Play School - A Site for Play, Collaborative Engagement and Learning

摘要

The children's television program Play School is approaching 50 years of broadcasting to young Australian children. It is the second longest running children's television program in the world. Based on the original BBC production, Play School has been screened across Australia twice each weekday on the national broadcaster since 1966. Contemporary thinking and research in early learning highlights the importance of the early years and family as partners in children's play and learning. This paper outlines results from research investigating the contribution of Play School to a healthy start to life for young Australian children, in particular the results pertaining to children's engagement in play and learning as a consequence of viewing the program and the flow on effects to parents as co-players and teachers. The results of the research indicate that key elements of the program support child engagement and parent child interaction that are conducive to learning both during and subsequent to the viewing experience. The results of the study have significant implications for considerations of the key conference theme - Students energised -Enhanced learning experience by participation and collaboration.