[LIVE] Playful Learning

When

13 Oct 2021 - 15 Oct 2021
7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Asia/Singapore

Event Tag

Children are wired to learn through play and interaction with their world.  Adults working with young children can create environments that support playful, exploratory learning that is deeply engaging for children.  This workshop is designed to dig into the why, what, and how of playful learning, with a specific focus on open-ended materials that spark children’s creative imaginations.  Participants will also learn about gathering stories of children’s play through documentation, as well as avenues to share play documentation with parents, families, and colleagues.

Objectives
Participants will be able to:

  • Talk about play from their own experience and perspective.
  • Articulate how children learn through play (constructivism)
  • Describe the teacher’s role in play.
  • Communicate facets of playful learning to stakeholders (families, communities, colleagues)
  • Describe the role of materials and objects in play (including sourcing materials), and create an invitation to play.
  • Think critically about vehicles for sharing playful stories of learning (documentation in a variety of formats – binders, one-pagers, email marketing)
  • Document play using a variety of methods

Outline 
Session 1: Constructivism + Play-Based Learning

  • Personal connections to play + childhood
  • Definitions of play (open-ended and guided) and the facets of playful learning through the lens of constructivism
  • The role of the adult (guide on the side; scaffolding); Vygotsky
  • Defining “Open-Ended” in relation to play, materials, and children’s development
  • Homework:  Reflective writing / audio / video with reflection prompts linked to the day’s topics.

Session 2: Open-Ended Materials

  • The role of materials in creative, open-ended play
  • Everyday materials and everywhere materials
  • Sourcing open-ended materials
  • Reflection
  • Homework: Gathering everyday and everywhere materials in the home; document short play session; bring materials for small group work on day 3.

Session 3: Application

  • Creating open-ended play invitations centered around materials
  • Open-Ended materials and children’s learning goals
  • Sharing stories of playful learning with stakeholders as advocacy for playful learning (newsletters, family communication, documentation)
  • Reflection in pairs/small groups
  • Reflective writing / audio / video about the next steps participants will take in bringing these concepts into their setting.

Trainer’s Profile

Allie P., M.S., is an early childhood educator from Washington state, USA.  She holds her B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education from New York University, as well as her M.S. in Early Childhood Education/Child Development from the Erikson Institute in Chicago. She is an experienced early childhood educator, having spent ten years teaching children 0-8 in a variety of educational settings.  Her personal curiosities have brought her to visit learning environments around the world, including forest Kindergartens, children’s museums, and the schools of Reggio Emilia.  She believes that child-directed play is a powerful learning tool, and spends her time writing about early childhood education and working with teachers around the globe on bringing play into the curriculum.

Methodology

This is an interactive workshop for participants to tap into their own playfulness as they deepen their understanding of how materials facilitate learning. This workshop is designed to support educators in transferring their new and existing knowledge about play materials into their classroom.

Platform

Zoom
A Zoom account is not required if you are strictly joining Zoom Meetings as a participant. An email invite will be emailed to you prior to the live workshop. Before joining a Zoom meeting on a computer or mobile device, you can download the Zoom app from the Download Center. Otherwise, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom when you click a join link.

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Target Audience

 Teachers, early childhood educators, and administrators of children 2-6 years old. In all settings.

Fees
SGD390.00 (USD295.00)/person for all 3 sessions
E-certificate will be issued

Other Details
Duration: 3 days, 9 hours
Closing Date:  5 Oct 2021

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