TEACHING EXPERIENCE

LARC 6416 - Landscape for Learning (Spring 2023)

• Project 01: Re-imagine Early Childhood: Nature Play and Learning for Below 3 s 

• Project 02: Design to Advance Curiosity: Preschool Learning Landscape to Promote STEAM

                           _A Vision for the Playground of Guadalupe Early Learning Center

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Project 01 Statement: 

Young children (infants and toddlers) tend to take on new challenges in their surroundings. Nature plays offers a wide range of possibilities in their early development. Physical play in an outdoor set up gives a child the aordance of using the natural environment as a part of play equipment, an ability to use their imagination as well as an intimate way of knowing the landscape. The design concept for the physical play area at the TTU Center for Early Head Start is to create a space that brings children closer to nature while providing ample opportunities for imaginative play. Rather than relying on commercially produced, artificial play equipment, the focus is to use natural materials to create a stronger bond with the natural environment. In addition, the needs of care givers are crucial to acknowledge and incorporated in the design process. Given that young children are super active, it is essential to create play equipment that is both novel and manipulative in nature, thus providing innumerable opportunities for exploration and discovery.

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Project 02 Statement: 

Preschool STEAM learning is receiving increasing recognition as early science/math learning is linked with children’s problem-solving skills, critical thinking ability, creativity and interest in STEAM careers in later life. Since young learners actively engage with the environment to develop fundamental understandings, an overlap in nature based learning and STEAM learning is an important discussion in learning research. The project attempts to design a preschool learning environment that entices curiosity. So key aspects of the project are- “Nature based Design Intervention” and “Interactive Design Approach” The design proposal for Guadalupe Early Learning Center focuses on juxtaposition of “Play” and “Learning” in a natural environment which provides the aordance for STEAM learning.