With the government pursuing a policy of integrating more outdoor learning to enrich curriculum experience for young children, KLCII had the opportunity to share its expertise in the area at this year’s ECDA Early Childhood Conference and Exhibition on 13 and 14 September 2019.
In his opening speech, the Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Desmond Lee had extolled how by enhancing outdoor learning experiences in collaboration with the sector could help improve the health, learning and developmental outcomes of children.
KLCII lecturers presented two workshops at the concurrent learning sessions for early childhood teachers and educarers at the event held at Suntec Singapore Convention Exhibition Centre.
On 13 September, Mdm Madhavi Tiwari alias Debbie conducted the workshop on “Integrating Technology for Motor Skills Development”. She shared how technology could be used to plan, implement, guide, observe and record the motor skills development of children as they engage in both indoor and outdoor settings.
Ms. Madhavi, who has a Master’s degree in Education with years of myriad experience as an educator, was supported in her presentation by Ms Christina Pardiwalla, Cluster Head at Skool4kidz and Ms Nurul Basyi’rah Binte Rapi’ee, an Early Childhood Educator.
Chinese teachers benefitted as well. KLCII’s Vice Principal Dr Chen Shi spoke on the importance of “Engaging Children in Outdoor Learning Environments”. Delivered in Mandarin, the workshop was designed to help participants discover the possibilities of utilising outdoor spaces effectively to carry out integrated learning activities for children. Dr Chen Shi was supported in her presentation by Ms Yu Qinqin, an experienced KLCII lecturer.