Learning environments professional learning package

This course looks at the role of the physical environment in children’s learning and the importance of setting up a well-organised indoor space. It will help you create a variety of rich play and learning spaces through effective organisation, showing that you don’t need to be a ‘designer’ to arrange a successful learning environment. The course includes written information and video interviews with educators that will help you assess your current indoor learning spaces.

This course will provide you a better understanding of:

• the role of the environment in children’s learning
• how indoor learning environments can guide children’s behaviour and promote constructive learning
• the arrangement of space and the physical definition of learning spaces
• character and personality within learning environments―to ensure that the spaces you create remain ‘living’ spaces.

Get this module as a part of an annual subscription.

This module has been developed to explore the importance of outdoor environments for children’s learning, and show how educators can plan and use outdoor spaces with children. We will also address some of the fears about risky play and explain how educators and children can manage risk without removing challenges and fun.

The module will explain clearly:

• why outdoor learning matters
• how to create rich outdoor learning spaces
• ways to overcome barriers to outdoor learning
• how to help children manage healthy risks and challenges outdoors.

Get this module as a part of an annual subscription.

According to architect Christopher Day, a building for small children must be magical and full of reverent wonder, like an ancient fairy tale.

The physical environment—often known as the ‘third teacher’—is a key factor underpinning good practice, and the way in which it is organised can shape children’s behaviour as learners. A carefully planned and well-organised environment can offer a range of learning experiences for children and adults alike.

In this on-demand webinar, Dr Luke Touhill talks about creating effective early learning environments that can capture the image of the child and shape the behaviour of both children and adults. He also examines what makes a successful learning environment.

This course will help you: 

• reflect on the thinking that goes behind the environments educators provide
• understand how the environment you provide reflects and supports your image of the child
• discover the ways in which the physical environment shapes the behaviour of children and adults.

Get this webinar as a part of an annual subscription.

Engineering creativity in loose parts play’ involves open-ended and easily manipulated materials that children can use to construct, deconstruct and transport, both to support them in developing working theories of the physical world and to augment their social and imaginative play.

Since Simon Nicholson first formally described this natural aspect of children’s play in 1971, understandings of loose parts play have widened and diversified. In contemporary research, it is considered to be completely without boundaries and mix easily with other kinds of learning.

This webcast will examine many practical examples of loose parts play using materials that are recovered, upcycled or drawn from nature. These include opportunities for loose parts play in infant and toddler spaces and in symbolic and imaginative play.

Special emphasis will be placed on provisions that are environmentally responsible, encourage co-operation and problem-solving, and are cheap as chips!

Learning Objectives: 

• Consider the notion of loose parts play.
• Examine practical instances of loose parts play.
• Consider loose parts play with young infants through to school-age children.
• View both Australian and international perspectives and practical implementation of loose parts play.