How to get into Play-Based Learning: Part 1 - What is Play?
Summary
TLDRThis video script explores the significance of play in children's learning, emphasizing its role in forming neural connections and fostering curiosity. It challenges misconceptions about play, highlighting that it's not just fun but also a process-oriented approach that supports a growth mindset. The script introduces the concept of 'flow' in learning and discusses the importance of an intentional, play-based curriculum. It also addresses the role of educators in facilitating play, setting the stage for learning, and supporting students' metacognition. The video invites viewers to consider a balanced classroom structure that is neither overly structured nor completely unguided, suggesting that educators can actively engage in students' learning journey through inquiry and co-learning.
Takeaways
- 🧠 Childhood is critical for neuron development and strengthening connections through play.
- 👨🏫 Primary teachers view play as essential for student learning and ownership of their education.
- 🎉 Play is not just fun; it fosters emotional connections and long-lasting learning experiences.
- 🌊 Play encourages students to enter a state of 'flow' with challenging yet engaging learning opportunities.
- 🌱 An intentional play-based curriculum nurtures a growth mindset and cross-domain learning.
- 🤔 The educational value of play is often underestimated, with misconceptions about its role in learning.
- 🔬 Science is a process, not just knowledge, and play-based experimentation is a form of scientific research.
- 🎨 Process-oriented art activities value student expression over the appearance of a finished product.
- 🏫 A playful classroom balances structure and freedom, requiring an active but different role for educators.
- 🤓 Educators in a playful classroom respond to student curiosity and co-learn through an inquiry-based approach.
Q & A
What is the significance of play in a child's development according to the script?
-Play is crucial for children's development as it facilitates the formation of important neural connections and strengthens existing ones, fostering curiosity and learning through exploration.
How does the script define play in the context of education?
-Play is defined as a process-oriented activity that allows students to take ownership of their learning, promotes a growth mindset, and supports learning across various domains.
What role does emotional connection play in learning through play, as mentioned in the script?
-Emotional connection through play makes learning fun and memorable, leading to long-lasting educational outcomes.
How does the script suggest educators can encourage students to enter 'the zone' of learning?
-Educators can encourage students to enter 'the zone' by providing satisfying learning opportunities with appropriate challenges and ample time for full engagement.
What misconceptions about play does the script mention and how can they be addressed?
-The script mentions that play is sometimes underestimated in its educational value, and that science is often mistakenly seen as only a body of knowledge rather than a process. Misconceptions can be addressed by demonstrating that science includes behaviors like sorting, classifying, weighing, measuring, and active experimentation, all of which can be playful.
What is the role of the educator in a playful classroom according to the script?
-In a playful classroom, the educator's role is to set the environment for play, support metacognition, document student learning, and respond to student curiosity with an inquiry stance.
How does the script differentiate between a didactic and a laissez-faire classroom in terms of play?
-A playful classroom is neither didactic, where the educator dominates the learning process, nor laissez-faire, where there is no structure. Instead, it is enriched by the right amount of structure and support.
What is the importance of student choice and ownership in learning, as discussed in the script?
-Student choice and ownership are important as they allow students to take control of their learning, leading to a more engaged and meaningful educational experience.
How does the script suggest educators can gradually incorporate student choice into their classrooms?
-The script suggests that if students are accustomed to a more structured environment, educators can show how to gradually incorporate student choice by providing opportunities for choice within a structured framework.
What is the script's stance on the role of art activities in a play-based curriculum?
-The script advocates for process-oriented art activities that honor student expression and focus less on the finished product, encouraging creativity and self-expression.
What advice does the script offer for educators interested in implementing a play-based approach?
-The script encourages educators interested in a play-based approach to tune into the next video for more information on how to integrate play into their classrooms.
Outlines
🧠 The Importance of Play in Childhood Learning
This paragraph emphasizes the critical role of play in the development of children's neural connections and the strengthening of existing connections. It highlights children's innate curiosity and competence, which are best nurtured through play. The script includes a question posed to primary teachers about the meaning of play and discusses the concept of play as a means for students to take ownership of their learning. The paragraph introduces the idea of play as fun and emotionally engaging, which leads to long-lasting learning. It also touches on the concept of 'flow' and the importance of challenging yet satisfying learning opportunities that allow students to become fully engaged. The paragraph concludes with the assertion that an intentional play-based curriculum supports a growth mindset and cross-domain learning.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Neurons
💡Play
💡Student Choice
💡Growth Mindset
💡State of Flow
💡Science
💡Metacognition
💡Inquiry Stance
💡Structure and Support
💡Documentation
Highlights
Children are competent and curious, primed to explore and learn through play.
Play allows students to take ownership of their learning.
Play is fun and creates an emotional connection for long-lasting learning.
Play is process-oriented, encouraging students to enter a state of flow.
An intentional play-based curriculum supports a growth mindset.
The educational value of play is sometimes underestimated.
Science is a process that includes behaviors like sorting, classifying, weighing, and measuring.
Play-based experimentation is a form of research.
A process-oriented art activity honors student expression over an attractive finished product.
A playful classroom is enriched by the right amount of structure and support.
The educator's role in a playful classroom involves setting the environment for play.
Supporting metacognition is a key role for educators in a playful classroom.
Documenting student learning is an important aspect of a playful classroom.
In a playful classroom, educators respond to student curiosity with an inquiry stance.
An inquiry stance is like the mindset of a scientist, with teachers co-learning with students.
The next video will teach how to integrate play into your classroom.
Transcripts
>> Narrator: In childhood, neurons are forming important connections, and existing
connections are strengthened. Children, once viewed as empty vessels, are
competent and curious, primed to explore and learn through play.
We asked primary teachers, what does play mean to you?
[ambient classroom sounds]
So, what is play exactly?
Choice allows students to take ownership of their learning.
If your students are accustomed to a more structured environment, we'll
show how to gradually incorporate student choice into your classroom.
Play is fun, and an emotional connection makes for long-lasting learning.
Play is process oriented. Have you ever entered a state of flow, becoming deeply
immersed in an activity? Encourage students to enter "the zone" with
satisfying learning opportunities with just enough challenge, and large blocks
of time to become fully engaged.
An intentional play based curriculum supports a growth mindset,
and promotes learning across domains.
[ambient classroom sounds]
The educational value of play is sometimes underestimated. What are some common
misconceptions about play?
>> Leo, Ontario Science Centre Staff: We hear this all the time in our children's play area.
People ask, where's the science?
[record scratch] >> Narrator: What does science look like? We...asked the internet [confused sigh].
Science is more than a body of knowledge, or chalk on a blackboard. It's a process.
The process of science includes behaviors like sorting and classifying,
[ambient classroom sounds]
weighing and measuring,
[ambient classroom sounds]
and active experimentation.
>> Student voices: Treasure! I found the worm!
>> Narrator: Science can be playful, and play-based experimentation is research. A quick
internet search brings up thousands of picture-perfect craft activities that
require little creativity from students. What's wrong with this picture?
The educator seems to be doing most of the work. A process-oriented
art activity honors students expression, with less emphasis on an attractive
finished product.
[ominous dramatic music]
>> Azadeh, Educator: Giving students choice and ownership over their learning
doesn't mean my classroom looks like this.
[upbeat music] >> Narrator: If we imagine classroom structure on a continuum,
a playful classroom is neither didactic nor laissez faire.
It's enriched by just the right amount of structure and support. The educator's role
may be different, but it is no less active. It may involve:
setting the environment for play,
>> Student: Wow...
>> Narrator: supporting metacognition,
and documenting student learning.
>> Student: How?
>> Azadeh, Educator: How can we do it? What do you think?
>> Narrator: In a playful classroom, the educator
responds to student curiosity. An inquiry stance is like the mindset of a
scientist. The teacher is actively questioning, wondering, and co-learning
with their students. Are you interested in implementing a play-based approach,
but don't know where to start? Tune in to the next video to learn more
about how to integrate play into your classroom.
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