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4.6.2018

Meet the HundrED Team: Natalie Day, Researcher, HundrED

Get to know Natalie Day, Researcher at HundrED

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, I'm Natalie and I'm a Researcher at HundrED.

I'm a trained Science teacher and turned to academia after completing my masters in Psychology and Education at the University of Cambridge, eager to contribute towards producing research that can reach wider audiences. As well as working with HundrED I am also involved in academic research at Cambridge, working on playful pedagogies in early childhood. I'm passionate about educational research and how it can inform change at a grass-roots level. I have planned and delivered teacher workshops in the UK, and Denmark alongside The LEGO Foundation, offering research insights to support practitioners in developing pedagogical change.

Why do you want to work at HundrED?

For me, HundrED is filling the void between academia and practice. There is so much innovative and inspirational practice out there, but often the channels to widespread dissemination aren't accessible. HundrED is seeking out these amazing practices and sharing them with the world. Successful education is all about sharing and offering up different perspectives. Everyone at HundrED is passionate about education... I'm right at home!

Why should we change our schools?

My view of what schools are for has evolved throughout my experiences in education. In this ever-changing world, we owe it to our children to prepare them for an environment that we don't yet know anything about! The world is a fast-moving, fast-developing place and we need to prepare them with the necessary skills to succeed. For me, these are resilience, flexible thinking strategies, problem-solving, and autonomy. Giving our children choice and ownership in their education is vital to sustain motivation, curiosity and inspiration in order for them to be lifelong learners.

Why is innovation in education crucial today?

There's no magic answer or a correct way to educate. We can get stuck, governed by policy and standard practice but when we are exposed to innovation we, as educators, become inspired ourselves. Reigniting passion is infectious, and passing that on to our students can only be a good thing!

Three HundrED innovations you love.

Global Learning

Research shows us how beneficial collaborative learning and discussion is, and these project-based learning opportunities offer an opportunity to collaborate on a global scale working in sustainable environmental issues. The process is very scientific which I love; involving research, discussion and reflection.

Green Educator Course

As an advocate for teacher professional development, I love this idea of teaching educators about sustainability and encouraging a global network. Each passionate teacher can return and share their new-found knowledge, disseminating great practice and improving sustainability education in schools.

SHINE for Girls

Challenging gender imbalances in STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), this innovation boosts confidence in a traditionally male subject. Mathematical subject content is combined with dance, such a great focus!

 

Keep up to date?

Email: natalie.day@hundred.org 

Twitter: Natalie4Day