Janene Sadler, a classroom teacher at Mother Teresa Early Learning Centre (ELC), Harrison, recently presented at the 2019 Early Learning STEM Australia (ELSA) Educator Forum, at the University of Canberra.

The forum was an opportunity for educators to share with each other their experiences and outline specific issues faced when implementing the program.

“ELSA is a play based, digital learning program for children in preschool to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Janene. “It allows children to play, experiment and make sense of the world around them, which is a large part of STEM, and also being part of a child.”

Ms Sadler shared the innovative ways in which she has integrated technology into Early Learning to support and enhance the ELSA program at Mother Teresa ELC.

“I was able to showcase what we have been doing at Mother Teresa through photographs and discussions with other educators,” she said. “We have incorporated robotic technology such as KIBO Robotics Kits; Spheros; Bee-Bots; Makey Makey Invention Kits and Dash-n-Dot toy robots into the ELSA program.”

“We have found that the integration of the ELSA program and the use of technology has developed problem solving and creative skills in the children. The inclusion of these skills within our project work has further enhanced our investigations and explorations.”