February 8, 2024

ECIR symposium presentation at 2024 AJEC Research Symposium

The 2024 Australian Journal of Early Childhood (AJEC) Research Symposium is taking place virtually on 8 and 9 February. 

https://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/events/ajecsymposium/ 

https://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-AJEC-Research-Symposium_Discussion-papers_Final.pdf

The conference includes papers on innovative research methodologies, research and pedagogical practices. It will be attended by early years professionals, policymakers, researchers, leaders, academics, and students from Australasia and beyond. The 2024 AJEC Research Symposium program includes more than 50 presentations by Australian and international early childhood researchers. 

The CSU Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group (ECIR) are presenting a symposium on the first day.

Our presentations were titled: Empowering children’s voices through the Children Draw Talking Project 

  • Listening to children: The Children Draw Talking Project - Belinda Downey, Sharynne McLeod 
  • Development of an instrument and protocol for the virtual collection and analysis of children’s drawings - Carolyn Gregoric, Van H. Tran, Suzanne C. Hopf, Sharynne McLeod 
  • A meaning-making analysis of children’s drawing vs children’s talking in the drawing: A cultural-historical perspective - Shukla Sikder, Lysa Dealtry, Sarah Stenson 

Dr Belinda Downey

Dr Carolyn Gregoric

Dr Shukla Sikder
The discussion after our presentation highlighted the work of Dr Barbara Piscitelli AM https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/bigvoices

We enjoyed the International Keynote Address by Associate Professor Sonja Macfarlane titled "He Awa Whiria and Early Literacy: The emancipatory power of braiding knowledge streams in research and practice". The keynote speaker shared this resource: https://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/teaching-and-learning/assessment-for-learning/te-whatu-pokeka-english/

We also attended the following fascinating presentation:

Children’s voices in policy: How considered study design is vital in balancing rigour and authenticity - Dan Leach-McGill, Chris Mason, and Daniel Hannington-Pinto

They work for The Front Project - https://www.thefrontproject.org.au/