Learning Opportunities

March 24

Loose Parts: A Constructivist Approach

Loose Parts in your environment empowers young children and encourages creativity. When we use a constructivist approach, children are able to construct their knowledge and tell their own stories. Come join our discussion about Loose Parts- what they are, how to use them and where to get them.

Julia Kunz has practiced as an Early Childhood Educator in group child care, family day homes, pre-schools and Parent link centres since 2007. She is a proud alumna of the Early Childhood Education program at Lethbridge College. She enjoys sharing her practical and theoretical knowledge with others by presenting at workshops for parents and other educators. She currently is a Practicum Supervisor, Casual Instructor and the Lab Coordinator for the ECE program at Lethbridge College.

The Story of Outdoor Play

Once upon a time, people in Southern Alberta came together to talk about outdoor play at the ECE conference. They all had stories to share and tales to tell. As they engaged in discussions with other playful people, new outdoor play stories arose.

Bora Kim is an instructor in the Early Childhood Education program at Lethbridge College. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Child and Youth Study. Bora is an outdoor play researcher, advocate and educator. Bora was a co-researcher in the East Hants Outdoor Play Project and developed an assessment tool in support of creating children’s outdoor play with Dr. Beverlie Dietze.

Back to the Yard Again

The Great Granular Wall, Simple Sorting Stumps, and Noises in Nature Sounds Centre… Having a creative and stimulating outdoor play environment in your backyard is easier than you think. This session is designed to support professionals in discovering how re-purposed materials can be used for cost effective DIY backyard projects.

Come and learn how the DIY backyard projects can provide children, as well as you, with endless learning possibilities.

Health Status of Childcare Workers Project

In light of a wide spectrum of physical and psychological concerns prevalent among childcare workers, this presentation aimed to 1) reveal current health issues among childcare providers; and 2) define further directions for research on the impact of exercise on childcare workers’ health status on the quality of services they provide. 

Oluwagbohunmi (Olu) Awosoga is an Applied/Consulting Statistician with over 25 years of post-secondary teaching experience. He completed his graduate studies at the Central Michigan University (MA) and Western Michigan University (MSc, PhD), USA. Olu is currently an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. His research interest includes: Wellness amongst Rural and Urban Childcare Providers, Caring for the Caregivers, Health and Safety in Workplace, and the application of Statistics in Health, Education, just to mention a few. He is currently the principal investigator on the project “Caring for Caregivers: Investigating the Health Status, Wellbeing, and Quality of Life of Health Care Workers in Long Term Care Facilities in Southern Alberta”.

Jon Doan is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Lethbridge, and principal investigator in U of L’s Engineering and Human Performance Laboratory.  Jon completed his undergraduate degree in Biological Engineering at the University of Guelph, his Master’s degree in Biomechanical Engineering + Ergonomics at Queen’s University, and his PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge.  Jon has been in Lethbridge since 2002.  Jon’s research investigates the mechanics of human movement inside work and leisure environments.  This interest includes physical activity behaviour and ergonomics in small or non-typical workplaces.