Reggio Inspired Pedagogy explores a pursuit that lasts for our entire teaching career. Regardless of where we see ourselves on the path to enriching or reflecting on our work with young children, or those who teach them, this intensive two day workshop will provide a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching in the Early Years. The foundational principles of teacher as researcher, progettazione, and the learning environment as the third teacher will be explored. Learning environments will be examined in terms of the atelier, a place of creative possibilities, research and the expression of symbolic languages. Participants will engage in a variety of provocations and collegial dialogue aimed to encourage reflection on teaching practices, environmental revitalization and a Reggio Inspired image of the child, the teacher, the family, and the school.

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

• Analyze and evaluate principles of Reggio inspired practice
• Reflect on one’s own pedagogical stance and teaching practice with the lens of a teacher researcher
• Explore, experiment and develop hypothesizes of learning through a synthesis of the process and philosophy of Messing About
• Analyze and evaluate the implications of approaching curriculum and school life from frameworks inspired by a progettazione ideal and the school as atelier
• Consider the role of the atelier as a place of creativity, research and expressive languages
• Conceptualize the idea of the environment as third teacher with respect to a child’s sense of place, use of space and relationship to the built environment
• Actively engage with a community of learners through collaboration, active investigations, critical reflection and dialogue

Outline
Day 1:  Light, Aesthetics and Progettazione

• Dialogue, reflect and create metaphorical representations of the values and principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach
• Engage in the “hundred languages” of representation by investigating light and creating compositional representations, while documenting the experience
• Experience a “visual tour” of children’s explorations and investigations with nature and light
• Consider progettazione as educational action, weaving connections both metaphorically and physically between planning and design, teaching and learning, the environment and professional learning
• Share insights, reflections and questions that are documented for revisiting on Day 2

Day 2: Teacher as Researcher, the Atelier and Expressive Languages

• Engage in reflective dialogue based on insights from Day 1
• Explore the role of the teacher through a research lens, utilizing dialogue, metaphor and “pedagogical innovation”
• Explore intelligent materials, of ateliers and construct plans to enhance the emergence of expressive languages
• Utilize brainstorming mind maps to develop the “ideal” Reggio inspired environment
• Create and share visual metaphors of reflections on the connections between Reggio inspired learning environments and pedagogy

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 0 to 8 years.

Investment
Individual: EUR700.00/pax
Group of 5 or more: EUR600.00/pax

Other Details
Duration: 2 days, 12 hours
Closing Date: 1 Feb 2020 15 Mar 2020

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