JOIN US for a WEBCAST WITH LEADERS in the FIELD!

> Janette Pelletier, Ph.D., Director, Institute of Child Study, OISE, University of Toronto
> Elizabeth Morley, Principal, Institute of Child Study Laboratory School, OISE, University of Toronto
> Dianne Riehl, Education Officer, Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch, Ontario Ministry of Education

One of the key issues for planners of integrated early childhood and school programs is the role of play-based learning. Early childhood experts are often concerned that the curriculum, pedagogical and assessment policies and practices of the formal education system support teacher-directed learning rather than child-directed learning.

This webcast features experts in learning who will explore the role of play in learning from pre-schoolers to adults.

> What kind of play promotes learning and development in children, youth and adults?
> What are the similarities and differences between playful learning, inquiry and experiential education?
> What is ‘agency' in learning? How do we promote the learner's agency in early learning and school settings?
> Are the outcomes of learning through play different than the outcomes of learning through teacher-directed instruction?

AN OPPORTUNITY to POSE QUESTIONS of the SPEAKERS!
Following the presentations there will be an opportunity to pose questions of the presenters. Participants will have the option of emailing in questions ahead of time or posing them live, during the Question & Answer period.

To register: REGISTRATION IS NOW FULL.

Questions? For information contact Allison Black at: .

Download webcast flyer>

It has been ten years since the Early Development Instrument (EDI) was developed as a tool to measure children's developmental health at school entry. Since that time, the Canadian EDI database has reached over half a million kindergarten children and has been used or modified for use in over a dozen countries around the world.

This unique conference offered the opportunity to plan international collaborative research in a number of crucial areas, including: outcomes for immigrant and indigenous children; measurement equivalence in developing and developed countries; construction of Canadian comprehensive longitudinal trajectories linking with regional databases in health and education.

This 1 ½ day event included presentations by a leading group of investigators and policy-makers from around the world to discuss the state of early child development monitoring and health promotion.

Special Keynote address by Sir Michael Marmot, Former Chair of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, and Director of the International Institute for Society and Health, and Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College, London.

Location
Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton, Ontario

For complete conference details, go to http://www.offordcentre.com/conference/edi_home.html.

School involvement in early child development (ECD) is a reality both in Canada and abroad. In Canada, to-date, the sectors of education and early learning & care have had few opportunities to come together and consider how to align their systems to create joint accountability and ensure high quality, developmentally appropriate, child-centred learning and care for young children.

The Canadian Network for Leadership in Education and Early Learning & Care seeks to provide a forum for discussion on issues of mutual interest to both sectors. 

PRESENTERS:

 - Clyde Hertzman, President, Council for Early Child Development
 - Penny Milton, CEO, Canadian Education Association
 - Jim Grieve, Past President, Canadian Association of School Administrators
 - Don Giesbrecht, President, Canadian Child Care Federation

The discussion was moderated by Joan Green, distinguished educational advisor and senior consultant, founding CEO of the Ontario EQAO, founding Chair of the Board of Roots of Empathy, and a former Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board.

Following the presentations there was an opportunity to pose questions of the presenters.

To see a recording of the webcast, visit the new website of the Canadian Network for Leadership in Education and Early Learning Care.

Bridgewater Presentation
Friday, April 16th from 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Location: 130 North Park Street, Bridgewater

Halifax Workshop
Saturday, April 17 from 9:00 am -12 pm
Location: NSTU Building, 3106 Joseph Howe Drive, Halifax. *Please RSVP: [email protected]

Lunenburg County Presentation
Monday, April 19 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: Oak Island Inn, 36 Treasure Drive, Western Shore

Kentville Presentation
Tuesday, April 20 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: Nova Scotia Community College, Kingstec Campus, 236 Belcher St., Kentville

Truro Presentation
Wednesday, April 21 from 2:30 - 4:30 pm
Location: Holiday Inn, 437 Prince Street, Truro. Please RSVP to 893-3342.

Download workshop series flyer>

Canada needs the best minds and most productive talents to address numerous challenges, including an aging population and climate change. Yet 25% of kindergarten-aged children across Canada do not meet all of the developmental benchmarks they need to thrive now and into the future.

Why is this important? For one thing, because young children who are not school ready are less likely to be job ready. Traditionally, public policy has prioritized investments in post-secondary education and job skills training to promote a skilled workforce. However, recent ground-breaking research conducted by the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), based at UBC, confirms an international consensus: the most cost-effective human capital interventions occur among young children. HELP's research shows that eliminating early vulnerability-the real brain drain-is 7 times more valuable to the economy than eliminating the Government of Canada's current debt.

During the webcast, the presenters discussed: 15 by 15's applicability across the country; the implications of the fact that most vulnerable children are not poor; why early child development is a vital issue for business; and the family policy changes needed to capitalize on the economic potential that comes with reducing early vulnerability.

Visit our Presentations page to access a webcast recording and presentation slides.