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新聞稿                                                                         2019年6月4日

全港首個社區幼兒探索空間耀中幼教學院「Pamela Peck Discovery Space」隆重開幕  
弘揚遊戲中學習

Online version: http://www.public.seedland.hk/press/YCCECE/1906-Discovery_Space/
Press release and Photos: Click Here (OneDrive) or Download (Zip)

耀中幼教學院(YCCECE)於2018年6月由耀中教育機構(YCEF)成立,學院建基於耀中超過87年的豐富幼兒教育經驗,為亞洲首間專注幼兒教育的高等教育院校;而附設於耀中幼教學院的「Pamela Peck Discovery Space」,更為全港首個集學術研究、職前與在職老師培訓及社區參與於一身的幼兒設施,體現耀中一直秉持「遊戲中學習」的教學理念。設施現已落成,將於7月正式開放予公眾、學校及非牟利機構預約。「Pamela Peck Discovery Space」為耀中幼教發展中心的旗艦發展項目,中心將與預約機構的幼教老師合作舉辦活動,共建幼教未來。屆時受過專業訓練的學院學生亦會於「Pamela Peck Discovery Space」擔任導師,透過與幼童有更多相處的經驗,從而累積實習以外的寶貴經驗及研究機會,即時實踐課堂上的理論,為未來的教學打好基礎,可謂一舉數得。

「Pamela Peck Discovery Space」為全港首個特別為零至八歲的兒童及其老師、家長或照顧者而設計的探索空間,其饒富啟發性的獨特設計貫徹耀中「遊戲中學習」的教學理念,讓小朋友發展認知能力、人際關係以及情感與體能上的各種潛能,並培養他們對學習的正面態度。


Pamela Peck Discovery Space」的室內部份以地下鐵車廂、醫務所及超級市場等主題劃分區域,讓孩子在角色扮演的過中,發展情緒社交、語文、數學及其他能力。

「Pamela Peck Discovery Space」從設計至落成歷時約兩年,設施參考南韓、新加坡以及澳洲等多個幼兒教學設施的元素,由專業設計師團隊設計,並採納國際與本地特殊教育與嬰幼兒專家的專業意見建造而成。室外的互動花園讓小朋友可從攀爬設施上看到與別不同的景色,或於沙池自由創造全新事物或充當小小考古學家,或於探索區域戲水,上第一課的數學與科學課……設施除了訓練小朋友的體能,更讓他們體驗大自然中不同的質感和紋理。室內則設有多個主題區,讓小朋友盡情發展才能與興趣,包括香港仔特色帆船造型的攀爬設施、飾有竹棚的工地角落、用於角色扮演的專業工作間,地鐵造型的駕駛艙與車廂、讓孩子展現戲劇才能的小舞台,更設有樂器牆讓小朋友演奏樂章,在小空間內發揮無窮想像力。


看醫生對孩子來說相當可怕,角色扮演則可幫助他們瞭解看醫生的流程,進而減低恐懼。

耀中幼教學院校董會主席陳保琼博士表示:「『Pamela Peck Discovery Space』的開幕對耀中以至香港而言都是歷史性里程碑。當幼兒在他們世界周圍發現新事物之時,我們幼教教育者往往會用『Wow』這個正面字眼以表達衷心欣賞及尊重之情。我期望未來在這兒將會聽到很多『Wow』,而這些『Wow』正正是來自幼兒、老師、父母、祖父母、家傭以及其他體驗到探索及發掘的喜悅的人,如此便證明大家都體驗到幼兒教育及遊戲中學習的真正威力,明白到人工智能永遠無法取代專業的幼兒教育工作者!」


Pamela Peck Discovery Space」室外部份的鑽石形狀攀登架鼓勵兒童橫向攀爬,有助發展腦袋、下肢肌肉及空間概念。

耀中幼教發展中心總監Nicky Weir女士表示:「有賴『盡訴心中情基金』的慷慨捐款,極具前瞻性的『Pamela Peck Discovery Space』得以落成。由專業團隊設計的『Pamela Peck Discovery Space』根據嬰幼兒以至小學階段兒童的發展需要打造,為他們提供一個理想、饒富挑戰性、啟發潛能,並貫徹遊戲中學習教學理念的設施。」

有關耀中幼教學院 YCCECE
耀中幼教學院(YCCECE)成立於2018年6月,前身為耀中社區書院,由非牟利團體耀中教育機構於2008年成立。社區書院的成功升格,不僅鼓舞了盡心盡力培育幼師的教職員,更印證着耀中超過87年來致力推廣優質幼兒教育的豐碩成果。耀中幼教學院旨在培養充滿熱情和勇於創新的幼兒教育者,並盼他們不斷改進、尋求突破,引領業界跨越新領域,務求成為香港,以至亞太地區的幼兒教育樞紐。耀中幼教學院由本地及國際幼教專家掌舵,並配備多元文化及聞名國際的教學團隊。耀中幼教學院提供多元文化及全英語學習環境,以配合來自不同社經文化背景的本地和海外學生的教育需求,培育具備國際視野的幼兒教育專才。耀中幼教學院開辦幼兒教育榮譽學士學位、幼兒教育高級文憑課程以及幼兒學文憑課程。耀中幼教學院更竭誠為社區服務,並樂於與幼教界人士、家長與照顧者合作,並為幼教理念提供良好的實踐空間。因此,學院成立了耀中幼教發展中心(YCECDC),為幼兒教育從業者、家長及與照顧幼兒的人士提供各項持續專業發展課程。「Pamela Peck Discovery Space」是耀中幼教發展中心的旗艦項目,於2019年7月正式啟用,為來自不同階層的零至八歲兒童及其家長或其照顧者提供具啓發性的多元探索空間,讓成年人與孩子快樂地體驗遊戲中學習。

發稿:耀中幼教學院 
代行:一口田有限公司 
電話:3583 3100                傳真:3583 1331                電郵:info@seedland.hk

如欲查詢詳情、索取照片或安排專訪,歡迎致電9534 0813或電郵至 helena@seedland.hk 與Ms. Helena Hui聯絡,或致電6698 2252或電郵至 anne@seedland.hk 與Ms. Anne Fung聯絡。

 

 

Press release                                                                    4th June 2019

The first open-to-public specialist play-based learning hub “Pamela Peck Discovery Space”, the onsite facility of Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education, debuts

Online version: http://www.public.seedland.hk/press/YCCECE/1906-Discovery_Space/
Press release and Photos: Click Here (OneDrive) or Download (Zip)

Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) is built on Yew Chung Education Foundation’s (YCEF) proud legacy of cultivating meaningful Early Childhood Education (ECE) for over 87 years. The College is the first dedicated early education institute in Asia. It consists of the “Pamela Peck Discovery Space”, Hong Kong’s first play-based learning lab, aiming to promote the best practices in ECE that Yew Chung firmly believes in, while at the same time create synergies between academic research, pre-service and in-service teacher training, as well as community engagement. The facility will be available to all families, ECE centres, schools, non-profit organisations in July through appointments. “Pamela Peck Discovery Space” is the flagship programme of Yew Chung Early Childhood Development Centre (YCECDC). The Centre is also in charge of developing tailor-made programmes for children and their caregivers with enrolled ECE centres or organisations. The hub also offers an excellent opportunity for professionally trained YCCECE students to gain valuable first-hand experience as they take up teaching responsibilities at the hub, enabling them to immediately bridge theory and practice by consolidating their learning through child observations and interactions, conduct research, and preparing them to flourish as early childhood educators. 

The “Pamela Peck Discovery Space”, designed for children from birth to eight, and their teachers, parents or caregivers, aims at cultivating a positive attitude towards learning, and challenging children’s cognitive, social-emotional and physical development in a stimulating and enjoyable environment, i.e. via play-based learning, a philosophy that has always been pioneered and promoted by Yew Chung. 


The “Pamela Peck Discovery Space” is comprised of an MTR setting, a doctor’s clinic and a supermarket, allowing children to develop social-emotional skills, language skills, mathematic skills, etc. through role play.

Taking inspiration from South Korea, Singapore, and Australia, and seeking advice from many international and local ECE experts, including those from Special Education, Infant and Toddler, as well as professional artists, it took YCCECE almost two years to construct the “Pamela Peck Discovery Space”. The outdoor area of the hub boasts an interactive garden where children can experience the nuances and textures of the natural world, see the world from different perspectives while playing on the climbing frame or wall, creating a whole new city in the sand box or having a taste of archaeology, or learning about mathematics and science in the water exploration area. The indoor section offers a space where children can discover and develop their talents and interests. From the Aberdeen-inspired Junk Boat climbing frame, the Bamboo frame construction corner, the thematic role-play room, the MTR area with panels and a passenger car, the mini theatre where children can showcase their dramatic talents, to the instrumental wall that caters for musical creativity and performance, the possibilities are endless.


A doctor’s visit may be intimidating for some children. Through the help of role-play, they can have a better grasp of what it is like to walk into a doctor’s office.

Dr. Betty Chan, Chairperson of YCCECE Board of Governors, remarked, “The Opening of the ‘Pamela Peck Discovery Space’ marks a historic moment in the history of Yew Chung, as well as in the history of Hong Kong. ‘Wow’ is an optimistic word that Early Childhood educators like us would often use, when we express our amazement and genuine respect for young children as they make their new discoveries of the world around them. I pray that this learning hub will witness many ‘Wows’ from children, teachers, parents, grandparents, domestic helpers and countless others who experience the joys of exploration and discovery, and truly realise the power of Early Childhood Education and learning through play, and the importance of the ECE professionals who can never be replaced by artificial intelligence!”


The outdoor section of the “Pamela Peck Discovery Space” features a diamond-shaped climbing facility that encourage children to engage in side-climbing, an activity very important for the development of the brain, the core muscles and spatial awareness.

Ms. Nicky Weir, Centre Director of Yew Chung Early Childhood Development Centre, remarked, “We would not be here today without the generosity of the ‘Heart to Heart Foundation’, a foundation that shared in our dreams and enabled the creation of this innovative vision. The ‘Pamela Peck Discovery Space’ has been specifically and expertly designed to accommodate early childhood development from infants and toddlers through to early primary years, ensuring that children within this age range would find a desirable, challenging, stimulating, and learning-though-play home.”

About YCCECE
Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE), a registered non-profit institution, was established in June 2018. It builds on the former Yew Chung Community College (YCCC), which was started in 2008 by the Yew Chung Education Foundation (YCEF), also a non-profit organization. The success of the YCCECE is founded on the impressive track record of YCCC and YCEF’s more-than 87 years of experience in Early Childhood Education (ECE). YCCECE aims to nurture passionate and innovative early childhood educators who can advocate for and bring about improvement in the field, and seeks to be recognised in Hong Kong and in the Asia-Pacific region as an ECE hub for its excellence. YCCECE boasts an impressive team of world-renowned ECE academics and local ECE leaders as advisors and consultants.  Its teaching faculty hails from around the world, providing a wealth of international perspectives and expertise.  Its student body is also multi-cultural and from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. YCCECE offers Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education (BEdECE), Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education (HDECE) and Diploma in Early Childhood Studies (DECS). YCCECE is also committed to serving the wider community and sharing good practices with all who work with, care for, or care about young children. Thus, the College has established Yew Chung Early Childhood Development Centre (YCECDC) to provide Continuing Professional Development programmes for ECE practitioners, parents and caregivers. “Pamela Peck Discovery Space” in its Aberdeen campus is the flagship programme of YCECDC, with an interactive play space specifically designed for children aged 0 to 8 years old.  Through expert facilitation by Discovery Space staff, children and adults will joyfully learn through play. This innovative play space in the Aberdeen campus will be open to the public in July 2019.

Released by Seedland International Limited
On behalf of Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education

Media enquiries:
Tel: +852 3583 3100                     Fax: +852 3583 1331
Website: www.seedland.hk           E-mail: info@seedland.hk

Contacts:
Ms. Helena Hui (9534 0813 / helena@seedland.hk)
Ms. Anne Fung (6698 2252 / anne@seedland.hk)