This episode explores the role of digital technologies in early childhood education with experts Dr. Jubilee Smith and Dr. Amanda Levido. They discuss the impact of digital tools on children's learning, specific applications, and professional development for educators.
Key Points:
•	Importance of digital technologies in early childhood.
•	Impact on children's learning and development.
•	Specific digital tools and their benefits/drawbacks.
•	Training and professional development for educators.
•	Involving parents in the digital learning process.
•	Preparing for emerging technologies.

Further Reading and Links
Commonsense media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
eSafety Commissioner:  https://www.esafety.gov.au/ and  https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/training-for-professionals/early-years
ECA Australia https://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/
Digital Stories Contest (The Digital Child): https://digitalchild.org.au/stories-by-digital-children/

This podcast has been created for the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University. It is hosted by Dr Katie Hotko, and produced by Professor Alexandra Lasczik. Executive Producer is Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles. All rights reserved.

Episode 1: Digital Technologies with Dr Amanda Levido and Dr Jubilee Smith

In this episode Madison Rybka, a proud Arrernte woman and experienced teacher, discusses integrating Indigenous perspectives into early childhood education. The episode covers practical strategies for educators, the importance of cultural knowledge, and how to approach this work respectfully.
Key Points:
•	Importance of embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
•	Effective incorporation of these perspectives into daily practices and curriculum.
•	Addressing educators' concerns about doing things wrong.
•	Respectful approaches for non-Indigenous educators.

Further Reading and Links
Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre (Gold Coast): https://www.jellurgal.com.au/ 

Koori Curriculum - Founded by Jessica Staines, a proud Wiradjuri woman and an early childhood teacher, our consultancy is dedicated to empowering educators like you right across Australia. We provide professional development, programming, coaching, workshops, and an array of resources designed to enhance your cultural capacity and confidence in teaching First Nations history and culture.

Narrangunnawali: The Narragunnawali program has tools and resources for schools and early learning services to take action towards reconciliation between non-First Nations Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This podcast has been created for the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University. It is hosted by Dr Katie Hotko, and produced by Professor Alexandra Lasczik. Executive Producer is Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles. All rights reserved.

Episode 2: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives with Madison Rybka

In this episode, Professor Alexandra Lasczik, an expert in Visual Arts education with more than 40 years of teaching experience, discusses the importance of Visual Arts in early childhood settings. The episode covers her experiences, the concept of enabling constraints, and the significance of materials in artmaking.
Key Points:
•	Importance of setting up conditions for making art.
•	Concept of "Enabling Constraints" in art education.
•	Significance of high quality materials in artmaking.

Further Reading and Links
Lasczik, A., Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, A., Osborne, M., Malone, K. & Knight, L. (2024). Engaging visual diaries in early childhood nature play as pedagogical arousal. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 50(2),188-210. DOI:10.1177/18369391241276885  

Cutcher, A., & Boyd, W. (2016). Children as artists: The preschool as a community of creative practice. Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy, 13(1), 5-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/15505170.2016.1143893 

This podcast has been created for the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University. It is hosted by Dr Katie Hotko, and produced by Professor Alexandra Lasczik. Executive Producer is Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles. All rights reserved.

Episode 3: Visual Arts Learnings with Professor Alexandra Lasczik and Dr Katie Hotko

In this episode, Lucia Stacchiotti, an experienced educator and psychotherapist, discusses the concept of 'slowness' in early childhood education. The episode highlights the benefits of slowing down, Reggio practices, reflective practice, and the impact of rituals on learning.
Key Points:
•	Rationale for 'slowness' in early childhood education
•	Inspiration for exploring slowness and rituals
•	Contribution of slowness to deeper reflection and learning
•	Role of reflective practice in slow pedagogy
•	Personal experiences and stories
•	Advice for educators exploring slowness.

Further Reading and Links
Articles:
This article contains a section where Carlina shares her reflection about the challenges mentioned in this episode
Rinaldi, C. (2004). The relationship between documentation and assessment. Innovations in Early Education: The International Reggio Exchange, 11(1), 1–6. 
Other Publications
Ashworth, D. (2023). Wild hope: Healing words to find light on dark days. Mango Publishing.
Clark, A. (2022). Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child. Taylor & Francis.
Moss, P. (2017). Power and resistance in early childhood education: From dominant discourse to democratic experimentalism. Journal of Pedagogy, 8(1), 11-32. https://doi.org/10.1515/jped-2017-0001
Rinaldi, C. (2004). The relationship between documentation and assessment. Innovations in Early Education: The International Reggio Exchange, 11(1), 1–6. Merrill-Palmer Institute, Wayne State University.
Rinaldi, C. (2005). In Dialogue with Reggio Emilia: Listening, researching and learning (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203317730
Links:
Piazza Piazze: https://youtu.be/g65ZO7zbVKI?si=Ykb5sk_DLJmOWLPg 
Prof Carla Rinaldi on 'Reclaiming Childhood': https://youtu.be/dqgvW-IRXKg?si=1s7vLTmcw-2qKh1o 

This podcast has been created for the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University. It is hosted by Dr Katie Hotko, and produced by Professor Alexandra Lasczik. Executive Producer is Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles. All rights reserved.

Episode 4: Reggio Emilia and Rituals in the EC Classroom with Pedagogista Lucia Stacchiotti

Dr. Charmaine Bernie shares insights from her extensive experience in paediatric occupational therapy, highlighting how early childhood educators can identify developmental needs and support families in accessing health services.
Key Topics
•	The educator’s role in spotting developmental concerns
•	Using the “naive enquirer” approach to engage families
•	Strategies for bridging families to health services
•	Supporting diverse and disadvantaged communities
•	Trauma-informed and culturally safe practices
•	Actionable steps for educators to support children and families
Educator Takeaways
•	Build trust and relationships before raising concerns
•	Collaborate with families using respectful, strength-based approaches
•	Maintain a local services info bank and offer practical support
•	Tailor support to each family’s needs and readiness


Episode 5: Bridging Early Childhood Education and Health Services with Dr Charmaine Bernie

Dr Miller reflects on her wide-ranging career in education, from rural Queensland to university lecturing, and how her respect for early childhood educators led her to study the Reggio Emilia approach in Italy. Vanessa discusses the importance of relationships, resilience, and community—especially in rural and remote settings—and how seeing children as capable and creative shapes meaningful learning.
Drawing on her doctoral research, Vanessa describes a participatory action research project where teachers and students co-designed their learning spaces using the Mosaic Framework. This process highlighted the power of collaboration, reflection, and designing for local context. Vanessa emphasises that learning environments should be flexible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of both teachers and students, and that co-designing spaces leads to more dynamic and engaging learning communities.
Key Topics
•	Vanessa’s career journey and inspiration from early childhood educators
•	The influence of the Reggio Emilia philosophy and the “hundred languages” of children
•	The value of relationships, resilience, and community in education
•	Participatory action research: teachers and students as co-designers of learning spaces
•	The Mosaic Framework for reimagining classroom environments
•	The importance of context, flexibility, and agency in educational design
•	Reflections on open-plan classrooms and adapting environments to diverse needs
Educator Takeaways
•	See learning spaces with fresh eyes: Use visual tools and collaborative reflection to reimagine environments.
•	Co-design with students: Involve students in shaping their learning spaces to foster ownership and engagement.
•	Value context: Tailor environments and pedagogies to the unique needs of each community.
•	Embrace flexibility: Create spaces that support different learning styles and modalities.
•	Prioritise relationships: Build strong connections with students, families, and colleagues to support holistic development.


Episode 6: Co-Designing Learning Environments: Lessons from Reggio Emilia with Dr Vanessa Miller

In this episode of Transforming Teaching, host Dr Katie Hotko talks with Dr Chris Speldewinde, lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Southern Cross University. Chris shares his research and experiences with Bush Kinders—nature-based programs that take learning beyond the classroom and into the wild.
We explore:

What Bush Kinders are and why they matter in Australia
How outdoor play supports STEM learning and creativity
Risk-taking, resilience, and the benefits of nature-based education
Challenges around access and equity
Practical tips for educators and families

Chris also reflects on his journey into this research and offers insights into designing rich, emergent learning experiences in natural settings.
Why Listen?
If you’re passionate about early childhood education, STEM learning, or innovative teaching practices, this conversation will inspire you to think differently about where—and how—learning happens.

Links/Further Reading:

Articles from The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-speldewinde-1441181/articles 

Engineering habits of mind in preschool children at Scottish forest nurseries and Australian bush kinders: https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/berj.4164


Episode 7: Bush Kinders: Nature-Based Learning in Early Childhood Education

In this episode of Transforming Teaching, host Dr Katie Hotko speaks with Dr Lisa Siegel, lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University and President of the Australian Association for Environmental Education. Lisa shares her journey into environmental education and why it’s about so much more than “reduce, reuse, recycle.”
We explore:

What environmental education really means
* Why connection and agency matter more than facts alone
* How early childhood education naturally aligns with sustainability principles
* Common misconceptions about teaching environmental education
* Practical strategies for embedding environmental learning across disciplines

Lisa also discusses her work with the Australian Association for Environmental Education and the importance of fostering ecological awareness in educators and learners alike.

Why Listen?
If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond tokenistic recycling lessons and inspire deeper environmental understanding, this conversation will give you fresh ideas and practical approaches.

Resources & Links:

Australian Association for Environmental Education: https://www.aaee.org.au/
Australian Journal of Environmental Education: https://www.aaee.org.au/get-involved/australian-journal-of-environmental-education/
Sustainability, Environment, and the Arts in Education (SEAE) Research Centre: https://www.scu.edu.au/education/research/sustainability-environment-and-the-arts-in-education-seae-research-cluster/ 

Transforming Teaching

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