Masterclasses
Masterclass 1: Effective Management, brought to you by the ECA Management Fundamentals Program
Managing an early childhood service regularly presents challenges, particularly for those trained as educators with a primary focus on the experiences and outcomes for young children. Early childhood settings are intricate environments where people with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints come together. One of the toughest aspects of managing such a setting is fostering a cohesive and cooperative team of professionals.
This interactive masterclass draws on reliable sources to explore management within education and care settings. It examines management’s role and function, emphasising its relationship with leadership in shaping a learning organisation where its goals are reflected in daily practices. The masterclass also delves into the principles and practices of effective management, aligning them with the National Quality Framework (NQF). It establishes the groundwork for systems that support unified, productive and forward-thinking teams capable of realising the organisation’s vision.
Date: Tuesday 17 September 2024
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Venue: In-person at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC)
Presenter: Shae Haylen
Cost: $194.50
About the presenter
Shae Haylen
Shae Haylen is the General Manager of Professional Learning at Early Childhood Australia (ECA), overseeing the ECA Learning Hub, Publications and professional learning resource development. A seasoned professional in education and care management, she is dedicated to fostering learning environments that inspire growth and development. Throughout her career, Shae has focused on strategic leadership and operational excellence. Her expertise lies in curriculum development, professional learning, and creating inclusive spaces that foster both professional achievement and emotional wellbeing for teams. Shae is dedicated to shaping the future of education through innovative practices and a deep commitment to the holistic development of every learner.
Who can register?
The masterclass is open to all.
| Time | Activity |
| 8.30 am | Registration |
| 9.00 am – 10.30 am | Opening session Understanding management in the education and care context |
| 10.30 am – 11.00 am | Morning tea |
| 11.00 am – 12.00 pm | Session 2 Principles and practices in effective management |
| 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm | Lunch |
| 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm | Session 3 Building and supporting productive teams |
| 2.30 pm – 3.00 pm | Afternoon tea |
| 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm | Closing session Panel discussion: Managing to achieve outcomes for children and the setting/organisation—whose job is it? |
Masterclass 2: Block Play: More Than You Think, in partnership with QUT
Blocks are a powerful learning resource as well as being inclusive and inexpensive, making them accessible to all. They cater to different ages, abilities and interests. As a form of loose parts, there is no right or wrong way of playing with blocks. Block play fosters physical, language and cognitive development, as well as creativity and imagination. Children learn important social skills when playing with blocks in group settings such as sharing, conflict resolution, cooperation and group problem-solving. Block play also promotes executive functioning skills including self-regulation, flexible thinking and planning.
While most services have blocks, often only a small number of children play with them regularly. As a result, many children miss out on the joys and benefits of playing with blocks. This class will demonstrate ways to create provocations and environments that encourage block play for all children. The stages of block play will be discussed in addition to books, artwork, ‘make me’ cards and projects that can enhance block play.
This masterclass is for any early childhood professional who wants to learn more about the benefits of block play and how to promote it by expanding their toolkit. Participants will engage in various block experiences they can implement in their own practice.
The masterclass includes a short tour of the Children’s Technology Centre at the Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.
Date: Tuesday 17 September 2024
Time: 9.00 am – 12.30 pm
Venue: In-person at QUT Kelvin Grove
Presenter: Associate Professor Kym Simoncini, Dr Jo Grimmond and Associate Professor Chris Chalmers
Cost: $90.00
About the presenters
Associate Professor Kym Simoncini
Kym Simoncini is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood and Primary Education at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She has worked with schools and universities for more than 20 years. Her research focuses on play, family learning and teacher professional development. Kym was part of the Early Learning STEM Australia (ELSA) Pilot project team and has developed several resources, including the Early Childhood STEM Habits of Mind. Kym is currently leading a large upgrading program for elementary teachers in Papua New Guinea. Blocks are a passion area of Kym’s on which she researches and delivers professional development.
Dr Jo Grimmond
Jo Grimmond is a sessional academic at Charles Sturt University (CSU) whose career in early childhood education spans over 30 years as a teacher, director, lecturer and researcher. Her PhD research focuses on the development of a block-based mathematics assessment tool for early childhood educators to use in play-based environments to inform their pedagogy and practice. Jo has also been involved in large research projects, including the FEEL study, Case Studies for Effective Practice and the PRSIST validation study. With a great passion for block play as an underestimated area for rich mathematical learning, Jo has led professional learning programs on this topic both nationally and internationally.
Associate Professor Chris Chalmers
Chris Chalmers is an Associate Professor in Mathematics and Technologies Education in the School of Teacher Education & Leadership at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Chris publishes in top international journals on pre-service education, computational thinking, and STEM-based robotics learning and teaching. Chris also coordinates the Children’s Technology Centre (CTC) at QUT, for The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. The CTC is a dedicated research and professional learning space for understanding young children’s use of a range of different technologies, and to support parents and educators in gaining knowledge of positive digital practices for children.
Who can register?
The masterclass is open to all.
| Time | Activity | |
| 8.30 am – 9.00 am | Registration at QUT Kelvin Grove | |
| 9.00 am – 10.30 am | Session 1 | |
| 10.30 am – 11.00 am | Morning tea | |
| 11.00 am – 11.30 am | Session 2 | Tour of the Centre of the Digital Child |
| 11.30 am – 12.00 pm | Tour of the Centre of the Digital Child (repeat) | Session 2 (repeat) |
| 12.00 pm – 12.30 pm | Closing session | |
Virtual masterclass on making visible critical moments of ‘professional love’ with Dr Jools Page
Take your understanding of ‘professional love’ to the next level with Dr Page’s exclusive online virtual masterclass available for the first time at the 2024 ECA National Conference.
Following on from her in-person international keynote address at last year’s conference, where Jools introduced delegates to the origins and characteristics of ‘professional love’, this online masterclass will introduce you to a range of materials Jools has developed including the ‘triangle of professional love’ [ToPL] reflective practice pro-forma and critical moment reflection tool. The masterclass includes a short eight-minute film that shows how one early years setting in the UK embraced the characteristics of ‘professional love’ by participating in a movement and dance-led project, helping them to strengthen their commitment to the process of decentering as an essential step within the principles of the ToPL (Page, 2018). The film highlights how the embodied form of dance makes visible the minutiae of ‘critical professional love moments’ as described by Dr Page.
Date: Tuesday 17 September 2024
Time: 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm AEST
Venue: Virtual (Zoom meeting)
Presenter: Dr Jools Page
Cost: $42.00
About the presenter
Dr Jools Page
Dr Jools Page’s research on attachment-based relationships between adults and children under three years in early learning settings has brought her national and international recognition. Throughout her career, Jools has worked closely with young children and their families, and she is committed to research and practice that places the rights of infants, toddlers and young children at the centre. It is this view of children that inspired her academic research into the complex notion of attachment, intimacy, care and love in the earliest years of life. Most notably, it is her characterisation of ‘professional love’ that has captured the interest of contemporary scholars and practitioners alike, and which led to her being awarded the 2021 Louise Emanuel Award by the Association for Infant Mental Health UK. The award recognises those ‘who have demonstrated a significant contribution to Infant Mental Health in terms of practice or through their work in research and policy’.
Who can register?
The masterclass is open to all.