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Dr. Yuwen Ma

Lecturer, Early Childhood

Contact

Campus

Mt Helen Campus

Biography

Dr. Yuwen Ma is a lecturer in early childhood education at the Institute of Education, Arts and Community. Her research focuses on play-based pedagogy, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, artificial intelligence (AI) in early childhood education, and teachers’ professional development.

Yuwen collaborates extensively with international scholars and early childhood educators to design and implement effective professional development programmes that support play-based learning and enhance children’s engagement in STEM. She is also involved in the Ararat Rural City Early Education Pre-Prep Best Start Leadership professional development and research program, where she contributes to the design of professional development modules to support teachers in implementing the three-year-old kindergarten Best Start, Best Life reform. She is affiliated with the Conceptual PlayLab at Monash University, where she contributes to research and practice in play-based pedagogy, particularly through the Conceptual PlayWorld approach.

Methodologically, Yuwen is experienced in both qualitative and quantitative research, with particular expertise in digital video observation and analysis. She is passionate about empowering young children through play and imagination in STEM learning. Her current research projects explore children’s engineering design thinking using 3D printing pens, the development of computational thinking within Conceptual PlayWorld, and children’s perspectives on artificial intelligence. 

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More about Yuwen

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Early Childhood Education), Monash University 
  • Master of Education (Early Childhood Education), Nanjing Normal University (China) 
  • Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching, Henan University (China) 

Areas of interest

  • Play-based pedagogy in early childhood education  
  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning in early years 
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) in education 
  • Teachers’ professional development 

Areas of expertise

Dr. Yuwen Ma’s expertise spans play-based pedagogy, particularly the Conceptual PlayWorld approach, early childhood STEM education, and the use of artificial intelligence in education. She has extensive experience in designing and delivering teacher professional development, with a strong emphasis on translating research into practice. Her methodological expertise lies in mixed-methods research, including survey design and analysis, as well as digital video observation and analysis. Yuwen works closely with educators and partners to support the implementation of early childhood policy and reforms. 

Grants

  • 2025–2026: The Ararat Rural City Early Education Pre-Prep Best Start Leadership professional development and research program ($120,000) 
  • 2023–2025: Re-Game: Gamification to improve retention in ECE via professional development. Victoria Workforce Training Innovation Fund, Collaboration with Y Ballarat ($1,400,000) 
  • 2020–2025: Research on the Theory and Practice of Kindergarten STEM Education Based on Deep Learning, Ministry of Education (PRC) ($40,000) 

Awards

  • 2022: Monash University Graduate Research Completion Award 
  • 2017: Outstanding Paper Award of International Postgraduate Round Table and Research Forum cum Summer School, Hong Kong 

  • Early childhood and primary education 
  • STEM education 
  • Numeracy and digital technology 

Specialist roles

  • ​​Assistant Editor, The journal of International Research in Early Childhood Education (IRECE)​ 

Professional association memberships 

  • Funding member of the Centre for Regional Education Research and Development, Federation University  
  • Member of the Social Justice, Inclusion, Diversity and Education Research group, Federation University  
  • Member of the Early Childhood Australia 
  • Member of the Australian Association for Research in Education 
  • Affiliate of Conceptual PlayLab, Monash University 

Projects and partnerships 

  • 2025–2028: Transnational Teacher Educators in Australian Higher Education
  • 2025–2027: Ararat Rural City Early Education Pre-Prep Best Start, Best Life Leadership Professional Development and Research Program
  • 2026–2028: Creating Conceptual PlayWorlds: Enhancing Computational Thinking Through Imaginative STEM Learning
  • 2026–2027: Young Children’s STEM Design Thinking in a Conceptual PlayWorld: Integrating 3D Printing in Early Childhood Education

Centre for Regional Education Research and Development (CRERD)

Yuwen is part of the Centre for Regional Education Research and Development (CRERD), a Victorian‑first research centre working to improve education outcomes for regional and rural communities. 

Social Justice, Inclusion and Diversity in Education (SJIDE)

Yuwen is part of the Social Justice, Inclusion and Diversity in Education (SJIDE) research group, which is focussed on equity, diversity, inclusion, opportunity, regionality and wellbeing in formal and non-formal educational settings.

Pedagogy, Curriculum, Assessment and Learner Engagement (PeCALE)

Yuwen is part of the Pedagogy, Curriculum, Assessment and Learner Engagement (PeCALE) research group, which explores how teaching, curriculum and assessment affect learning and engagement.
  • Publications

Exploring children's perceptions of family relationships in China through kinetic family drawing: insights from 5- to 6-year olds

End of Project Evaluation Report for The Y | Sandbox Project, WTIF Opp-4220

  • Report
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Innovating Professional Development in Early Childhood Education: The Integration of Generative AI and Gamification

  • Conference Proceedings
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Reimagining Digital Learning Through Imaginary Play: A Cultural-Historical Analysis of Children's Mathematical Learning

  • Conference Proceedings
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Exploring Technology-Based and Collective Play-Based Approaches to Chinese Children's Mathematical Learning: A Cultural-Historical Study

  • Conference Proceedings
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