In this post we present a spotlight on our special visiting scholar Dr. Elaine Franca from Brazil welcome our latest PhD student Monique Parkes.
The Conceptual PlayLab brings visitors from all of the world and Australia
This year, we are fortunate to have with us Dr. Elaine Soares França, a visiting scholar from Brazil.
Elaine holds a Bachelor of Science Education degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, and a Masters and a Ph.D. in Education from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). She is also a Science teacher in a Laboratory School at UFMG. She has extensive teaching experience as a primary and secondary years educator. She has also been a tutor to several Professional Development Programs for primary and secondary years educators (in Portuguese only).
In her masters degree study entitled “Differences in the science classroom: knowing the elementary school teachers’ practices” (abstract in English), she characterized practices of science teachers. In this study the focus was on aspects related to the goal of promoting science for all, including urban students with learning difficulties.
In her doctorate degree study entitled “Building relationships between science and imagination throughout a classroom’s first three years in elementary school” (abstract in English), she investigated how relations between science and imagination are built in a classroom at Primary School.
The theoretical methodological approach in both studies were based on elements from ethnography of education. These elements are informed by Interactional Ethnography, and Discourse Analysis, specifically, Microethnography.
She used the notion of creative activity proposed by Vygotsky to develop broader and deeper understanding of how imagination occurs in science classes. By approaching science in the primary years with Childhood’s Sociology perspective and Cultural-historical psychology, she was able to evidence how children’s knowledge is important, makes sense, can help the group to engage in scientific activities, and support the construction of school science knowledge (abstract in English).
Her current postdoctoral research study's main objective is to investigate the analytical frameworks of the Conceptual PlayLab research group of Monash University, relating the approach that the Australian group has been developing data that emerged from a study conducted in a Brazilian school. The plan is also to establish a partnership with researchers from Conceptual PlayLab, whose work has greatly contributed to the academic discussions on the theme in focus.
Since arriving in Melbourne in January, she has been able to visit Scienceworks, State Library Victoria, Sea Life Melbourne, and Melbourne Museum. Elaine found these amazing places are rich resources to learn science and improve imagination to better understand the world. She is hoping to be able to see more of Victoria when restrictions are further eased.
Elaine has fully immersed herself in the PlayLab, contributed to our in PhD Days, and she presented her doctoral thesis to us. Her participation in the weekly Study Group meetings and the different discussions and readings promoted by the PlayLab throughout this year has been great for the PhD community. Before March, she also helped with data collection at a Playgroup.
Elaine said that it has been very enriching for her to learn about Australian education and she hopes to be able to remain connected with the discussions and work developed by PlayLab next year, after she leaves for Brazil in January 2021. We will certainly miss her and definitely hope to stay in touch!
Our team is still growing
We are thrilled to welcome our new PhD student Monique Parkes to the Conceptual PlayLab team. Monique has worked in several roles as an early childhood educator and teacher in Melbourne and Bangkok. Amongst the many things she is involved in, she is passionate about lifting the bar for Early Childhood Education, play, early intervention, nature, sustainability, and social issues concerning women. She is particularly interested in contemporary matters and progressivism. We’re looking forward to seeing the results of her research on STEM learning and development in early childhood educational settings.
See our newsletter for further details about our app launch and other activities.
We would love to hear from you about what this research means to you and if you would like to get involved.
If you are an early childhood educator who would like to have an opportunity to participate in the Conceptual PlayLab research activities in the future, you can register your interest and join our private Facebook group - Conceptual PlayWorlds for Educators. You can also access free resources for educators, including our STEM PlayWorlds for Infants and Toddlers video.
If you are a parent who would like to have an opportunity to participate in the Conceptual PlayLab research activities in the future, you can register your interest. You can also access free resources for families.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Other resources
Sign up to receive our newsletters
