Instructional Ecology

Instructional Ecology


Play

May 11, 2023

Play!


Over the course of the 20th century, research brought to light what now seems obvious: that playing is how children learn first and best about the world and their lives in it. But in our culture, adults usually are not supposed to be seen to play. Does this mean that we're sacrificing a source of learning possibility? Is there a place for play as learning in higher education? Our two guests this week say, yes!


Stan Frost directs our Mechatronics program in the School of AMST and he is adamant that the time students spend "playing" deliberately on the training machines is the most fruitful learning time of his classes. And Ilene Fins, our Theater professor, literally teaches the art of (the) play. Both will talk about how they work to create a classroom environment that allows and encourages play and what it offers students for learning and growth.


https://sites.google.com/view/iepod/s3-episode-5