Healing Hands
- S.Shaw
- Oct 26, 2017
- 2 min read
As part of my university course I have designed a Future Learning Space (FLS) that addresses the needs of young learners in a challenging global environment. If you have been following my blog you will realise that I have been focussing my attention on Haiti and in particular the camps that have been erected after a devastating 2010 earthquake in and around the countries capital city Port-Au-Prince. Within these camps various charitable organisations have created Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) were all children can be safe and protected. My FLS enmeshes within the CFS that has already been set up.
Healing Hands learning space is a resource for children, educators, community members and professionals to use to educate and inform children and their families through the use of puppets. I have come to realise that the word 'educate" will have a profoundly different meaning in CFS in Port-Au-Prince than it does in my children's school in QLD.
Education in Port-Au-Prince will involve talk around health and hygiene, nutrition and children's social and emotion needs. Within CFS children will be educated about inclusion, diversity and equality. All these topics need to be addressed before children will feel willing and able to 'learn.'
Puppets have been used since Ancient times they are a medium for children all over the world. The benefits of using puppetry with children are vast, here are just a few:
. Engaging pupils in difficult conversations and new unfamiliar topics.
. Developing empathy,inclusion, diversity, equality, imagination and communication
. Trauma Therapy
. Visual aid to help with language barriers
I am hoping that my design will make education fun. Working in partnership with Educators and other professionals to create an interactive, enjoyable and culturally respectful learning space. Head over to my FLS page to read more!
I have included a few websites that have information about using puppets in the classroom. Let me know your thoughts on the power of puppets in education.
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