Just returned from an exciting Study Tour at Highland Plaza United Methodist Preschool (HPUMP) in Hixson, TN, outside of Chattanooga. Here are some excerpts from the Playing, Observing, Documenting, & Interpreting Workshop facilitated by Jane Broderick and Dawn White (atelierista at HPUMP). The presentation includes visual representation of the explorations of a group of children as well as the playful exploration of a group of adults.
Participants engage in playing, documenting their play, and interpreting their intentions in their play with a focus on planning many possible directions for next steps in the exploration process.
Things participants learned:
- To invite children to learn
- To spend more time in reflection and interpretation before moving to planning
- To give children time to revisit materials
- To set up playscapes with fewer materials
- Allowed me to experience the process
- The importance of provoking thought and collaboration as a team
- More time to plan and collaborate as a group
- To realize how capable each child is and how each child has something to contribute
- Meaningful but simple documentation ideas
- To plan and discuss with conversation as the project progresses
- Gave me a positive outlook on documentation
- I appreciate the format of the inquiry process (COI), it seems clearer than other times I have seen it elsewhere
Letting go … slowing down … breaking down documentation in ways I can bring it back to the children
Group explorations: Following a Think Tall & Strong prompt
The materials provided were not what one would consider when thinking of the prompt. The choice of materials is intentional. Leading players to experience familiar materials in new ways.
The following group collaborated from the start of their process:
Following a prompt to “Think Tall & Strong” this group collaborates to manipulate their materials, unlikely for this task into something that will be tall and strong.
A group member carefully documents the actions and dialogue of peers. Another volunteer documents with a camera.
Ah! A solution for strength. Letting this wire fall on the base of the tower helps it to stabilize!
This group worked hard in their short period of exploration. One idea for next steps is to include more time to explore paper for its own sake. To learn the properties of a variety of papers.
In this group there was a fascination with the materials and investigating what possibilities each might afford.
Exploring the texture of the paper.
What can I do with this wire?
Another Tall & Strong solution. Will it be able to stand on its own?
Making it taller. The wire seems to be a stabilizing material here.
This group began with very individualized intentions. Their next steps for exploration include possible provocations for establishing conflict in order to revisit the difficulties they experienced in working as a group with limited materials.
We started with individual processes in mind and each was somewhat limited by others taking materials from the small set provided. After a while the collaboration began as a means of joining our products together.
Posted by Jane Tingle Broderick
