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消息及活動

International Online Seminar: Play and Technology

2021-09-08

Technology not only facilitates young children’s learning and development, but also leads them to spend more time on technology devices. It alters the form of children’s play from outdoor to digital. Concerning the appropriateness of technology utilities especially in children’s play, the Department of Early Childhood Education (ECE) organised an International Online Seminar on  August 21, 2021 to discuss the trend of technology involvement on children’s learning and development through play. The seminar served as a component of the Research Impact Clusters named “Extending the Margin of Play”.              

The seminar attracted almost 90 local and overseas participants. Followed by an opening speech from Prof Kerry Lee, Head of the Department, four local and international experts were invited to share their views on the theme “Play and Technology”. Dr. Bo Stjerne Thomsen, Chair of Learning Through Play and Vice-President at the LEGO Foundation, Denmark, made recommendations to policy makers, teachers, parents and media industry. He suggested ways to develop quality standards on technology using in play, to broaden a range of play possibilities with technology, to encourage children to make good use of technology in contents creation, and to involve children in the design of digital play. Mr. Ross Parker, Technology Director of International College Hong Kong, urged that digital technology was interwoven with somatic, cognitive, material, social, and spiritual elements. As we could not resist the technology applied in ECE setting, Mr. Parker pointed out that some actions could be taken to minimize the harm caused by these interactions with digital devices, such as involving adults when using them and reduce the time on-screen. Ms. Wu Nien-Chi, founder of Everyday We Play 365, elaborated on the recent development of STEAM education in Taiwan from parent perspectives. Based on the gathered information on the STEAM learning community in Taiwan, Ms Wu pinpointed that the STEAM learning through play ideas at home covered the disciplines of sciences, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics from 1 to 7 years old. Principal Tess Baguio as the Head Principal of Small World Christian Kindergarten in Hong Kong shared her experience on enabling children’s play through Zoom. Based on her kindergarten’s experience, collaboration between school and parents enabled this form of play, as the teachers would send home learning materials online to parents, then make follow-up calls and provide supports as needed. The diversity of hands-on activities extended children’s learning holistically from classroom to outdoor.        

Despite the increasing prevalence of technology usage in children’s play, the seminar had a thorough sharing on how the field tackled the issue generated, and enhanced children’s play experiences.