culture in play?
  • Where can we find meaning-making in play based learning?
  • Why integrate play and academics?
  • What is intentional teaching and child agency in play based learning?
  • What is the role of play based learning in self-efficacy and self-regulation?
  • How are intentional teaching and child agency connected?
  • What is your image of the child?

Day 2: Play based learning connected to academics and the role of the environment

  • What can we learn from loose parts in play based learning?
  • How can we make connections to literacy?
  • How can we make connections to math?
  • How can we make connections to science?
  • How can we explore play based learning and the pedagogy framework STEAM?
  • What is the role of the classroom environment in play based learning?
  • How do we assess play through pedagogical documentation?
  • What strategies can we develop for professional support as we explore play based learning?

Trainer’s Profile
Louise J. is a professor in the Bachelor of Child development degree program at Seneca College. Louise has a Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning with a research focus on teacher reflection and educational technologies and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Louise has been inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education for young children and was privileged to travel to Reggio Emilia on a study tour where this inspiration grew. In addition to her teaching, Louise has facilitated workshops and conferences with early childhood practitioners and elementary school teachers. Most recently, she has focused on professional learning centred on pedagogical documentation, emergent curriculum, Forest Schools, professional learning through social media, making learning visible and Reggio inspired practice.

Methodology
This workshop is composed of opportunities for experiential and collaborative hands-on learning opportunities. Participants will have the opportunity to be fully engaged, interact with colleagues, reflect on, and document their learning in an environment that is supportive and meets an educator’s need to gain practical knowledge that can be applied to teaching practices.

Target Audience
Teachers, early childhood educators and administrators of children aged 3 to 8 years.

Investment 
HKD6000.00/pax
HKD5500.00/pax if register by 1 Jun 15 1 Jul 15
  
Other Details
Duration: 2 days, 12 hours
Closing Date: 1 Sep 15 1 Oct 15 1 Dec15


Other Available Sessions
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