Playful learning
NEW: A vision for education and skills at Newcastle University: Education for Life 2030+
What is playful learning?
In higher education, playful learning is a pedagogical approach that uses the principles of play—freedom, exploration, and experimentation—to promote intellectual development, creativity, and problem-solving. Playful learning invites both educators and students to think, explore, and innovate in a flexible and stimulating environment. This approach is not about abandoning academic rigour but enriching the learning experience by creating spaces where curiosity and imagination can thrive.
Playful learning is often misunderstood as synonymous with games or frivolity, leading some to dismiss its academic value. However, play is not limited to games. It encompasses open-ended, creative activities like storytelling, role-playing, and experimentation. It is also distinct from active learning, though they overlap in promoting engagement and exploration. Importantly, playful learning is not aimless or unstructured—it is a thoughtful and intentional method.
We need to play, not just to relieve our stresses, but because play makes us better at the complex, challenging, horizon-stretching work that a university needs to do.
Key benefits of playful learning
Many authors have summarised key advantages of the use of games in higher education which can be applied to playful practice more generally.
- Playful learning can significantly motivate and engage learners, particularly those from underserved groups or with different languages. For example, the use of LEGO® Serious Play® in UK higher education classrooms has been shown to help international students communicate their ideas more successfully and confidently (Savage and Faulkner 2018)
- It provides opportunities for practising specific skills, such as literacy and numeracy, in an engaging and interactive manner.
- Learners can role-play particular jobs and professions, gaining valuable experience and insights before entering real-life practice
- Playful learning empowers learners to become authors and producers of multimedia, mixed media, and game-based content, fostering creativity and innovation
- It embodies the principles of problem-based and experiential learning, encouraging learners to tackle real-world problems in a hands-on manner
- It enhances learning through mentorship and guidance from individuals with more knowledge or experience, promoting collaborative learning.
Meaningful and effective play
For playful learning to be effective, certain key elements need to be in place, as identified by Whitton and Langan (2019):
- Stimulating Pedagogy: Activities that incorporate novelty, surprise, and real-life, experiential learning.
- Engaged Lecturers: Teachers who are passionate and knowledgeable, acting as facilitators rather than mere knowledge deliverers.
- Safe Learning Space: A sense of comfort with peers, acceptance of risk and failure, and a playful, humorous atmosphere.
- Shared Experience: Collaboration, discussion, and valuing diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives.
- Low-Stress Environment: Minimal pressure and anxiety, often linked to reduced focus on assessments and giving learners control over their learning.
The 'Magic Circle'
The concept of the "magic circle", borrowed from gaming, highlights the importance of a distinct, safe play space where new rules of behavior and interaction can flourish. Within this space, learners are free to experiment, fail, and learn without fear, fostering creativity and innovation.
However, simply incorporating games or playful methods does not automatically create a meaningful learning environment. The magic circle relies on trust, inclusivity, and co-created safety, built over time among learners and educators. When these conditions are met, playful learning can unlock creativity, collaboration, and deeper engagement.
Playful tools
Playful tools are the objects, artefacts, and technologies that create and signify the existence of a playful learning environment. These tools can be used to encourage or develop a sense of playfulness among learners. They may include both digital and traditional games and toys, such as LEGO®, and can take various forms to enhance the learning experience.
Examples of Playful Tools
- Games: Structured activities that have rules and objectives, designed to challenge and engage learners.
- Toys: Physical objects like LEGO® or playdough that can be manipulated to represent concepts or ideas.
- Simulations: Interactive scenarios that mimic real-world processes or techniques, allowing learners to practice and experiment in a controlled environment.
- Puzzles: Challenges that require problem-solving and critical thinking to complete, fostering engagement and cognitive development.
- Virtual Environments: Digital spaces where learners can interact, explore, and learn in immersive settings.
Playful techniques
Playful techniques are learning and teaching approaches that encapsulate elements of play or evoke playfulness in learners. These methods engage students in active participation, creativity, and critical thinking, making learning experiences more dynamic and enjoyable. Techniques such as role-play, performance, and making or building are particularly effective in bringing out the playful side of learners.
Examples of Playful Techniques
- Role Play: Engaging students in role-playing scenarios to simulate real-life situations, enhancing empathy, communication skills, and practical understanding.
- Making: Encouraging hands-on activities where students create or build models, crafts, or projects, fostering creativity and deeper comprehension of concepts.
- Performance: Using dramatic performances or enactments to explore and express ideas, promoting engagement and retention of information.
- Problems: Presenting learners with challenges or puzzles to solve, stimulating critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Quests: Designing learning activities as quests or adventures, motivating learners through goal-oriented and exploratory tasks.
Playful tactics
Playful tactics are strategies, devices, or characteristics that infuse playfulness into various contexts. These tactics transform conventional activities into engaging and enjoyable experiences by incorporating elements of surprise, humour, chance, and more. By creatively designing and reframing activities, educators can make learning more interactive and fun.
Examples of Playful Tactics
- Surprise: Introducing unexpected elements to keep learners engaged and curious.
- Humour: Using comedy and light-heartedness to create a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment.
- Chance: Incorporating random elements, such as spinning a wheel, to add excitement and unpredictability.
- Competition: Encouraging friendly competition to motivate and challenge learners.
- Storytelling: Using narratives to make information more relatable and memorable.
- Mystery: Adding elements of intrigue and puzzle-solving to stimulate curiosity.
- Badges: Awarding digital or physical badges for achievements, fostering a sense of accomplishment and progression.