Education meets play: a sociological study of how the new compulsory national learning framework for children zero to five years influences educators' practice. New theorising about play and education in early childhood settings has challenged traditional notions of play. This project investigates how educators respond to the requirement for play-based learning by identifying characteristics of successful educators and professional leaders, and strategies and practices that merge education and p ....Education meets play: a sociological study of how the new compulsory national learning framework for children zero to five years influences educators' practice. New theorising about play and education in early childhood settings has challenged traditional notions of play. This project investigates how educators respond to the requirement for play-based learning by identifying characteristics of successful educators and professional leaders, and strategies and practices that merge education and play.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100412
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,376.00
Summary
Self-regulation in children. This project aims to reconcile insights from education and cognitive psychology to develop an integrative model of self-regulation and evaluate it using a low-cost self-regulation intervention compatible with existing practices. Children with low self-regulation in the preschool years are likelier to have poorer intellectual, health, wealth and anti-social outcomes in adulthood. However, this knowledge has not yet yielded a framework for understanding self-regulatory ....Self-regulation in children. This project aims to reconcile insights from education and cognitive psychology to develop an integrative model of self-regulation and evaluate it using a low-cost self-regulation intervention compatible with existing practices. Children with low self-regulation in the preschool years are likelier to have poorer intellectual, health, wealth and anti-social outcomes in adulthood. However, this knowledge has not yet yielded a framework for understanding self-regulatory change, nor generated particularly successful methods for enacting this change. This project is expected to provide theory- and evidence-based strategies for parents, educators and governments to give young children the best possible start in life.Read moreRead less
Learning-rich leadership for quality improvement in early education. This project aims to establish Australia's first evidence base to inform quality improvement in early childhood education services through the development of educational leaders. Effective leadership is essential to ensuring the effective implementation of the Australian government's national quality standards for early childhood education. A new theory of 'learning-rich' leadership for quality improvement will be developed to ....Learning-rich leadership for quality improvement in early education. This project aims to establish Australia's first evidence base to inform quality improvement in early childhood education services through the development of educational leaders. Effective leadership is essential to ensuring the effective implementation of the Australian government's national quality standards for early childhood education. A new theory of 'learning-rich' leadership for quality improvement will be developed to influence leadership education in the early childhood sector. Expected outcomes from this project have potential benefits for the increased effectiveness in service quality for early childhood education.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101096
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,500.00
Summary
A rhythm and movement intervention for self-regulation in preschool. This project aims to examine the effectiveness of a rhythm and movement intervention, delivered by early childhood teachers, to improve self-regulation for preschool-aged children living in disadvantaged communities. Coordinated rhythmic movement activities are proposed as an effective means to support the neurological bases of self-regulation and enhance motor, auditory, and self-regulatory functioning. Project outcomes will i ....A rhythm and movement intervention for self-regulation in preschool. This project aims to examine the effectiveness of a rhythm and movement intervention, delivered by early childhood teachers, to improve self-regulation for preschool-aged children living in disadvantaged communities. Coordinated rhythmic movement activities are proposed as an effective means to support the neurological bases of self-regulation and enhance motor, auditory, and self-regulatory functioning. Project outcomes will include resources designed for teachers on how to use rhythmic movement activities to improve young children’s skills to regulate attention and behaviour. This project will have significant benefits for positive school transition, and may help to address disparities in early learning and childhood wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100161
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,279,122.00
Summary
Science and engineering concept formation in homes and playbased settings. This education project aims to research concept formation in infants, toddlers and preschoolers by examining imagination in play-based settings and homes. Quality early childhood experiences can impact positively on life choices and career pathways. The outcomes of this project will provide baseline evidence, build on teachers’ strengths in play-based settings, and test a new early childhood model of teaching science, eng ....Science and engineering concept formation in homes and playbased settings. This education project aims to research concept formation in infants, toddlers and preschoolers by examining imagination in play-based settings and homes. Quality early childhood experiences can impact positively on life choices and career pathways. The outcomes of this project will provide baseline evidence, build on teachers’ strengths in play-based settings, and test a new early childhood model of teaching science, engineering and technologies, while monitoring uptake and adoption to build Australia's early childhood research capacity. It is expected that the results will build capacity in research in early childhood science, engineering and technologies, positioning Australia as a research leader.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100399
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$367,996.00
Summary
Mathematics education for babies and toddlers. This project aims to investigate mathematics education for babies and toddlers by focussing on the practices of the educators who work with children aged under three years. This project expects to generate new knowledge about when and how mathematical experiences are provided for children in Under 3s settings. It will contribute to the current agenda of enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) participation and outcomes by e ....Mathematics education for babies and toddlers. This project aims to investigate mathematics education for babies and toddlers by focussing on the practices of the educators who work with children aged under three years. This project expects to generate new knowledge about when and how mathematical experiences are provided for children in Under 3s settings. It will contribute to the current agenda of enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) participation and outcomes by elucidating the early mathematics education base upon which STEM education can build. Findings will inform the development of professional learning materials for Under 3s settings and will enhance pedagogical approaches to support high-quality mathematics education for very young children.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101053
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,556.00
Summary
Influence of parent and educator feeding practices on child self-regulation. This project aims to be the first study to investigate whether children who experience consistent and responsive feeding practices both at home and in early childhood education and care have higher levels of self-regulation, optimal eating behaviour and diet quality. The project expects to develop simple and low-cost strategies that parents and educators can use at mealtimes to enhance child self-regulation. With one mi ....Influence of parent and educator feeding practices on child self-regulation. This project aims to be the first study to investigate whether children who experience consistent and responsive feeding practices both at home and in early childhood education and care have higher levels of self-regulation, optimal eating behaviour and diet quality. The project expects to develop simple and low-cost strategies that parents and educators can use at mealtimes to enhance child self-regulation. With one million Australian children in care during their parent’s working week, outcomes of this project have widespread benefits. Higher self-regulation improves a child's health and well-being and provides short- and long-term social and economic benefits including school readiness, academic achievement and workforce participation.Read moreRead less
Educator-child interactions and childhood social and emotional learning. This project aims to enhance educator-child interactions to support young children’s social and emotional learning in Early Childhood Education and Care. It expects to generate new knowledge about adult-child interactions for improved child outcomes by examining the effectiveness, theories of change and implementation of an online Social-Emotional Engagement and Development Program to promote educators' engagement with thre ....Educator-child interactions and childhood social and emotional learning. This project aims to enhance educator-child interactions to support young children’s social and emotional learning in Early Childhood Education and Care. It expects to generate new knowledge about adult-child interactions for improved child outcomes by examining the effectiveness, theories of change and implementation of an online Social-Emotional Engagement and Development Program to promote educators' engagement with three tiers of social and emotional learning strategies. The intended outcome is a confirmed evidence base supporting the program at scale and aligned professional learning resources. This project has potential to mitigate against the financial and social costs associated with mental ill-health in early childhood.Read moreRead less
Learning for Teaching in Disadvantaged Schools. This project focuses on what and how primary school teachers learn about improving classroom practices from co-inquiry interventions. The effective diagnosis of student learning difficulties and the design of educational interventions based on such diagnosis is a core component of quality teaching. Yet many teachers have not acquired the knowledge and skills to undertake such learning diagnostic and design work. The project plans to engage practiti ....Learning for Teaching in Disadvantaged Schools. This project focuses on what and how primary school teachers learn about improving classroom practices from co-inquiry interventions. The effective diagnosis of student learning difficulties and the design of educational interventions based on such diagnosis is a core component of quality teaching. Yet many teachers have not acquired the knowledge and skills to undertake such learning diagnostic and design work. The project plans to engage practitioners in co-inquiry through collaborative analysis of professional learning conversations and classroom practices across disadvantaged public schools in urban and regional locations across Queensland. It aims to examine the sustainability of co-inquiry models to improve student learning.Read moreRead less
Designing effective learning experiences: Investigating novice and expert teachers’ design processes. Quality teaching leads to quality learning outcomes for students. Primary school teachers are responsible for designing learning experiences for their students in an increasingly complex environment. This project will advance understanding by: characterising and identifying differences in how novice and expert teachers approach the design of learning experiences for their students; capturing exp ....Designing effective learning experiences: Investigating novice and expert teachers’ design processes. Quality teaching leads to quality learning outcomes for students. Primary school teachers are responsible for designing learning experiences for their students in an increasingly complex environment. This project will advance understanding by: characterising and identifying differences in how novice and expert teachers approach the design of learning experiences for their students; capturing expert design processes through practice examples; and investigating how expert practice examples stimulate novice teachers to design learning experiences. This new understanding of teachers' design processes is necessary to enhance teacher preparation and continued professional learning.Read moreRead less