School of Community Studies EDUC6927: Sensory Play Research Proposal

This research proposal, submitted by a student at Unitec Institute of Technology for the EDUC6927 course, focuses on enhancing children's learning through sensory play. The student aims to improve their teaching practice by incorporating more sensory elements into the learning process. The proposal outlines the rationale for choosing this topic, emphasizing the importance of sensory experiences in early childhood development and addressing the limitations of current practices. The research employs an action research methodology, involving reconnaissance, intervention, and evaluation phases. The student defines specific research questions for each phase, detailing data collection techniques such as document analysis, research journals, questionnaires, interviews, and surveys. Ethical considerations, including informed consent and the protection of vulnerable children, are also addressed. The research seeks to understand the effectiveness of sensory play in promoting cognitive, social, and emotional development, while aligning with the values of Mana Maori. The project aims to contribute to the field of early childhood education by providing insights into effective sensory learning strategies.