The fourth Infants and Toddlers: Practice, Pedagogy and Research Conference will take place at Macquarie University from the 22–23 November 2024.
The conference provides a place for infant-toddler practitioners, researchers, students and practice leaders to come together over two days to engage in professional dialogue about many aspects of infant-toddler learning and professional practice.
Find out more about the event here or register directly here.
What attendees can expect from the event
This year’s conference celebrates the concept of ‘learning together’, exploring how very young children and significant others – including educators, practitioners, family, peers and the community – build new knowledge and understandings together.
The conference also showcases how learning is shaped by the contexts in which it occurs.
Themes to be explored across the two days include:
- very young children’s learning and thinking within and across different contexts
- inclusion and participation across diverse communities
- practitioner knowledge, perspectives and approaches
- professional/community capacity building and change
Over 2 packed days, conference attendees will hear from three keynote speakers and participate in two interactive discussions about state-of-the art research and practice. In 30 breakout sessions, the conference will also showcase innovative practice in the areas of infant-toddler pedagogies and learning, leadership, professional learning, inclusive practice and Aboriginal ways of knowing.
Each session builds in opportunities to discuss and debate ideas, so attendees can expect to be inspired and challenged to think deeply about their own practice.
The full program is available here: https://event.mq.edu.au/infants-and-toddlers-research-conference/program
The history of the event
The conference was first held in 2014, when Professor Sheila Degotardi, a world leader in infant-toddler pedagogies and learning from Macquarie’s School of Education, partnered with Gowrie NSW to showcase innovative practice and cutting edge research in this area.
The event was held again in 2016 and 2018, and brought together researchers, early childhood educators, practice leaders and other stakeholders with the aim of advancing specialised practice and bridging the gap between research and practice.
Why this event is significant for the sector
Despite the foundational importance of the first three years of life, infant-toddler professional practice has been under-represented in early childhood education professional development, policy initiatives and research.
This event is unique as it places a much-needed spotlight on the importance of working with very young children. It is a truly collaborative two-day event, where practitioners present alongside researchers with the aim of learning from one another and inspiring others to enhance their practice.
Hosted by the Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education (CRECE), this conference recognises CRECE as a leader in collaborative infant-toddler research. CRECE now has a number of researchers and graduate research students conducting impactful research projects in this area.
How to enrol:
Find out more about the event here or register directly here.
CELA is a proud sponsor of the Infants and Toddlers: Practice, Pedagogy and Research Conference