By Joni Wackwitz
April 23, 2019
One of our goals at the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest is to get research into the hands of those who need it. A key way we do this is by presenting at state and national conferences and other events. By traveling to such events, we can reach a variety of practitioners and other audiences, distribute our research and resources more broadly, and promote evidence-based practice.
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MECERA Conference Sessions and Screenings
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Promoting play-based learning as an appropriate instructional model for KIDS
Day and Bowdon’s recent travels also included several stops to promote MECERA’s new documentary, Kindergarten: Where Play and Learning Can Meet. This 30-minute program describes developmentally appropriate classroom practices for kindergarten observational assessments, such as KIDS. Produced in collaboration with WTTW, Chicago’s public TV station, the documentary draws on insights from research and experts in the field to explore the use of play-based learning in kindergarten as well as how two Illinois districts have transitioned to a play-based curriculum. A viewing guide provides questions to facilitate discussion.
In February, Day and Bowdon screened the documentary at two state conferences: the Ready…Set…Teach! Winter Institute and the Illinois ESSA Conference. MECERA also held public screenings of the documentary at the districts featured in the program—Valley View and District U-46—as well as at the Chicago office of AIR, which manages REL Midwest. After the screenings, panel discussions enabled those in attendance to ask questions about the research and practices featured in the documentary.
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The screenings prompted lively discussions among the attendees. Approximately 80 families, teachers, and community members attended the Valley View screening. In Chicago, attendees included researchers, advocacy groups, and parent teacher association members. Questions focused on the challenges of implementing a play-based curriculum, the frameworks used, and ways to involve families. |
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Day noted that the screenings have enabled MECERA members to connect with key early childhood groups across the state, including prekindergarten teachers, parents, and early childhood advocacy groups. “We’re extending the reach of the alliance,” said Day, “and encouraging discussion statewide on KIDS and play-based learning.”
Districts interested in play-based learning may want to screen the documentary for kindergarten teachers and administrators during a professional development day at the start of the school year. The program can also serve as a resource for professional learning communities, and school leadership may want to view the program to think through barriers related to adopting a play-based curriculum.
Supporting children’s social and emotional development
In February and March, Bowdon presented at two events to showcase how research-practice partnerships, such as MECERA, can help advance children’s social and emotional development. The presentations, which were geared to both researchers and practitioners, took place at a virtual brown bag session for the National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships and as part of a symposium at the spring 2019 conference of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness.
Down the road
Check back for updates on MECERA’s work and to browse the latest resources. Here’s what’s ahead:
- Additional KIDS training: The MECERA team plans to hit the road again in 2019 to roll out two new trainings. These workshops will support kindergarten teachers’ capacity for observational data collection and strengthen prekindergarten providers’ understanding and use of KIDS.
- Results of the first statewide administration of KIDS: A report of REL Midwest’s analysis of the first statewide administration of KIDS in fall 2017 is expected later in 2019, along with an infographic highlighting the key findings and implications.
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