What impact are Covid-19 lockdowns – and increased screen time – having on children’s learning?
In this webinar, top education researchers, the principal investigator on New Zealand’s biggest longitudinal study, and a whānau language coach reveal the latest research on how the absence of our tamariki from school during lockdown is affecting their learning and wellbeing, and in particular what the effects of increased screen time are having on them.
Our guest speakers for this webinar are:
PROFESSOR BRIGID McNEILL, a professor in the School of Teacher Education and the Child Well-being Research Institute at the University of Canterbury. She is the theme leader for A Better Start’s Successful Learning theme, and has co-led the development of the Better Start Literacy Approach. She is an international expert on literacy development in children with speech disorders, particularly those who have childhood apraxia of speech. Her research also focuses on developing and evaluating methods to better prepare teachers to support children’s early literacy development.
PROFESSOR SUSAN MORTON, the Foundation Director of Growing Up in New Zealand (GUINZ), providing oversight, advice and expertise to the study. She has spearheaded Growing Up in New Zealand since it began and has developed an international reputation as a leader in longitudinal research.
Professor Morton is also the Director of the University of Auckland’s Centre for Longitudinal Research and leads the Our Generation, Our Voices, Our Future study, which aims to explore new ways of connecting with the GUINZ cohort as they transition into their teenage years. Professor Morton was awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019.
TAMPY BERNARD, a Community Activator and whānau-to-whānau coach within the Talking Matters team. A father of four, Tampy is passionate about the importance of quality communication with young children, particularly babies and toddlers. He is driven to see children have equal education opportunities in Aotearoa and grow into confident thinkers, talkers and readers for today and future generations.
Chairing the webinar is PROFESSOR GAIL GILLON (Ngāi Tahu iwi), who is the Director of the University of Canterbury Child Well-Being Research Institute and Deputy Director of A Better Start National Science Challenge. She has co-led the development of the Better Start Literacy Approach, an evidence and strengths based approach to supporting children’s early literacy development. The Approach was piloted through our National Science Challenge research and is now being implemented in new entrant and Year 1 classes throughout the country.
Professor Gillon’s area of research focuses on understanding the relationship between spoken and written language development and, in particular, the importance of children’s phonological awareness to early literacy success.
Professor Gillon is a Fellow of Te Apārangi, Royal Society of New Zealand and life member of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapy Association.
• A Better Start National Science Challenge is hosting more webinars on child health and child wellbeing throughout 2021-22. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates and registration links - [ Ссылка ]
