Creative Play – Learning in Context (1973)
eLearning Central (eLC) is an educational resource portal developed by Richard Gentle to bring together, and provide access to, some of the most useful and valuable information and resources connected to education and learning that are currently available on the web. Although eLC is a UK site, some of the information is relevant further afield. One of the key themes of this website, is leaning in context and removing division and separation from learning. Sir Ken Robinson puts it well, below:
Non-commercial contributions are always welcome, so please make suggestions or comments via the contact page. Relevant advertising is possible – see terms here.
After several years working in the educational sector, I realised how challenging it could be to keep informed of what was, and is, going on. Plenty of information is available, but it can take time to find. Along with all of the usual curriculum changes, ICT is now an integral component of education at all levels. Having worked in School, College and University education since 1985 and been involved with elearning development in various ways from 2001 to 2012, I decided to create a central area for information and links to as many informative websites that I could find to help those looking for information and resources for their teaching and learning.
Most recent articles added to eLC
Inspired Teaching and Learning
(click on purple links. es = external site, opens new window)
Note: Dates shown in red are when item posted on eLC)
British pupils ‘struggled while learning at home’ (es) 22 July 2020
A majority of British children struggled to continue learning at home during the lockdown. The Office for National Statistics research found that of the 52% who struggled, three-quarters of parents gave a lack of motivation as a reason.
Finland Will Become The First Country In The World To Get Rid Of All School Subjects (es) 22 May 2020
In the UK, we would probably call this ‘Project led’ learning – common in our Primary and Junior schools. Perhaps this is the next step and one that I have often advocated as being one of a few ways to make education more relevant. (RG)
Coronavirus: ‘2m children face heightened lockdown risk’ (es) UK (25 April 2020)
Babies may learn most of their vocabulary from their fathers (es) 6 April 2020 (from 21 Feb 2020)
“It’s been suggested in various studies in the past that there are differences between the sexes when it comes to picking up new languages, but what about passing languages on?”
Here’s what a four-year-old should know [AU] (es) 5 Nov 2019
“That the single biggest predictor of high academic achievement is 
reading to children. Not flash cards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers, but Mum or Dad taking the time every day or night (or both!) to sit and read them wonderful books.”
Watch Paul Scheele – “Facilitating Brilliance” Training Video [US] (es) 2 Nov 2019
Arts education should not be a luxury, says Julie Hesmondhalgh [UK] (es) 20 Oct 2019
“The government are leading on this idea that you teach spelling and punctuation and grammar, but what you really need to do is inspire children, and there is no time for that in the national curriculum. Without time, what you have will be sad and meagre and thin.” – Philip Pullman (interview by Sara Keating, arts and features writer with The Irish Times) [UK] (es) 12 Oct 2019
An outdoor primary school has opened in south London where children spend 95 per cent of their days outside — even in winter [UK] (es) 4 Oct 2019
Crisis café for people at risk of suicide and self harm opens in Huddersfield [UK] (es)
Mindfulness And Meditation Will Now Be Part Of The Curriculum In 370 Schools In England [UK] (es) May 2019
Articles on UK Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, and related subjects (es) Sat 9 Mar 2019
Give older children story time to halt fall in young readers, urge experts (es) Tue 5 Feb 2019
“The Department for Education states that nothing is more important than ensuring every child can read well, and the way to do this is to instil a passion for reading for pleasure. This won’t be achieved by guided reading lessons and tests. Space must be made in the school day for story time,” said David. “Teachers are vastly overburdened by the curriculum and unless time is made for story, then it won’t happen for all children every day, which it needs to – for our children’s futures.”
Climate strike: Schoolchildren protest over climate change (es) Fri 15 Feb 2019
Researchers to track impact of arts activities from birth to 25 (es) Fri 25 Jan 2019
Pupils unable to read is ‘a scandal’, says minister (es) 31 July 2018
Antidepressant prescriptions for [UK] children on the rise (es) 24 July 2018
(950,000 prescriptions issued between April 2015 and March 2018)
The great academy schools scandal (es) 22 July 2018
Curiosity may be a more important trait to foster in children than self-control (es) May 2018
Disturbing trend afoot in kindergartens (es) April 2017 Also watch video: Ken Robinson – Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Artificial Intelligence Is About To Dramatically Change The E-Learning Industry (es) March 2018
The 14 most innovative schools in the world (es) October 2016 (2018)
Elon Musk’s Private School for Kids (es) and previous interview (es) February 2018
Free eBook: 10 Practical Principles For Creating Impactful eLearning (es)
Dear Nicky Morgan: so much for freeing schools from ‘government diktats’ – Michael Rosen “The education system is ‘working’ – in the same way that dying cures illness.” (es) (Richard’s opinion) April 2016
Creating is not just a ‘nice’ activity; it transforms, connects and empowers (es) March 2016
Children should learn mainly through play until age of eight, says Lego (es) March 2016 (Richard’s opinion)
3 Subjects Schools Should Teach To Improve The World (Meditation, Nutrition, Law of Attraction)