Cambridge in spring

Cambridge in spring is beautiful and here are some photos taken during my visit.

Kings College in the evening sunshine

Mathematical Bridge

Mathematical Bridge from Queens College

Was this the tree that inspired Newton's theory of gravity?

Round Church

Visiting the University of Cambridge

This week I have enjoyed visiting the University of Cambridge. I have been hosted by Prof Jenny Gibson and Prof Karen Forbes from the Faculty of Education and Prof Napolean Katsos from the Faculty of Linguistics. A highlight of my visit was examining the PhD thesis of Mélanie Gréaux (supervised by Prof Gibson and Prof Katsos) and presenting a lecture on communication rights and social justice. I have learned about the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge and have been able to dine at Cambridge's newest college, Homerton College with Prof Forbes and one of its oldest colleges, Trinity College with Prof Katsos. Prof Gibson is co-chair of PEDAL: Play in education learning and development. I look forward to ongoing conversations and collaborations.

Prof Karen Forbes at Homerton College

Prof Sharynne McLeod, Prof Napolean Katsos, Mélanie Gréaux, Prof Jenny Gibson, Prof Karen Forbes

Lunch at Trinity College with Mélanie Gréaux and Prof Napolean Katsos

A squirrel on campus!

The dining hall at Homerton College

Prof Jenny Gibson and Prof Sharynne McLeod at Faculty of Education

Sharynne at Trinity College

Trinity College

Trinity College

Trinity College library

Trinity College entrance to the chapel

Invited lecture at the University of Cambridge: Communication rights and social justice: Enhancing communicative participation for children

Today I gave a lecture at University of Cambridge in the Faculty of Education. 

Title: Communication rights and social justice: Enhancing communicative participation for children with speech, language and communication needs 

Abstract: 

Communication is a human right for all; including children with speech, language, and communication needs and those who speak/sign non-dominant languages (McLeod, 2018). Aligning with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 1989) we have given attention to the “voice” of children. For example, we have creatively engaged in child-friendly arts-based methods to provide children with the “right to freedom of expression… regardless of frontiers” as outlined in Article 13. As communication specialists, we have the power to support children’s voice and to assist others to listen. How can we mature in our practices to enhance all children’s participation within democratic processes in their families, schools, communities, and society? 

Thank you to Professor Jenny Gibson (https://www.languagesciences.cam.ac.uk/directory/dr-jenny-gibson) for the invitation and the excellent and engaged audience. I announced The Treehouse and the International Children's Research and Communication Centre during the talk was delighted by the interest and potential future collaborations.

Prof Jenny Gibson and Prof Sharynne McLeod
at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge

Some of the engaged audience who continued discussing
children's communication after the lecture

Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) Research Centre at the University of Cambridge

Prof Jenny Gibson introducted me to Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) Research Centre while I was visiting the University of Cambridge. 

Here is the website: https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/centres/pedal/

Here are some papers about the centre

Yiran Zhao, V., Kulkarni, K., Gibson, J., Baker, S., & Ramchandani, P. G. (2019). Introducing the Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) Research Centre. International Journal of Play, 8(3), 308–319. https://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2019.1684144 

Janik Blaskova, L., Le Courtois, S., Baker, S.T., Gibson, J.L., Ramchandani, P.G., O’Farrelly, CH., & Fink, E. (2020). Participant engagement with play research: Examples and lessons learned from the Centre for Play in Education, Development and Learning. International Journal of Play, 9(4), 365-381. https://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2020.1843804