iPads, MakerEd and More in Education

We tend to view recess as a break from learning. However, free play is actually a vital part of the learning process. Play boosts divergent thinking, flexible thinking, and creativity. It helps students learn critical social-emotional skills. Unfortunately, in many schools, students are losing recess in an effort to move “back to basics.” However, this well-intentioned trend is short-sighted and misses the critical role of play in student learning.

"I now feel a deep sense of urgency about Dr. Gray’s appeal to teachers, parents, and community members to make play a priority again. Three California educators who also heard the talk—Eric Saibel, Scott Bedley, and Tim Bedley—responded to that call in 2015. Along with a group of other educators, they launched Global School Play Day, a full day in February set aside to just let students play. All day long. Now in its fifth year, Global School Play Day has spread across the world. Although one day out of the year isn’t nearly enough, they are hoping that the day will inspire schools to build more time for unstructured play into every school day."

 

The nation's doctors are being enlisted in a new fight: reclaiming children's right to play. A research paper urges pediatricians to prescribe playtime.

Our recent activity development around Light Play led to a synergistic moment as I began to wonder whether cut paper installations I’ve created might allow for some interesting explorations, especially around creating collaborative light environments. So for two days this week, we filled the Tinkering Studio’s workshop space with cut paper crowds and invited people to collaborate in activating the installation using Light Play.

I have always had a love for hands on learning and play. I have seen this type of learning continue to get stifled in schools with all the pressures mounting on schools, teachers, and students. As stress, fatigue, anxiety, and burnout continue to increase for both students and adults I see a bigger need to help support education with infusing more play and wonder into the classroom.

I have decided to do something about it. After leading several PD sessions and workshops using LEGO and other materials as a way to bring excitement to learning I realize I can do more.

Starting the week of April 15th I will begin a 6 week course on Purposeful Play using only LEGO.

Every educator knows that children, especially those 4 to 7, learn a great deal through play. Harnessing that power for classroom learning can be tricky, though.

Teachers may, for example, hesitate to let go of control and allow students to follow their own learning paths; they may worry that the learning that takes place during play will be difficult to assess. And they must respond to growing institutional pressure to meet standards. But it is possible. Here are some suggestions for how to incorporate play in the classroom.

Can designing games about real-world issues teach students empathy, systems thinking, and design thinking? After organizing a series of game jams last year around serious social issues—immigration, climate change, future cities—I discovered the answer to be an overwhelming yes.

Educational apps can create the dynamic, engaging, playful world of learning that you might not always be able to yourself. Here are 10 apps worth downloading.

The announcement that the University of Cambridge has appointed the world’s first Lego professor of play gives new meaning to the phrase “red-brick university”. Professor Paul Ramchandani will lead a team “examining the importance of play in education”. And, presumably, building awesome spaceships that turn into Durham Cathedral.

I have a one-year-old son who might agree; try as I might, I just cannot get him to recite Homer or parse a sonnet. I have, however, watched in childish joy as he tumbles through Duplo and teddy mountains, rolling in grass like an explorer on a new planet. It is a new planet – new to him. All he wants to do, it seems, is play.