Welcome to
Early Learning in Education
Embrace the power of play!
I am often asked what are the big ticket items that will allow teachers and teams to develop and sustain a workable model of learning in the Early Years. I would certainly rate the following elements as strong contenders for developing a learning community that views our younger learners as competent, capable and connected.
- Documentation – When children reflect and document their own learning, they demonstrate the extent to which they are able to apply and expand their knowledge, skills and attitudes.
- Collaboration – The importance of developing the learning community that has a shared responsibility for all children, with regular opportunities to talk about children and shape the curriculum
- A shared responsibility for learning spaces – These are the places for children and adults to shape, organise and extend with the intention to amplify research, learning and relationships.
Learning spaces need to invite students to engage and connect with their environment, like they belong there, almost like the environment is a second home for them. They need to feel respected, free to express themselves, and safe to take risks and make mistakes. But students aren’t the only members of a learning community; teachers need to feel a sense of belonging for the place they work, because school is as relevant and essential to their lives as to those of their students.
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duane.smith2018-04-27 03:26:462018-04-27 03:26:46Collaboration through documentation
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duane.smith2018-04-27 03:24:522018-04-27 03:24:52Understanding the Learner
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duane.smith2013-12-24 18:48:062013-12-24 18:48:06Learning through Play and Inquiry
Duane Smith is an international presenter, researcher and consultant in early years education, currently team leader and passionate teacher at Istanbul International Community School.
Duane has worked as an Early Years teacher, Deputy Principal, Principal, Curriculum writer and Education consultant in both curriculum implementation and Early Years. Duane has worked with teachers, teaching assistants and administrators to implement play and inquiry based models of teaching and learning. Duane led a team of dynamic coaches to implement literacy and numeracy reforms through a National Partnership agreement in Queensland, Australia.
Testimonials…
Duane helped us develop our action plan, working with our needs and limitations. He gave excellent advice and was able to explain large concepts in simple steps. Duane visited our campus two times in the 2016-2017 school year. Each visit included observations, small group meetings and formal conference style workshop sessions. Teachers found his suggestions extremely useful, differentiated and individualized. It is without hesitation I recommend Duane Smith to be a consultant for you as you embark on this exciting journey.
I now understand how pedagogy supports learning and how learning is supported by a team connected to a common understanding of how children learn – with a focus that acts as a lens for collaborative conversation and planning for the next steps in learning.
Connected learning to engage, empower and personalise
Building collaboration
Duane has both experience and capacity to value-add to school improvement agenda’s, offering face-to-face consultancy and workshops to:
- develop play and inquiry programs in the Early Years
- explore design principles to create and design dynamic and engaging learning spaces
- create outdoor learning spaces to stimulate active inquiry and play
- authenticate documentation as a tool for transformation of learning and planning
- enhance learning environments by developing awareness of appropriate pedagogies to promote literacy, numeracy and symbolic learning
Duane has experience as a workshop leader, conference presenter, team leader and network co-ordinator. He builds cohesion and collaboration to assist schools in identifying their strategic direction.
Instructional coaching and establishing professional learning communities are also a part of his model for success in the Early Years. Duane works with teachers, assistants, team leaders and administrators to identify realistic and actionable targets that will support schools to provide the best possible program to develop engaging and innovative systems to enhance student agency and inspiring learning environment for teaching and learning.
Methodology
Consultancy model 
Workshop Experience
I often regard myself as a curator of knowledge for teachers, teams and schools, to empower them in their quest to become the best that can possibly be.
I recently came across the work of John Spencer, where he shares his thoughts about PBL, asking ‘What do students learn when they engage in collaborative projects?’
I would like to invite you to view my Google Communities, curating your own knowledge based on your needs or interests…
