Three internationally leading researchers open the symposium’s main sessions. Each keynote represents one of the analytical perspectives that the symposium brings together: playful foundations, design and materials, and computational and methodological approaches.
Marilyn Fleer
Laureate Professor, Monash University, Australia
Marilyn Fleer is a leading international researcher in early childhood education and cultural-historical theory, with a long record of work on play and early science learning. She founded the International Journal of Early Childhood Education Research, and she holds honorary positions at the University of Oxford, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and Aarhus University. Her keynote opens Day 1 and sets out the conceptual foundations of playful STEAM.
Cristina Sylla
Associate Professor, University of Minho / CIEC, Portugal
Cristina Sylla researches the design of digital and tangible technologies for children’s play and learning. She is principal investigator at the Research Centre on Child Studies (CIEC) at the University of Minho and coordinates the Erasmus+ project Co-Play STEAM. She has received the World Technology Award in 2013 and was general chair of IDC 2022. Her keynote on Day 1 focuses on design and materials.
Eva Brooks
Visiting Professor of Digital Learning, Halmstad University, Sweden
Eva Brooks is professor emerita at Aalborg University and works on computational play, co-design and digital learning. She founded the EAI International Conference on Design, Learning and Innovation in 2010 and has been a central figure in Nordic research on technology in early learning. Her keynote opens Day 2 and addresses computational and methodological approaches.