Involvement, interaction and co-construction of meaning
In conversation with Professor Ferre Laevers and Scottish practitioners
The fifth in a series of national 'Saturday Seminars' for early years practitioners was held at the Trades House in Glassford Street, Glasgow, on 1 December 2007.
Delegates had the opportunity to engage with Professor Ferre Laevers of the Centre for Experiential Education, University of Leuven, who is widely known for his work on children’s emotional wellbeing and involvement. He has recently been working with practitioners in Scotland. This seminar aimed to explore involvement, interaction and co-construction of meaning, looking, in particular, at Scottish approaches.
You can download the keynote presentations here. We hope to make the presentations available on video soon.
Thoughts on Approaching Excellence - Lisa McDill
Lisa McDill, Quality Improvement Officer, East Renfrewshire Council, set the scene by exploring what is meant by wellbeing and involvement and their central importance in early education.
PowerPoint file: Thoughts on Approaching Excellence (123 KB)
PDF file: Thoughts on Approaching Excellence (60 KB)
Using Big Book Planning to Promote Involvement - Rosamund Roberts
Rosamund Roberts, Teacher, Glen Family Centre, East Renfrewshire, spoke about the development of a Big Book Planning Approach to learning in her establishment. She described the rationale for the choice of this approach, the process, staff roles and feedback, and children’s comments about working in this way.
PowerPoint file: Using Big Book Planning to Promote Involvement (420 KB)PDF file: Using Big Book Planning to Promote Involvement (318 KB)
Transforming Relationships - Mary Berrill
Mary Berrill, Inclusion Officer, West Dunbartonshire Council, prepared a presentation about 'Transforming Relationships’, a local programme being developed by the Council in conjunction with Dr Elizabeth Morris, Principal of the School of Emotional Literacy.
The programme aims to increase the capacity of staff to be empathic and optimistic in order to support the development of emotional intelligence in children and young people. (As Mary Berrill was unable to attend, the presentation was given by Carol Wood.)
PowerPoint file: Transforming Relationships (2.5 MB)
PDF file: Transforming Relationships (661 KB)Further information about the Transforming Relationships programme is available on the West Dunbartonshire Council website.
Improving Quality in Early Childhood and Primary Education - Ferre Laevers
Professor Dr Ferre Laevers, University of Leuven, Belgium, spoke about improving quality in education and the vital role of wellbeing and involvement in developing a powerful learning environment. He explained the process-oriented child monitoring system he has developed.
PowerPoint file: Improving Quality in Early Childhood and Primary Education (354 KB)PDF file: Improving Quality in Early Childhood and Primary Education (309 KB)
Further information is available in Ferre Laevers' 2005 paper, ‘Deep-level-learning and the Experiential Approach in Early Childhood and Primary Education’.
Word file: Deep-level-learning and the Experiential Approach in Early Childhood and Primary Education (98 KB)