Masterclass- Brisbane; Navigating Risky Play in School Settings

Navigating Risky Play in School Settings.

A Masterclass with  International Experts Professor Mariana Brussoni and Dr Megan Zeni

Co-authors of  the book Embracing Risky Play at School 

This Masterclass will review the research supporting outdoor risky play, alongside practical implementation strategies and tools for successful implementation in  school settings.

It is designed to support educators, schools  and OSHC navigate existing systems to collectively re-think where and how learning happens.

The three hour masterclass will explore

• the basics of risky play (categories, examples of practice in schools, risks versus hazards/ roles and responsibilities etc)
• the principles of injury prevention, with an emphasis on understanding risks/hazards and designing learning environments that support staff who feel professionally vulnerable
• design features that support outdoor play and learning (loose parts, affordances for play & practical management tips and tricks)

Participants will

1) Gain understanding on the research behind risky play, and why it is important for children.

2) a framework for understanding how risky play supports all measures of wellness in childhood and

3) tools and resources for overcoming risky play challenges in the school context.

About the Presenters

Dr. Mariana Brussoni MA, BA, PhD

 is a Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine and scientist at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where she leads the Outside Play Lab.

Her award-winning research on outdoor risky play intersects injury prevention, risk, child development, public health and education to shift adults’ perceptions of risk, design play-friendly environments, and change systems to ensure all children have the time, space and freedom to play outside every day.  

Dr. Megan Zeni is an outdoor play and learning teacher consultant and researcher in the province of British Columbia, Canada. She brings 3 decades of professional K-7 teaching experience in classrooms, outdoor classrooms, and school gardens to her collaborations with teachers and school system leaders interested in building capacity for effective and sustainable implementation of risky play at school. She is currently on contract as an outreach teacher consultant for the Ministry of Education and Child Care in the province of British Columbia, Canada. This work includes supporting education professionals, district leaders, and elementary school teachers in the early years. 

Dr. Megan Zeni earned a PhD from the University of British Columbia in curriculum studies. Megan is also a Qualified Master Gardener (QMG) and loves to share exemplars that highlight how all academic content can be taught in a school garden.