another school year

It's my second school year outside the classroom, so I guess I have to content myself with occasional learning/play sessions with Maica.

On June 3, I had solo run for KidSmart Early Learning Program. And for this one I really mean solo, unlike the usual learning sessions and consultation visits I had before where I run the training with a back up co-facilitator or at least a driver waiting outside; I went to and fro the training venue by myself with all the training materials and gadgets.

It was a different kind of training, the modules were modified to fit the role of the Pediatric ward nurses as "play nurses". Instead of teaching strategies and classroom management we had our discussions focused more on the importance of creative play and guided play, and on the pedagogy of using computer tools to facilitate learning. And I believe the enjoyed it, they gladly shared their usual practices as well as other Playroom session experiences and I suggested to them additional activities and recommended new approaches to make “Playroom Time” a learning experience. I also gave them supplemental activities such as worksheets and shared with them how to source these kinds or worksheets/activities to make the patients’ playroom experience more exciting and to further enhance learning.

And then I introduced to them the Young Explorer computer and the software in it; their eyes lit up like the little kids who got their Christmas wishes (just like how it goes with teacher participants). Everyone's back to childhood. Everyone's eager to see more and to play more. We spent the rest of the day exploring and playing with the software and ended it with high anticipation of the coming days using the computer with the kids.