Kumara Ward

I have decided I can no longer post on or engage with X in any way. It has clearly lost its way and no longer represents reasonable thinking, feeling, empathetic human beings - and certainly not the interests of the planet on which we live. I have moved to Bluesky.

The link below will take you to our latest research and report for NatureScot: Engaging engagement with Dundee (NEED) Wee Forests and Green Spaces: eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%…

Advice: Making streets more child-friendly’ - @PlacemakingUK placemakingresource.com/article/184933… Streets need to be designed so that they are not just traffic corridors, but are social spaces where young people feel safe and can have fun. The needs of children have gained prominence recently among politicians in the UK. The @CommonsLUHC select committee set up in November an inquiry into how the built environment could enhance the health and wellbeing of children and young people. The committee is seeking evidence and examples from practitioners of policy and good practice that are improving children and young people’s experiences in the built environment. Below are five key ideas for making streets child friendly. 1. Consider neighbourhoods as a whole Rather than looking at individual streets, councils need to review neighbourhoods and the way children can move independently around them. #FreerangeUrbanNeighbourhoods #FUN 2. Reduce car parking and widen pavements Pavements outside the home can be the first opportunity for unsupervised exploration by younger children. Councils should look at widening them, which may involve reducing the number of car parking spaces 3. Engage and understand children Infant and primary school children can give useful insights into how their streets can be improved. Planners and civil engineers need to look at streets through the lens of children and young people. Streets feel a lot different when you’re only 95cm tall. 4. Promote play streets Residential streets should be seen as the extension of children’s home where they can play out safely. Councils can encourage communities to set up play streets by making it easier for them to get streets closed. 5. Focus on routes to school Routes to school can provide a focus for improving children’s experience of streets because there is a clear group of young people who will benefit. After school the children can continue to play on the street. School streets can become oases of play and interaction among children. Where it is not possible to close roads around schools because they are on major roads, councils should look at widening the pavements #Playce #Splace #PlayStreets #StreetPlay #SchoolStreets #FreePlay #KnowBallGames #PlaySufficiency #UNCRC 🏫🚸🌿🍁🍂🪵 🚲 🛴 🛹🛼 🛝 🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏾👩‍🦽🚴🏿🚏🚶🏻🤸🏾‍♂️🤸🏼‍♂️🌳🏘️

@f_k_campbell Get well soon Fiona!

Able to write now. Been in hospital again ( in my second week) , this time with sepsis to a finger and palm. Three surgeries later, amputation avoided, although things are in delicate balance. Will get news tomorrow

@KumaraWard opens her presentation on Arts, Econnection and Education for Sustainability: From the Anthropocene to Practical Post Humanism at #ECER2023.

This post looks at the dynamic process in the natural world that can become an underpinning element of our cirruculum. kumaraward.com/2023/05/08/a-s…

Bog 4 in the IAPENE Series: What is education if we can not apply it to ecological wellbeing and living sustainably and regeneratively on planet earth? kumaraward.com/2023/03/31/pri…

Awe, Wonder, Fear and Fascination kumaraward.com/2023/02/21/awe…

Published: Scottish Government report on Learning for Sustainability: young people and practitioner perspectives. Thanks to the great team who worked with me on this research. gov.scot/publications/l…

The discussion in this blog explores some of the theory and practice implications for working with the children perceptions of the natural world, the way in which they interpret and represent their understandings. and how this may impact on our pedagogy. kumaraward.com/2023/02/07/sen…

Click here to be part of the conversation about sustainability in education in our climate changed world! What does it look like in your school or setting? How can we prepare young people to live regeneratively on our planet. What do they say or want? kumaraward.com/2023/01/23/sus…

Join me and @GordonBrown and sign this petition via @38degrees calling on the UK government to hold an Emergency Budget to act on poverty and boost Universal Credit immediately! act.38degrees.org.uk/act/Universal-…

@Rachcowps @pasi_sahlberg @ProfGraemeRoy @BalticAp @LEGOfoundation Absolutely! This means it is just as important to get children playing and learning outdoors as it is to ensure good air quality in classrooms! If government support schools do both we would be on a constructive path developmentally and educationally.

In a world were COVID has dominated our lives, it really is the time that we as adults ensure children have the best opportunities in life, to learn and develop through play? What do you think @pasi_sahlberg @KumaraWard @ProfGraemeRoy @BalticAp thanks for sharing @LEGOfoundation

@danielamermalta @DundeeTEPs @TEPsY3Scot Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

It was so joyous! I felt so lucky to be there, and so proud of you all! ❤️ @DundeeTEPs @TEPsY3Scot

Leesa Wheelahan @leesaw2 @OISEUofT argues that competency-based education training denies students access to the theoretical knowledge they need to fully participate in their occupational field of practice buff.ly/3ttB1Ze @uoftlibraries

. @GavinWilliamson on @BBCNews , talking about NO windows in classrooms! For goodness sake - GO OUTSIDE - better ventilation, better for childrens physical & emotional health. Surely curriculum allows #learningoutdoors! Saves £s on CO2 monitors...& lets look at better sch design

@timkelly369 May you continue to engage in reckless adventure. Keep it to remind you!

@tonialgray @Alex_Harper1 @AlexiaBarrable @dylancerddora @MarkFLeather @drheidismith @taloeffler @PhilMMullins @bethchristie__ @hayes_tracy @loynes_chris @Ericbrymer @PassyRowena @Rachcowps @pasi_sahlberg Here is hoping! See you there Tonia!

This should be fantastic if we can do international travel in 12 mths time @KumaraWard @Alex_Harper1 @AlexiaBarrable @dylancerddora @MarkFLeather @drheidismith @taloeffler @PhilMMullins @bethchristie__ @hayes_tracy @loynes_chris @Ericbrymer @PassyRowena @Rachcowps @pasi_sahlberg

@myGovau The listed number to call from overseas does not exist (according to voice message). Please provide a new number for Australian expats to call.

elene4life.eu/project-output… elne4life MOOC: Active Learning for Soft Skills is now live. Ensure your students are actively engaged online or in the classroom, and that your assessment is well-aligned with lesson content & learning outcomes, while incorporating important soft skills.