{"id":83187,"name":"Yetunde Kolajo","url":"","description":"My name is Dr Yetunde Kolajo. I was born in Nigeria, and I am Yoruba. I am thankful for my African heritage. My Nigerian culture has shaped the educator that I am today.\r\n\r\nMy interest in quality education and active learning, with a focus on nurturing critical thinking, developed during my time as a chemistry undergraduate. I observed that rote memorisation took precedence over genuine comprehension due to the instructional and assessment techniques used. This disparity between teaching and understanding sparked my interest in seeking and promoting more effective pedagogical approaches. I am convinced that there is potential to enhance understanding through improvements in curriculum delivery.\r\n\r\nSince transitioning from the corporate sector to academia, I have developed a multifaceted teaching portfolio, encompassing early childhood education (ages 0-5). My initial training as a secondary Chemistry teacher in Nigeria, followed by professional development in the UK for the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) when it was first launched in 2010, has allowed me to engage with various educational stages. Notably, the EYPS has since evolved into a master\u2019s qualification, now integral to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. My diverse experience\u2014spanning nursery, primary, and secondary education\u2014has been a catalyst for my decision to pursue a Ph.D.\r\n\r\nThrough my initiative, Academic Recipe & Menu, I aim to disseminate my insights and foster a community of educators dedicated to advancing teaching and learning in higher education. This platform will serve as a hub for sharing best practices, reflections, and innovations that promote educational excellence.","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/author\/sk882\/","slug":"sk882","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83187"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users"}]}}