Playeum aims at complementing and bridging the gaps in children’s
educational experience in Singapore. We, the founders are not educators, however have worked closely with various learning academicians and in particular with Dr. Barbara Piscitelli, an Arts and Education Advisor to better understand children’s engagement in the Arts. Dr. Barbara Piscitelli has received the Member of the Order, AM from the Australian Government for her contribution to the field.
The Learning goals outlined below point to the learning outcomes we would like to achieve at Playeum, The Play Museum.
Goals: To Be |
Objectives: To Do |
| Playful Learners | Encourage children to engage in hands on, minds on, self-directed enjoyable play situations |
| Flexible, Innovative, Creative | Allow for multiple entry points to suit children of all ability and skill level – encompass a diversity of learning approaches |
| Responsive, Caring | Encourage two way respectful exchanges between adults and children through communication and collaboration |
| Child Centred | Find out what the learner knows and make meaningful connections to their prior knowledge and personal experience – integrate their learning |
| Empowering | Provide opportunities for children to make choices and be agents of their own learningTo develop self and social confidence |
| Developmentally Appropriate | Take into consideration children’s background, age and individual differences for maximum inclusion and participation |
These goals are informed by many learning theories, benchmarking of best practises globally, researching theories in children’s participation in museums and identifying means of bridging the gap with our local curriculum and way of being.
Therefore, the developing strategies to achieve these goals are:
1) Social Interactive Learning – where peer and intergenerational collaboration builds social bonds and understanding.
2) Object Centred Learning
3) Interactive learning
4) Informal Learning
5) Process Based Learning – Less emphasis on product and more emphasis on discovery through the process of learning. This is an area we are particularly focused on as so much of our children’s daily lives is “product” focused.
6) Distinction from School Learning – Informal learning environment that is child-centred and encourages self-directed learning, and enable intrinsic motivation to engage in activities.
7) Intercultural Learning
Ultimately, the Learning Foundation for the Museum focuses on being:
* Active, play-based
* Child-centred
* Collaborative and Cross-Cultural
About Dr Piscitelli
Dr Piscitelli specialises in the area of arts education and her research has included investigation of how children learn in museums and how arts education affects middle school students in disadvantaged communities. She is a regular reviewer for the Australian Journal of Early Childhood, and her publications also appear in art, museum and education journals. She is on the Board of Directors for the Collections Council of Australia and is a member of the Board of the Queensland Museum.
Dr Piscitelli lectured at QUT between 1984 and 2004 and it was there that she established and curated the Children’s Art Archive. She built the collection from several projects with children in Australia and the Asian region.
Dr Piscitelli’s contribution to early childhood education, the establishment of programs in cultural institutions for children, and as a collector and curator of children’s art was recognised in 2006 with a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
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