PlayBased Learning Physical Virtual and Educational ELI PreConference

Play-Based Learning: Physical, Virtual, and Educational ELI Pre-Conference Workshop 1/19/10 1

Gail Matthews-De. Natale Barbara Draude Interim Director, Academic Technology, Simmons (to 1/22/10) Associate Dean, Grad. Programs Emmanuel College (2/8/10) Assistant Vice President for Academic and Instructional Technologies Middle TN State University Workshop Wiki: http: //playfullearning. pbworks. com Now for Your Introductions!

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?

Physical Play 4

What Do The “Experts” Say? Kaster – Fun = Challenge and Mastery Osterweil – Four Freedoms of Play Sutton-Smith – The Ambiguity of Nat’l Institute of Play – Seven Patterns Strong Museum – Six Elements of Play Outlined in the workshop wiki http: //playfullearning. pbwiki. com/Theoretical-Models-for-Play Bib/webibliography includes links for further reading http: //playfullearning. pbwiki. com/Bib. Webliography

Virtual Play (links are in the wiki) www. onlinedegree. net/100 -essential-2 -0 -tools-for-teachers web 2 educationuk. wetpaint. com Scrapblog Voice. Thread Voki Survey. Monkey Jogtheweb Flickr Second Life Leaf Trombone You. Tube Comeeko Glog Wave Gliffy Jing Chartle Mapmyself Myfloorplanner 6

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. 7

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? 8

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? 9

Break 10

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. 11