The 5th Biennial International Froebel Conference: Froebel College of Education, Dublin, 12-14 April 2012.
The 5th Biennial International Froebel Conference was held in Froebel College of Education, Dublin, Thurs April 12th – Sat. 14th with the theme of “International Perspectives on Froebelian Theory and Practice”.
The conference was opened by Marie McLoughlin, President, Froebel College of Education, Dublin.
Joachim Liebschner, author of A Child’s Work: Freedom and Guidance in Froebel’s Educational Theory and Practice (Lutterworth, 2006) and Foundations of Progressive Education: A History of the National Froebel Society (Lutterworth,1991) was unable to attend but sent a video message of good wishes which was relayed at the beginning of the conference.
Prof. Philip Nolan, President of National University of Ireland, Maynooth, of which Froebel College, Dublin is a part, attended on Friday.
105 delegates and guests from a wide variety of countries attended. Theorists, historians and practitioners from Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Norway, Spain, USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, New Zealand were among the presenters and delegates.
There were five keynote addresses by Prof. Helen May, University of Otago; Prof. Yumiko Suzuki , University of Hiroshima; Dr. Glenda Walsh, Queen’s University, Belfast; Dr. Kristen Nawrotzki, University of Education Heidelberg; Prof. Larry Prochner, University of Alberta.
39 symposia, workshops and paper presentations were held in parallel sessions.
Prof. Kevin Brehony, University of Roehampton closed the conference on Saturday.