PlayLab Podcast

In this episode we look at Conceptual PlayWorlds in terms of the changing role of the educator and what this means for children’s engagement with STEM, particularly for young girls. To discuss this we have our team of researchers. Rebecca Lewis and Tanya Stephenson have been leading this work with educators. They will be sharing the perspective of the educators who have been part of the research, implementing Conceptual PlayWorlds. We will also have a special guest Lisa Refalo, Kindergarten Teacher, Emmanuel Kindergarten, Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton.Our panel today:Dr Rebecca LewisPost-Doctoral Research FellowRebecca comes to the Conceptual PlayLab with a PhD in professional development from a cultural-historical perspective, together with over fifteen years of teaching and leadership experience in the early childhood education field. Using the Conceptual PlayWorld model her focus is supporting educators' role in play to create engaging opportunities for children's participation, learning and development.Dr. Tanya StephensonPost-Doctoral Research FellowTanya is the first Kathleen Fitzpatrick ARC Laureate scholarship holder to complete her PhD with the Conceptual PlayLab. She is passionate about advancing early childhood STEM education. Her doctoral research focused on early childhood teacher professional development, particularly teacher practices to encourage girls in STEM. Her research interests include early childhood education, STEM education, educational equity, curriculum and policy, educational psychology and teacher professional development. Our guest today:Lisa Refalo, Kindergarten Teacher at Emmanuel Kindergarten, Catholic Education Diocese of RockhamptonThe PlayLab podcast brings snapshots of research findings into early childhood STEM learning and play as it is happening. Jump onto the website for resources, or follow us through the newsletter, Twitter with Marilyn, and Private Facebook for educators.

In this episode we are going to talk about research in family home settings. With us today are Prabhat Rai, and Oriana Ramunno.Prabhat has been leading research in STEM with families at the Conceptual PlayLab. Oriana has been working as a digital storyteller and has been co-designing these innovative sessions with Dr Rebecca Lewis. We will also hear from one of the parents Stacey and her amazing daughter about their experiences of participating in the Conceptual PlayWorld@homeLIVE sessions during COVID lockdown.Our panel today:Dr Prabhat RaiSenior Research FellowPrabhat leads the Conceptual PlayLab’s research into STEM learning in family homes. Prabhat completed his PhD from Oxford and comes to us from Ambedkar University, Delhi. Previously he worked as a Senior Fellow (Research) in Bhutan and was an Assistant Professor with Academic Unit of the Central Board of Secondary Education in Delhi. He brings extensive experience in researching communities, early years settings and families.Oriana RumunnoResearch AssistantOriana brings to the Conceptual PlayLab 18 years experience as a teacher in early childhood and early primary settings.  Her role in the PlayLab involves working with educators and teachers in early childhood and primary settings in the planning and implementation of Conceptual PlayWorlds.  Her motivation is driven by her continuing role and research interests in Conceptual PlayWorlds.The PlayLab podcast brings snapshots of research findings into early childhood STEM learning and play as it is happening.  Jump onto the website for resources, or follow us through the newsletter, Twitter with Marilyn, and Private Facebook for educators.

Welcome to the PlayLab Podcast, this is a place where we share what we are learning from our research and where we dive deep into our evidence-based model called Conceptual PlayWorlds for the intentional teaching of STEM concepts in the early years of childhood, both in the home and in early childhood settings. In this episode we are going to go back to where it all started, then we’ll bring you all the way forward into the present - to where we are today. Today we have our team with us to speak about their experience working and interacting in Conceptual PlayWorlds. You will be hearing from this wonderful team of dedicated researchers in the future too, going deeper into the research, sharing what we are finding - almost as it is happening!  Our host: Laureate Professor Marilyn FleerDirector, Conceptual PlayLabLaureate Professor Marilyn Fleer holds the Foundation Chair of Early Childhood Education and Development at Monash University, Australia. She was awarded the 2018 Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellowship by the Australian Research Council and was a former President of the International Society of Cultural-historical Activity Research (ISCAR). Additionally, she holds the positions of an honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Education, University of Oxford, and a second professor position in the KINDKNOW Centre, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and has been bestowed the title of Honorary professor at the Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Denmark. She was presented with the 2019 Ashley Goldsworthy Award for Outstanding leadership in university-business collaboration. Today's Panel featuring:Dr Prabhat RaiSenior Research FellowPrabhat leads the Conceptual PlayLab’s research into STEM learning in family homes. Prabhat completed his PhD from Oxford and comes to us from Ambedkar University, Delhi. Previously he worked as a Senior Fellow (Research) in Bhutan and was an Assistant Professor with Academic Unit of the Central Board of Secondary Education in Delhi. He brings extensive experience in researching communities, early years settings and families.Dr Rebecca LewisPost-Doctoral Research FellowRebecca comes to the Conceptual PlayLab with a PhD in professional development from a cultural-historical perspective, together with over fifteen years of teaching and leadership experience in the early childhood education field. Using the Conceptual PlayWorld model her focus is supporting educators' role in play to create engaging opportunities for children's participation, learning and development.Dr. Tanya StephensonPost-Doctoral Research FellowTanya is the first Kathleen Fitzpatrick ARC Laureate scholarship holder to complete her PhD with the Conceptual PlayLab. She is passionate about advancing early childhood STEM education. Her doctoral research focused on early childhood teacher professional development, particularly teacher practices to encourage girls in STEM. Her research interests include early childhood education, STEM education, educational equity, curriculum and policy, educational psychology and teacher professional development.The PlayLab podcast brings snapshots of research findings into early childhood STEM learning and play as it is happening. Jump onto the website for resources, or follow us through the newsletter, Twitter with Marilyn, and Private Facebook for educators.