Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education

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新聞稿                                                                    2019年1月23日

耀中幼教學院舉辦《遊戲中學習——開啟優質幼兒教育的鑰匙》公眾研討會完滿舉行

Online version: http://www.public.seedland.hk/press/YCCECE/1901-post/
Press release and Photos: Click Here (OneDrive) or Download (Zip)

高級學府耀中為本地首個引進「遊戲中學習」教學模式的教育先驅,為公認的幼兒教育專家,旗下的耀中幼教學院更為富熱誠、敢創新的幼教工作者提供高等教育,從根本優化幼兒教育。為進一步推廣兒童為本及遊戲中學習的教學模式,耀中幼教學院取址耀中國際學校舉行的《遊戲中學習——開啟優質幼兒教育的鑰匙》公眾研討會於1月22日完滿舉行。是次公眾研討會有幸邀得Kathy Sylva教授、裵素緣教授以及Nicky Weir女士三位資深幼兒教育學者於研討會上發言,剖析遊戲中學習的真正意義,以及父母與社區的參與對幼兒發展的深遠影響。

是日,超過600名幼兒教育者、特殊教育專家、社工、家長與傳媒好友雲集研討會場地,細心聆聽三位幼教專家的寶貴經驗與專業意見。研討會由耀中幼教學院校長沈雪明教授致辭揭開序幕。主講者牛津大學教育心理學教授兼耀中幼教學院校董會成員Kathy Sylva教授率先發言,並以《通過有質量的遊戲支持兒童發展》為題,分享歐洲一項大型研究《有效的幼兒教育與中小學教育》的結果。研究追蹤調查3,000名兒童從3至16歲的生活,結果不僅反映優質幼兒教育對兒童發展的長遠影響,更展示了家庭學習環境帶來的重大正面影響:家長花時間與孩子相處(如閱讀、到訪博物館或圖書館),從而培養孩子對學習的興趣,遠比父母的社經地位重要。Sylva教授亦分享了另一項有關電話應用程式EasyPeasy的研究結果,研究透過程式為父母提供簡單而有趣的遊戲概念建議,父母從而學會以遊戲啟發孩子,簡單如「用手搭塔」遊戲中的指令,讓家長與孩子享受遊戲的樂趣之餘,亦可於學前期間加強孩子的數學、語言與空間等認知能力,以及學習21世紀技能(包括自我約束、解決問題的能力、批判性思考及創意等)。

耀中幼教學院學務長兼太平洋幼兒教育研究協會(國際)主席裵素緣教授緊接發言,指出教育界必須暸解不同層面的環境因素如何影響孩子的成長與發展,而最直接影響孩子的,莫過於父母與照顧者。裵素緣指出透過了解社區以及不同家庭的需要、與他們建立良好的關係,以及教導他們遊戲於孩子生活中的重要性,與將有效地協助孩子們茁壯成長。

耀中幼教發展中心總監Nicky Weir女士隨後發言,講解中心積極提倡優質幼兒教育與促進本地兒童福址的願景與宗旨。中心冀望透過中心的重點項目——將於今年六月正式開幕、全港首個社區兒童探索空間耀學園Discovery Space,以及相應的社區、家長與照顧者訓練項目與專業發展課程,加強他們對優質幼兒教育的認識,並減少他們在幼兒教育上的疑惑與憂慮,從而協助兒童健康地成長。透過與孩子在這個饒富挑戰性及啟發性的探索空間創造珍貴的回憶,父母與照顧者可從孩子的角度重新認識與探索世界,建立充滿信任的良好關係,讓孩子能有全面而均衡的發展。

分享完畢後,司儀邀請三位講者一同到台上參與問答環節,其間台下嘉賓踴躍發問,引發一場發人深省的討論。「如何確保孩子做妥學前準備的同時,仍能有一個快樂的童年?」及「耀學園Discovery Space是否對公眾開放?」為不少嘉賓感興趣的提問,而講者們則提倡遊戲先於學前準備:透過遊戲讓孩子對學習產生興趣與學習生活技能,以及與照顧者建立良好的關係,讓孩子能誠實地向信任的照顧者反映問題,將有助孩子日後迎接學習上的挑戰。而Weir亦與觀眾分享了耀中幼教發展中心及耀學園Discovery Space將對所有家庭、幼稚園、托兒中心及特殊幼兒中心開放的喜訊。

 

有關耀中幼教學院 YCCECE
耀中幼教學院(YCCECE)成立於2018年6月,前身為耀中社區書院,由非牟利團體耀中教育機構於2008年成立。社區書院的成功升格,不僅鼓舞了原有盡心盡力培育幼師的教職員,更印證着耀中超過86年來致力推廣優質幼兒教育的豐碩成果。耀中幼教學院旨在培養充滿熱情和勇於創新的幼兒教育者,並盼他們不斷改進、尋求突破,引領業界跨越新領域,務求成為香港,以至亞太地區的幼兒教育樞紐。耀中幼教學院由本地及國際幼教專家掌舵,並配備多元文化及聞名國際的教學團隊。耀中幼教學院提供多元文化及全英語學習環境,以配合來自不同社經文化背景的本地和海外學生的教育需求,培育具備國際視野的幼兒教育專才。耀中幼教學院開辦幼兒教育(榮譽)學士學位、幼兒教育高級文憑課程以及幼兒學文憑課程。耀中幼教學院更竭誠為社區服務,並樂於與幼教界人士、家長與照顧者合作,並為幼教理念提供良好的實踐空間。因此,學院成立了耀中幼教發展中心(YCECDC),為幼兒教育從業者、家長及與照顧幼兒的人士提供各項互動專業發展課程。耀中幼教學院喜獲城中一慈善基金慷慨捐贈港幣4,000萬元,捐款將用於成立耀學園Discovery Space以及學院的其他項目。耀學園Discovery Space將於2019年6月正式開幕,為來自不同階層的零至八歲兒童及家長或其看護人提供具啓發性的多元活動空間,讓孩子體驗遊戲中學習。

發稿:耀中幼教學院 
代行:一口田有限公司 
電話:3583 3100                傳真:3583 1331                電郵:info@seedland.hk

如欲查詢詳情、索取照片或安排專訪,歡迎致電9534 0813或電郵至 helena@seedland.hk 與Ms Helena Hui聯絡,或致電3583 3300/6698 2252或電郵至 anne@seedland.hk 與Ms Anne Fung聯絡。

 

Press release                                                                23rd January 2019

Public seminar “Play to Learn – the Key to Early Childhood Education” hosted by Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) was successfully held on 22 January 2019

Online version: http://www.public.seedland.hk/press/YCCECE/1901-post/
Press release and Photos: Click Here (OneDrive) or Download (Zip)

A long-time pioneer and expert in Early Childhood Education (ECE) since 1932, Yew Chung was the first in Hong Kong to introduce the revolutionary concept of learning through play. As part of its relentless pursuit of promoting play-based and child-centred learning, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) proudly hosted the public seminar “Play to Learn – the Key to Early Childhood Education”, advocating for better understanding of high quality “play”, and the importance of parent engagement and community support for our youngest members of society. Three distinguished ECE experts namely Professor Kathy Sylva, Professor Soyoun Bae, and Ms Nicky Weir shared insights on what “play” really means and how it is fundamental to young children’s holistic development at the seminar.

Over 600 ECE practitioners and leaders, special education professionals, social workers, parents and friends of the media enthusiastically gathered at the Yew Chung International School on 22nd January. The evening seminar opened with a welcoming by Professor Shen Shir Ming, President of YCCECE, who then introduced Professor Kathy Sylva, Professor of Educational Psychology from the University of Oxford, and member of the Board of Governors of YCCECE, to the stage. During her Keynote “Supporting Young Children’s Development through Quality Play”, Professor Sylva presented a large-scale study in Europe, the Effective Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education (EPPSE) project, which followed 3000 children from age 3 to 16. The longitudinal research demonstrated not only the enduring impact of high quality preschool on children’s later life, but also the unique and powerful effects of the Home Learning Environment. So what parents actively do with their children (e.g. storybook reading, visiting the museum or library) is more important that who they are in terms of socio-economic status and education levels. Prof Sylva also shared another piece of research evaluating a mobile phone App, EasyPeasy, which provides many ideas of simple and playful learning for parents to play with their young children. Through the “Towers of Hands” example, Professor Sylva showed that children could develop many cognitive pre-academic abilities (e.g. mathematics, language and spatial awareness) as well as essential 21st century skills (e.g. self-regulation, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity etc.), while joyfully playing with their parents.

The second speaker was Professor Soyoun Bae, the YCCECE Dean of Studies and the International President of PECERA (Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association). She suggested educators should be aware of the different levels of environmental influences on children’s development, in which parents and caregivers undoubtedly play a dominant role. Through building partnership with families and communities, learning their needs, and helping them to understand the significance of play in children’s development and learning, educators could greatly improve children’s learning conditions.

Ms Nicky Weir was the third and final speaker of the seminar. She introduced the Yew Chung Early Childhood Development Centre and its advocacy role in improving the lives of young children in Hong Kong.  As the Centre Director, Ms. Weir shared various programmes the Centre plans to implement in their effort to connect and support the healthy development of young children, such as the Centre’s flagship programme – Hong Kong’s first “Discovery Space” – an innovative learning-though-play hub for children that will debut in June 2019.  She also introduced various effective and relevant Community Education and Professional Development opportunities.

Through the facility and courses, Ms Weir and her team strive to assist parents and caregivers in gaining knowledge on quality ECE, as well as minimising their doubts and worries regarding ECE. By creating precious memories and guiding parents and caregivers to explore and experience the world through their child’s “eyes”, the Centre aims to help forging close-knitted families, enabling children to have a holistic and all-rounded development.

Finally, all three speakers were invited back on stage for a Q & A session. The audience engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue, posing questions such as “How to make sure children are school-ready while they can still enjoy their childhood?” and “Would Discovery Space be open to public?”. The speakers expressed that play has a more notable role in children’ lives, as play is a component that sparks children’s interest and curiosity in learning, an effective method for learning practical skills, also a means that brings a family closer together. They believed having a strong and trusting relationship with their caregivers allow children to authentically reflect their challenges in life, which is beneficial to their all-rounded development. Ms Weir also reassured the audience that YCECDC and the DS would be open for all families, Kindergartens, Child Care Centres, Special Child Care Centres in Hong Kong.

 

About YCCECE
Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE), a registered non-profit institution, was established in June 2018. It is an upgrade of the former Yew Chung Community College (YCCC), which was started in 2008 by the Yew Chung Education Foundation (YCEF), also a non-profit Association. The success of the upgrade is grounded on the impressive track record of YCCC and YCEF’s 86+ years of experience in Early Childhood Education (ECE). YCCECE aims to nurture passionate and innovative early childhood educators who can advocate and bring about improvement in the field, and seeks to be recognised in Hong Kong and in the Asia-Pacific region as an ECE hub for its excellence. YCCECE boasts an impressive team of world-renowned ECE academics and local ECE leaders as advisors and consultants.  Its teaching faculty hails from around the world, providing a wealth of international perspectives and expertise.  Its student body is also multi-cultural and from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. YCCECE offers Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education (BEdECE), Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education (HDECE) and Diploma in Early Childhood Studies (DECS). YCCECE is also committed to serving the wider community and sharing good practices with all who work with, care for, or care about young children.  The Discovery Space (DS) at its Aberdeen campus, is an interactive play space specifically designed for children aged 0 to 8 years old and their accompanying adults, will welcome children from all our communities.  Through expert facilitation by DS staff, children and adults will be liberated by true learning through play. This is made possible by a local philanthropic foundation that has pledged a lead gift of HK$40 million to YCCECE, which will fund various capital projects, including the DS. It is anticipated that this innovative play space on the Aberdeen campus will be open to the public in June 2019.

Released by Seedland International Limited
On behalf of YCCECE

Media enquiries:
Tel: +852 3583 3100                  Fax: +852 3583 1331
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Contacts:
Ms Helena Hui (9534 0813 / helena@seedland.hk)
Ms Anne Fung (6698 2252 / anne@seedland.hk)