The Joy of Play Educator’s Conference 2021
Five day virtual event from 18th to 22nd January 2021
Following on from the success of our 2019 & 2020 events, this conference is for primary and ECE teachers and other professionals with an interest in the use of play as a pedagogical tool for children’s learning. Longworth Education is excited to hold this event for 2021 in an online format to allow wider access to the conference for all interested, and enable our online attendees access to all of our guest speakers.
Celebrating learning through play at school
Online 2021 Conference details
18-22 January 2021
Conference Date
$280 +GST
Registration Fee
Register for the 2021 conference by completing the registration form on this page.
Pay directly via credit card, or request an invoice for your school
Click here to Register
Those attending this event will have access to
3 keynote speakers
Including Tim Walker (Finland), Joseph Driessen (New Zealand) and Jason Gunn (New Zealand)
A live Q&A session
With Tim Walker from Finland, via a private Facebook group dedicated to providing networking opportunities for all delegates of the conference
ALL breakout speakers
Presenting at the event. This is an exciting offer for those who would previously only be able to participate in FOUR breakout sessions at our face to face event. These will be pre-recorded, and available ‘on-demand’ – so no need to be seated in front of your screen at a designated time, unless you choose to do so.
Access to ALL recorded presentations
For a further month after the event has concluded (recordings available until 28 February). This allows attendees to choose when they wish to listen to event material and to re-visit presentations as required.
Access to a private Facebook group
Dedicated to share ideas, network and learn from others participating in the online event.
Speakers 2021
Keynote Speaker
Timothy D. Walker
Timothy D. Walker is a U.S. primary school teacher living in Espoo, Finland.
He is the author of Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms, which was translated into more than a dozen languages. His forthcoming book—co-written with Finnish scholar Pasi Sahlberg—is entitled In Teachers We Trust: The Finnish Way to World-Class Schools.
Inspired by his work in Finland’s schools, Timothy speaks internationally about play, trust, and joy in education.
Timothy will be presenting virtually and will be available live for a Q&A session.
Second Keynote Speaker
Joseph Driessen
Joseph Driessen is the director of Education Answers, an International Educational Consultancy based in New Zealand, specialising in the professional development of teachers and parents.
Joseph focuses his research on international best teaching and parenting practices, and is much in demand as a speaker, facilitator, and education consultant.
Joseph has a number of education fields he is interested in, including the importance of understanding the learning needs of boys, the importance of the formation of secure attachment relationships by the child with both parents and teachers, the vital importance of fostering best practice teaching skills in the classroom, and the development of research based behaviour management skills by both parents and teachers.
Closing Speaker
Jason Gunn
Jason Gunn has worked in New Zealand broadcasting for almost 40 years across both radio and television. As a host, presenter, director and writer he is best known for co-hosting hit show Dancing with the Stars, and game shows The Rich List and Wheel of Fortune.
Television
Jason got his start in children’s television, becoming a household name with Jase TV and the long running The Son of a Gunn Show, he also then hosted McDonald’s Young Entertainers.
Jason has also appeared in Celebrity Treasure Island, and most recently presented the show ‘You’re back in the room’.
Jason will close the conference with just the right sense of play to end a brain-challenging day.
Speakers 2021
– “Ubiquitous learning, on a wave of change: School vision is amplified through our play pedagogy”
Matua Ngaru School
– “Assessment in Learning through a Play Environment”
– “Real teaching in a play-based setting: What does this even mean?”
Longworth Education
– “Effective Leadership to Support, Grow & Embed Pedagogy & Philosophies of Play in the School Environment”
Principal, Oropi School
– “Supporting Teachers to Implement Play: Perspectives of RTLB, and Itinerant Support Workers”
Longworth Education
– “Assessment in Learning through a Play Environment”
– “Play Pedagogy and Collaborative Teaching”
Te Atatu Intermediate & Henderson North Primary
– “Developing Literacy through Play: Creating Invitations & Story Tables”
Longworth Education
– “Meaningful Literacy & Maths Experiences in Play”
Thursday 21 January 2021
– “Engaging Conversations: Developing Oral Language through Play”
Ed Connect NZ
– “Supporting Mathematical Thinking in a Learning through Play Classroom”
Longworth Education
– “Meaningful Literacy & Maths Experiences in Play”
– “A Healing Path through Play”
Play Therapist, New Zealand
– “What does Teaching and Learning through play look like in a senior school classroom?”
Willow Park School
– “Playing during a Pandemic: Balancing play with parental academic expectations at home”
Longworth Education
– “Assessment in a Learning through Play Environment”
Friday 22 January 2021