How creativity plays role in early childhood education
Monday, 21 May 2018
The Hunter’s early childhood community will have the opportunity to hear from two visiting Italian researchers on the role of creativity in early childhood education when they present at a public symposium at the University of Newcastle this week.
Resulting from a newly formed research network between academics from Italy’s University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) and the University of Newcastle, including Dr Nicole Leggett, Dr Margot Ford and Dr Jo Ailwood, the symposium will include two presentations:
- ‘Thinking, promoting and making creativity visible’ by Unimore’s Dr Antonio Gariboldi and Dr Antonella Pugnaghi
- ‘Be inspired, imagine, then go and intentionally teach it’ by University of Newcastle Dr Nicole Leggett.
Creativity is central to the Reggio Emilia approach for early childhood education in Italy, suggesting that creativity should not be considered a separate mental faculty but a characteristic of our way of thinking.
The Reggio Emilia Approach to early childhood education is recognised internationally for its outstanding educational practice and global leadership.
The symposium will provide opportunities for academics and educators from local early childhood services to listen to a panel of experts on creativity in early childhood, followed by a question and answer session.
Associate Professor Gariboldi and Dr Pugnaghi will also share their work with the University’s academic staff and pre-service teachers.
The public symposium will be held 4.30pm-6.30pm on Friday 25 May at the Griffith Duncan Theatre, Callaghan campus, University of Newcastle.