The Environment

As an Activator for Learning

The Environment as the Third Educator

The physical learning environment is an important part of pre-school and children’s learning. It is known as the third educator. The concept of “the environment as the third educator“ originates from the Reggio Emilia philosophy and is about the importance of the environment, what is offered and how the material is presented.

Technology

Underpinning, Enhancing and Enriching the Learning

From my experience, early years educators from around the globe are on an eager and constant quest to foster and facilitate exciting learning opportunities and provocations. We are intent on ensuring that the experiences delight, engage, enrich and nurture. It is a pursuit to find the potential for joy, to see the smiles and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder. Part of this mission involves finding resource materials that act as mighty catalysts. Who knows where today’s experience will lead to or how it will influence their future paths and choices? We must not underestimate how wondrous learning experiences may generate mighty memories and may have a deep and lasting impact. How many times have you heard a famous person talking about how a teacher, a lesson or an experience in their education made a profound impact upon them?

What is ‘Developing the Complexity of Learning Resources’?

An infant lies on the floor, gently rocking from side to side until she eventually succeeds in rolling over onto her tummy. Nearby, another baby is wriggling on his back, slowly making his way towards a toy until he can stretch out and reach to pick it up. 

A third little one is sitting up with a straight back and perfect posture, investigating an object in her hand. A caregiver is busy nearby - she keeps an eye on the infants but does not interfere with their play to assist or correct them.

At the end of World War II, a group of parents from the city Reggio nell’ Emilia in Northern Italy took the initiative to rebuild and re-frame early childhood education in their region. The sale of some horses and military vehicles financed the first building, built from stone and timber sourced by local villagers. The municipality also helped to establish several preschools and nurseries, all of them based on the ideas of exploration, collaboration, creative expression and critical thinking.