Being intentional when organising play-based STEM activities in early childhood settings can go a long way to encourage and enhance children's independent learning and exploration. Conceptual PlayWorld is a tool that helps educators to be intentional.
To help educators unlock the power of intentional teaching, we offer Fleer's Conceptual PlayWorld Professional Development Program.
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) emphasises the important role of educators in providing young children with opportunities to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for future success in learning.
Teaching with intentionality can be very powerful in enhancing children’s learning outcomes. Professional development (PD) programs are crucial in developing educators' knowledge, skills, experience and mentorship to implement these intentional teaching practices in play-based settings.
This article explores intentional teaching and simple steps for teachers wanting to develop skills in this approach using Fleer's Conceptual PlayWorld Professional Development Program.
What is Intentionality?
Intentionality means educators are purposeful, deliberate, and thoughtful in their decisions and actions when planning for children's learning and development. Intentionality also comprises applying a child-centred approach that encourages children's exploration.
Educators act with intentionality in play-based learning when they:
- Extend children’s learning using intentional teaching strategies, such as asking questions, explaining, modelling, speculating, inquiring and demonstrating. This extends children’s knowledge, skills, and enjoyment in thinking and learning.
- Sustain, extend, challenge, and deepen children’s ideas and skills through shared thinking and scaffolding learning (Australian Government Department of Education/AGDE, 2022).
What is Fleer's Conceptual PlayWorld Professional Development (PD) Program?
Fleer's Conceptual PlayWorld model supports early childhood educators around the world using play to teach STEM to young children. It’s a model of teaching based on the latest research and developed in partnership with educators.
We offer Fleer's Conceptual PlayWorld PD for early childhood educators and primary school teachers. It takes two hours to complete the modules.
Three options available for educators keen to improve their knowledge and skills in teaching STEM concepts:
- Free self-paced online program where educators and teachers can complete the training in their own time.
- The same program via Zoom. This approach works well for educators and teachers working interstate and overseas who would like to directly discuss their ideas and receive feedback from the Conceptual PlayLab team. If interested, contact the team at conceptualplaylab@monash.edu.
- In-person training, either in schools, child care centres, on campus, or in an agreed location. If interested, contact the team at conceptualplaylab@monash.edu.
What teachers learn in Fleer's Conceptual PlayWorld PD Program
Here's how to get the most out of the Fleer's Conceptual PlayWorld PD program.
Stage 1: Preparation
Before the Professional Development session, we suggest that participants:
- explore the Play School Story Time Conceptual PlayWorlds (CPW)
- think about a storybook that will be attractive for children, for example, a story involving drama and a problem to solve
- have a copy of our Conceptual PlayWorld planning template ready.
Stage 2: Create your own Conceptual PlayWorld
The Conceptual PlayLab team presents the five steps of the model:
- Selecting the story
- Designing spaces
- Entering and exiting the PlayWorld
- Plan your problem to be solved
- What role will you, as the teacher, take in the PlayWorld?
During this session, participants see how teachers implement the Conceptual PlayWorld with children across different age groups: toddlers, pre-schoolers, early primary and primary.
After completing the modules, teachers and educators can start planning using the provided template and steps. For more ideas, Conceptual PlayWorld starters offer many examples.
Stage 3: Implement your own Conceptual PlayWorld
Once you have completed the PD and written your plan, have a go at putting it into practice and have fun!
Success stories from Australian and international teachers
Over 2,000 educators and teachers from Australia and worldwide took part in the Conceptual PlayWorld PD. More than 5,000 children have benefitted from our program.
Get involved!
Join our private Facebook group for educators and learn from each other.
Subscribe for updates about the Conceptual PlayWorlds.
Contact the Conceptual PlayWorld team at conceptualplaylab@monash.edu if you wish to discuss our training options.
Resources
Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF, V2.0 2022)
National approved learning framework under the NQF for young children from birth to 5 years of age.
Create your own PlayWorld – includes a blank template, the 5 steps, and the PlayWorld starters for different age groups.
Existing PlayWorlds that you can adapt for your classroom:
