Research behind the model
The Conceptual PlayWorld model is part of a larger five-year programmatic research called the Conceptual PlayLab.
The Conceptual PlayLab project is led by Monash Laureate Professor Marilyn Fleer (see Marilyn's research profile). It is supported by a five-year $3.2 million Laureate Fellowship from the Australian Research Council.
About the research
The Conceptual PlayLab is Australia's first programmatic study that aims to test ground-breaking play-based models of teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics to young children. It aims to create significant shifts in the ways STEM concepts are taught to young children in Australia, and around the world.
It has three parts:
Researching children's thinking
To find out how infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers form concepts in STEM.
Researching with families
To investigate the way families support their children to learn about STEM.
Researching with teachers
To develop an evidence-based model for teaching STEM in early childhood.