Play-Based Learning: Physical, Virtual, and Edcational

1. Play-Based Learning:Physical, Virtual, and Edcational Gail Matthews-DeNataleAssociate Dean, GPP, Emmanuel College

2. Central Questions • What happens when we are at play? Why is it "fun"? • What do we learn through the experience of play? • How is one type of play different from another; and how do differing play experiences result in different types of learning? • How can we draw on physical play experiences to inform the creation of virtual play, and by extension to create opportunities for educational play?

3. PhysicalPlay 3

4. What do the “Experts” Say? Koster – Fun = Challenge at Edge of Ability Osterweil – Four Freedoms of Play Sutton-Smith – The Ambiguity of Play Nat’l Institute of Play – Seven Types Strong Museum – Six Elements of Play Read more athttp://playfullearning.pbworks.com/Theoretical-Models-for-Play

5. National Institute of Play Attunement Body/Movement Object Play Social Play Imaginative/Pretend Storytelling/Narrative *Transformative/Integrative Read more athttp://playfullearning.pbworks.com/Theoretical-Models-for-Play

6. Strong Museum Anticipation Surprise Pleasure Understanding Strength Poise Read more athttp://playfullearning.pbworks.com/Theoretical-Models-for-Play

7. What is “Play”? Emergent collaborationand group process Open-ended “Convergent” process formultimedia composition Youth directed, Youth generated Deep engagement and personal investment ImprovisationRisk-taking Bricolage (Tinkering) ImitationFantasy ExperimentationMultiple drafts/iterations

8. Virtual Play (See Wiki Links) Scrapblog Wave VoiceThread Voki SurveyMonkey Jogtheweb Flickr Second Life Chartle Leaf Trombone Gliffy YouTube Mapmyself Jing Comeeko Myfloorplanner Glog

9. Virtual Play Exercise Working in pairs and using the links provided in the wiki, select one tool and "play" with it ... not just experiment with using it, but DO something playful in the same way that you played with the toys in part one. Note: Each playgroup will need at least one web-enabled laptop – groups of 3-4 are okay if you don’t have enough computers. 9

10. Virtual Play Debrief How did you use these technologies to play (not just play with them)? What kind(s) of learning took place during that play experience? 10

11. Something to Think About When you teach your students, or when you consult with faculty about their teaching, what educational problems are most vexing, most pressing? Which aspects of learning are most challenging for the students at your school, in your discipline, in the courses that you teach? 11

12. Break

13. Vexing Learning Challenges • motivating the uninterested • larger classes • learning spaces & problem-based learning • time constraints • engaging yourself vs. fulfilling requirement • encouraging self-reflection • differing ability levels • combating pre-professionalism • inconsistent technology between classrooms • network problems • drawing the line between virtual and corporeal education 13

14. Educational Play Exercise On each table is a sealed envelope that describes a higher education learning scenario. Your challenge is to select a 2.0 apps and create a play-based experience that meets your learning challenge. Be prepared to present your ideas to the whole group. 14

15. Educational Play Debrief How did you use play to “solve” your learning challenge? What were the discoveries and challenges along the way? 15

16. Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up 16

17. Thanks Gail Matthews-DeNatalematthewsdenataleg@emmanuel.edu