Tuesday 25 November 2014

My learnings from NETQ6 EARLY LEARNING NETWORK a conference in Padua-Italy

My learnings from NETQ6 EARLY LEARNING NETWORK a conference in Padua-Italy.

I was indeed honoured to be invited as the keynote speaker at NETQ6 EARLY LEARNING NETWORK in Padua, Italy. My topic for the keynote was about our developmentally appropriate ipad projects and how we listen to children’s voices through their drawings by documenting their thoughts and emotions at Podar Jumbo Kids. The learning journey started with the NETQ6 EARLY LEARNING NETWORK conference in Padua University. It was organized by Network For The Quality In Early Childhood Education and had speakers from Italy, UK, Poland, Turkey, Northern Ireland, Germany, Spain, and Romania and of course from Jumbo Kids, India. I must thank Mr. Stephano for a wonderfully organized conference. The main conference sections covered the following topics:
·         Developmental models in early education for learning disabilities http://littlesmilingminds.com (Italy)
·         In a Children’s Hospital like in School... Let’s do Robotics! (Italy)
·         From 2 years old to children centers (UK)
·         Verbal and communicational games with using of Logodogo - from a word to a sentence, from a letter to reading (Poland)
·         Role of developmentally appropriate technology in early years education (India)
·         Pre-school Social Skills Support Project (PSSSP) (Turkey)
·         Overcoming Barriers to Learning at Country/State level (Northern Ireland)
·         Pedagogy from the point of view of children to assure successful learning from the very first (Germany)
·         Practical applications of software and apps from the Aragonese website of Augmentative and Alternative Communication ARASAAC
·         Let’s make art one of the 100 languages of children (India)
·         Creative Robotics (Italy)
·         Overcoming Barriers To Learning (Northern Ireland)
·         How to create materials for parents on the basis of a flip teaching model (Spain)
·         Using free resources to create educational games (Romania)
I was impressed with the keynote by Professor Daniela Lucangeli of Padua University on Developmental Models in Early Education. The session touched on brain research and Vygotsky, both topics that interest me and are used in my curriculum work. Some points that she brought forth which are truly path breaking are about how children have selective attention and a teacher’s knowledge about this type of attention in children can help create better learning environments. She spoke about the amygdala and emotions that accompany learning. So aptly put by her that the emotion that should accompany learning should be curiosity and not fear. She quoted Eric Fisher on how rage and fear does not damage learning and creativity but boredom does. And my most important take away from her talk was her philosophy of how the process of learning should be- Outside, insideInside, inside- Inside, outside. Which simply means that learning comes from outside to inside a human being, then time needs to be given for that learning to manifest, stimulate, sink in inside the individual  and from inside would come insights, connections to the outside. And that is how learning will come full circle. If teachers understand this simple formula then they would know how to ensure that their teaching style is not all talk but talk-relate- and let the kids talk about their point of view/connections.
The early years team from Northern Ireland had a session on Begin with children- early years media initiative for children. A pertinent point that they are raising in their country; children’s voices, are they heard in media? They have developed fantastic videos and puppets that teach children about inclusion and emotions. These puppets help young children to understand what it feels like to be excluded and encourage them to respect and include others who are different.

In Germany- there is no word called disability but hindered and in Italy the word Ritardo means delayed. Sensitivity to needs of all children was visible in the work of all the speakers. The ARASAAC program of pictograms to teach kids language is a useful tool for autistic children.

The session on learning in children was educative as I revisited the difference between exploration and a guided tour. Most teachers have a formal teaching style in which they do everything and explain everything to children; this distinction will help me groom teachers to understand that subtle but important difference between teacher centric and child led classrooms. A simple mantra to teach teachers- Support on demand, not automatically.

Play way is such a loosely used term these days and many teachers fail to understand play way is Learning by playing as a fundamental part of the beginning of educational processes. The Learning process of children in a play way philosophy is self-motivated, intrinsic and self controlled. To consider and respect the point of view of children as important to becoming an active part of the learning process.

The Italian workshop on creative robotics was indeed an eye opener about how learning of math, science, language, and concepts can be done with simple robotics with young children. This was really amazing wherein kids learn to make simple robots complete with circuit etc. These circuit sets are available readymade from Amazon but children age 4 and above learn to fix them and use them to make different robots. Concepts of animals, people who help us, are all done with robotics.

As I attended this workshop I thought about Leonardo Da Vinci, a painter and inventor and here in Italy I experienced Reggio Emilia and Robotics, art expression and technology, both used in developmentally appropriate methods. Indeed this conference was ‘brain-fuel’ for me and the learnings and inspirations I gained from all the speakers will definitely find a place in our work at Podar Jumbo Kids. Thank you Dr Podar for supporting such global explorations and for ensuring that we believe in the hundred languages of children and never steal the ninety nine.


33 comments:

Uma Nagdeo said...

Thank you ma'am for sharing your wonderful experience of conference with us.All the topics of the conference are really interesting. I like the philosophy of process of learning which comes from outside to inside a human being and how learning will come full circle. even Italian workshop on creative robotics is something very different and interesting.

Unknown said...

We are indeed proud to be associated with you, as we always gain learning from your shared experiences. We all get a chance to see the world through your eyes. I will definitely share the simple formula of how learning will come full circle with my teachers.

vaishali joshi said...

I was eagerly waiting for this blog as you mentioned in your last blog about it. Thanks for sharing the experiences and presentations. I liked the Germany presentation which talk about the sensitivity to the needs of all children and show the same in their presentation also - A simple mantra to teach teachers- Support on demand, not automatically. New learning of selective attention. Let children talk about their point of view.
Ma’am, eagerly waiting to learn more about Italian robot.

Vaishali Joshi.

shilpa said...

Nice to read such wonderful experience in the article knowing about children at the age of 4 learn to fix parts and use them to make different robots , really this is an eye opener as if teachers understand this formula regarding their teaching style is not all talk but talk relate and more come from kids and allow them to explore more from their point really said .

jayshree shah said...

Thanks for sharing your experience & learning from NETQ6at Padua - Italy.
My learning about the article are simple mantra to Teach Teacher to support on demand.Teacher teaching style be not all talk but talk relate and let the kids not all talk but talk relate.I was interested to know about creative robotics learning of science, Maths, language can be done with simple robotics.Eagerly waiting for new learning in PJK.

PJK Vadgaon said...

Thank you ma'am for sharing such a wonderful experience with us.I learnt from this article that simple mantra to Teach Teacher to support on demand and In Germany- there is no word called disability but hindered and in Italy the word Ritardo means delayed. The ARASAAC program of pictograms to teach kids language is a useful tool for autistic children.

Unknown said...

I Kalpita Bhirud teacher of PJK plus VileParle always read ur wonderful n inspiring blogs. I really get to learn and know so many new things which definitely helps me to be a better teacher. Thank you ma'am

Anonymous said...

On behalf of PJK Plus Vile Parle team I thank you Swati ma'am for sharing your learning from NETQ6 Early Learning Network. We are proud you were invited as the keynote speaker where you had to speak regarding our developmentally appropriate iPad projects. You also mentioned about listening to children's voice through drawing and documentation of the same. It is one of the best practice we follow at Podar Jumbo Kids.

Unknown said...

Thank you, Ma'am for sharing your learning in detail. We are using many methods at Podar Jumbo Kids and we are looking forward to more innovations finding a place in Kiducation.

Unknown said...

It is a matter of great pride for all of us that Swati Madam was invited as keynote speaker at NETQ6 EARLY LEARNING NETWORK in Padua, Italy.
Madam ...once again we have visualized the whole conference through your vision. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Thank you mam for sharing your wonderful learnings from the conference with us. The mantra- Support on demand, not automatically is awesome. Looking forward for more learnings...

Unknown said...

Respected Mam,
It our pleasure to have learning from the international arena who have expressed there thoughts in a beautiful and with practical approach .Its really a wonderful learning from the perspective of teaching with art that is very well done at the Podar Jumbo Kids.
Thanks
HM Khandwa

Unknown said...

Thank you ma'am for sharing your wonderful experience of conference with us. In each and every article of yours we always learn and gain something new, which we try to implement in our life as well in our profession.

Unknown said...

The three words explore, experience and implement would definitely hold for all those who are involved in grooming the gennext, as it is rightly observed by the author that learning in children should be self motivated, intrinsic and self controlled and not a teacher directed one.
A wonderful tonic to tap on the immune of the teaching fraternity...

PJK,Nigdi said...

Thank you ma'am for sharing such wonderful experiences. we will follow the simple mantra"support on demand,not automatically".Italian workshop on robotics is very interesting.

Unknown said...

It was really a wonderful experience by reading madam's conference. The process of learning form outside to inside in a human being philosophy is superb. This article is an eye opener and i will definately share it with my teachers.

Unknown said...

It was really a wonderful experience by reading madam's conference. The process of learning form outside to inside in a human being philosophy is superb. This article is an eye opener and i will definately share it with my teachers.

Unknown said...

I Tanvi Mody teacher of PJK Plus VileParle thank you ma'am for sharing your experience with us.It really helps us to understand more about early childhood education.

Stefano said...

It has been a pleasure to host in our conference such a wonderful person and great innovative Pedagogic. We have appreciated Mrs. Swati speech and workshop. It has helped us to understand how fast your country is developing and improving all the pedagogical Aspects. It was even more surprising the matching of intents and pedagogical strategies elaborate by our professor Dr. Daniela Lucangeli and the Correspondence with those explained by Mrs Swati. I hope that the collaboration among our institutions could continue in any way for a mutual enrichment. My best regards Stefano Cobello
Coordinator of National network of schools European Pole of Knowldge - Verona ( Italy) www.europole.org

We will be happy to come to India to your conference and present our results and projects

Unknown said...

A simple mantra to teach teachers- Support on demand,not automatically will help them understand the needs of children and respect the point of view of children to become an active part of the learning process.I will definitely share this formula of how learning comes full circle with my teachers.

Unknown said...


Wonderful article which serves as an early educational Encyclopedia which gives knowledge about renowned educationist practices in different countries. Independent learning should be encouraged which will help outside inside learning

Ankita Suchak said...

Thank you ma`am for sharing your experience of conference in Padua Italy.I liked the philosophy of learning should be outside-inside,inside-inside & inside outside & how the learning comes full circle.
A simple mantra to teach teachers-Support on demand.
In Germany there is no word called disability.
We always gain learnings from your articles and your blogs are an inspiration for me.

Abhaya K- PJK Bangalore-1 said...

It is very aptly said that the learning should be through curiosity not by fear.As educators, we should stimulate curiosity in our students by by making them learning through Outside, inside -
inside, inside-inside,outside concept.

Anonymous said...

Thank you swati maam for always being so generous in sharing and enriching all of us with the light of knowledge.
we are proud that you are our mentor and guide.

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us.My learning about the article are simple mantra to teach teacher to support on demand. This would be an eye opener for all of us to learn about the teaching style is not a talk relate & and let the kids not all talk but talk relate it,we need to allow them to explore more from their point of view.

Unknown said...

I liked the philosophy of learning which include outside - inside and inside - outside.About how selective attention and a teacher's attention knowledge.I am proud of type of attention already implemented in our curriculum to create better learning environment.This article also help to know more knowledge about early childhood education.

Unknown said...

Thank you ma'am for sharing your experience. I would like to bring in practice the simple mantra of supporting on demand and not automatically. I was also amazed on how learning of math, science, language & concepts can be done with robotics with young children.

Jumbo Kids, Chakan said...

I liked the Italian workshop on creative robotics.Learning math,science,language and concepts with simple robotics.All the experiences shared in the article are learning for us.

Unknown said...

My learning about this article are simple mantra to Teach Teacher to support on demand. I was interested to know about creative robotics learning of science, Maths, language can be done with simple robotics.

Unknown said...

I really feel proud to be part of this Kiducation where we get chance to learn from the experiences you share with us which helps to be a good teacher and a good human being. I will surely implement and share with my teachers. Thank you so much Ma'am, for sharing your experiences with us.

Unknown said...

Thank you Ma'am for sharing such a wonderful experience of conference with us. In every article you teach something new which we can inculcate in our lives.Looking forward for more learning.

Anonymous said...

Proud to be part of your team ma'am. Being an expert still a learner open for new thoughts world wide. Many things very close to what we follow, few debatable like robotics or Montessori. There is thin line which if understood and used properly Early age learning will be fun with fundamentals.

Unknown said...

I Ms. Ramola Menezes teacher at PJk plus Vile parle. Thank you ma'am for sharing this wonderful blog with us. Every blog that u share with us is really inspiring. we get to lean new things which will help us to know children more and be better teachers.