Project Thinking in the Early Years: Framing Inquiry as a Community of Learners Workshop Descriptor: “Project work is designed to help young children make deeper and fuller sense of events and phenomena in their own environment and experiences that are worthy of their attention. We assume that such work  increases children's confidence in their own intellectual powers, and strengthens their dispositions to continue learning.” C.Edwards, L.Gandini, G.Forman.  (1998). Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education. Project based learning with children has become recognised as an effective strategy to engage young minds and support children to flourish. When teachers implement a project approach, children can be highly motivated, feel actively involved in their own learning, and achieve success. Children feel valued and involved as their curiosity and sense of inquiry is nurtured and extended. Possibilities for learning are endless as groups of children work together with a deep exploration of ideas as a collaborative a group. This workshop will unpack several types of projects as examples of possibility, and as a provocation for further research. Participants will have opportunities to share their experiences, collaborate on how this might look in their context, together with tools and strategies to support project work in the classroom.   Participants will gain further understanding and new insight into: Developing a culture of play and inquiry The process of the co-construction of knowledge and meaning making  Different approaches to project work  How to make project work part of every day practice  The role of the teacher in engaging children Building on the interests of children and finding out what matters  Documentation as a tool that informs the learning and makes it visible Strengthening children’s learning dispositions  How curriculum goals and standards can be met and surpassed  Audience: Early Years Educators, Leaders and Curriculum Coordinators who have specific responsibility for the Early Years. This will be of interest to any individual who is curious about the project approach and how this looks in the classroom setting.   Workshop Leader Biography: Kirsty Liljegren Kirsty Liljegren is currently on family leave from being the teaching Director of Cornish College Early Learning Centre, in Victoria, Australia. Cornish College is a coeducational school, situated on one hundred acres with a strong emphasis on inquiry based learning alongside a commitment to sustainable education. Many educators from around the world have visited the early learning centre as a place of provocation, innovation and inspiring practice. Kirsty is a committee member of the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) and has undertaken two study tours to Reggio Emilia, together with visits to the Forest Schools in Denmark and the Nature Kindergartens in Scotland. Children’s connections with nature together with the influence of the Reggio Emilia philosophy on practice are areas of research for Kirsty. She is particularly passionate about the all-important question- how do we as educators enable children to flourish? Kirsty consults and lectures in a variety of contexts, with professional learning that comes from the practitioners, as well as a leadership perspective. In 2012 Kirsty participated in the Integrated approach to Assessment Project with the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority In 2001, Kirsty was awarded a national excellence in teaching award for innovative practice, and in 2012 was awarded a State and Territory award for Victoria for her contribution to the early childhood sector. A recent highlight was presenting at the EECERA (European Early Childhood Education Research Association) 2015 Conference in Barcelona, Spain.   Workshop Timings: Saturday 8 October 8.30 - 9.00       Introduction to the conference 9.00 - 10.30     Session One 10.30 - 11.00   Break (snacks provided) 11.00 - 1.00     Session Two 1.00 - 1.45       Lunch (lunch provided) 1.45 - 3.45       Session Three   Sunday 9 October 8.30 - 10.30     Session Four 10.30 - 11.00    Break (snacks provided) 11.00 - 1.00      Session Five (conclusion of workshop)   Certificates All participants will receive a certificate of participation for the workshop.   Costs Early Bird Fee: US$260 Registration fee after the 31 August 2016: US$290 Registration fee after the 31 September 2016: US$320   Cancellation Policy Please note that each workshop will proceed based on participant registration. Innovative Global Education will inform you by 8 September, 2016 if the workshop is to be cancelled. If the workshop is cancelled your full payment will be reimbursed. If the workshop is proceeding you will not receive an email.  Workshop Participation If Innovative Global Education is informed by 8 September, 2016 that a participant is unable to attend the workshop, a full refund will be given. If notification of not being able to participate is after 8 September, 2016 IGE will be unable to refund the registration fee.  If, for any reason, a school needs to either transfer a registered participant to another workshop from the workshop registered or change the name of the participant attending a workshop, Innovative Global Education can make these changes on request from school or participant at any time.   Accommodation: Innovative Global Education together with NIST International School is pleased to announce the following partnerships with hotels. When booking the room state you attending an IGE workshop at NIST International School.   U Sukhumvit: Superior Room THB 2,300 Deluxe Room THB 2,800 Khun Khanittha: reserve@usukhumvitbangkok.com   Kingston Suites: Superior Room THB 1,600 Deluxe Room THB 1,800 Executive Room THB 2,200 Khun Kukkai: sales-co@presidentsolitaire.com   Movenpick Sukhumvit 15  Superior Room THB 3,100 Executive Room THB 4,600 Khun Kanokporn: Kanokporn.Arkard@movenpick.com Getting to and from NIST International School: Shuttle Service There will be a shuttle service provided by NIST International School (with their logo on it) that can take participants from the top of Sukhumvit Soi 15  (in front of the Manhattan Hotel, across the Lobby of Four Points by Sheraton) to NIST Internaitonal School and vice versa. The shuttle service will run from 8:00 am on the 31st October and the 1st November, and will do the reverse and drop people off at the end of the day. Note: If you are staying at U Sukhumvit (300 meters from NIST) and the Kingston Suites (700 meters from NIST Internaitonal School) and would like to walk, you should turn left as you come out of the hotel and keep walking towards the end of the Soi, the school will be on your right hand side.   The Kingston Suites and U Sukhumvit also have shuttle services that can take guests to nearby places, including NIST Internaitonal School, the nearest Sky Train station, Terminal 21, etc.
Date & Time
From: 09 October 2016, Sunday   To:   09 October 2016, Sunday
Event Information
Venue Name: NIST BANGKOK
Venue Address: SUKHUMVIT SOI 15
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