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Presenters: David Gilkes and Fran Parker
Date: Friday 22 June, 2018
Time: 9:00am - 3:30pm (registration from 8:30am)
Venue: Sustainability Learning Centre - TAS
Category: Seminar
FULL DAY WORKSHOP: Unfolding dialogues on ‘togetherness’
Following on from the successful 2017 research pilot The Together Project, the REAIE Tasmanian Research Network is pleased to be hosting an information and professional learning session to share the journey of this collaborative research project to date, the key concepts and threads it identified and to unpack what it means to view ourselves as ‘teachers as researchers’.
Participant feedback from Unfolding dialogues on ‘togetherness’ in Burnie (May 2018):
“We all left feeling very inspired and are looking forward to working ‘together’ state-wide and sharing our thoughts, ideas, children’s perspectives and projects as we explore the concept of ‘transformation’.”
“I didn’t want the day to end!”
Information and Background
The Together Project 2017
In 2017, a small group of members of the REAIE Tasmanian REsearch Network came together to be involved in a collaborative project with children and families in the greater Hobart area. This initiative was generated in response to an opportunity offered by the Hobart City Council to exhibit some images of children’s learning on a set of billboards in Hobart’s CBD later in the year.
With great excitement educators from a variety of settings and contexts around Hobart met to discuss the possibilities. The word ‘together’ was offered as a provocation for discussion and quickly blossomed into many potential avenues for investigation with children and families. Regular meetings were held and online discussions established to facilitate the shared investigations and inquiries.
After 7 months of collaboration, in October 2017, aspects of this research were celebrated via three billboards on display in Mathers Lane, culminating with a day of celebration for the children of Hobart. The project (and displayed works) made visible to the community the capabilities, creativity and collaboration of children and educators together.
Educators involved in the project commented on the rewarding and collegial nature of participation and the ongoing possibilities afforded by the project. It was decided to continue to offer this opportunity for collaboration and research but open it up to a wider group of educators.
David Gilkes currently works as an Early Years Network Leader and has been an early childhood educator for close to 25 years, working mainly alongside 4 – 5 year old children and their families. He is convener of the REAIE Tasmanian REsearch Network and has been fortunate enough to visit this northern Italian city on 5 occasions. David has published numerous articles, been the recipient of a National Excellence in Teaching Award and presented at several conferences.Fran Parker is a learner, educator, mother, grandmother and artist. Her teaching and learning experience spans 40 years. Kindergarten teaching has been the love of her life, balanced with educational leadership roles. In recent years, Fran has focused on developing Bush Kinder and Nature Play programs for young children and their families in her local community. The principles of the Reggio Emilia Educational Project have guided and supported the exploration, collaboration, research and documentation of every project she has undertaken with young children and their families.
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The Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) is a not-for-profit, member based organisation and an invited representative of the Reggio Children International Network (Italy). REAIE engages in collaboration, research and dialogue through the exchange of information between Australia and the educators in the city of Reggio Emilia.
REAIE does NOT own or operate any education services or agencies for children.
The Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) is a not-for-profit, member based organisation and an invited representative of the Reggio Children International Network (Italy). REAIE engages in collaboration, research and dialogue through the exchange of information between Australia and the educators in the city of Reggio Emilia.
REAIE does not own or operate any education services or agencies for children.
REAIE acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation and their continuing connection to country and culture. Our meetings and events take place on ancestral lands and nearby waterways. We pay our respects to the Elders and educators of each nation, past, present and emerging.
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