I was one of those people.
I've been at Accelerator a CORE event over the last two days. Prior to this, I wouldn't have called myself an innovator. I do now.
My own personal education was industrial type schooling. Fitting in was more important than being different.
As an educator myself now, my greatest delight is in helping students discover their unique strength. Valuing difference is one reason I love play based learning.
Accelerator offers a scaffolded researched workshop to support innovation.
My team came up with something totally different. We begun with a problem and then went through a series of thinking tools and iterations to uncover original solutions. I particularly enjoyed having mentors throughout the process. The mentors from outside of education were the most helpful. The challenges of pitching an idea like on the Dragons Den really helped us to get clarity on our product.
It got me thinking about the skills I was using and the ones I see in our learning environment.
Key thinking skills in a quality play-based environment
Brainstorming
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| Students try different ways of making a Beyblade arena. |
Thinking of as many different ideas as possible. Divergent thinking.
Akonga find opportunities to brainstorm in play.
Barriers or Beautiful constraints
Having to stick to boundaries and timeframes - deductive thinking.
Jay has an original idea. He wants to create a house for My little ponies. He sets about working out how to do this. From many possibilities, his thinking becomes clearer, and the end product is made. From many to one. Is it what he originally saw in his imagination? The process of design is stunning at 7. No one teaches him how to do this.
In the play, there is often not the thing you actually need. So a container is used for a boat, or a hat, or a dog. Even better the imagination allows for these things to be present in a game in a non-concrete form. Learners practice adaptability, moving ideas quickly, pivoting, breakthroughs, process.
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| One of Jay's many creations leading up to his My Little Pony mansion. |
Time is provided to create. Creativity valued as learning.
Sir Ken Robinson says " If we don't grow into creativity we grow out of it or rather get educated out of it." "Creativity is now as important as literacy and we should treat it with the same status."
Prototyping
Being able to try something out on a smaller scale allows your imagination to become visible.
Complexity and mindset
Play allows space for learners to make their ideas and try them out. Play values creativity. Play provides an opportunity to learn perseverance, keeping going even when things are tough. Being able to let go of ideas quickly, in order to try something new.In a play based learning environment, the idea of flow is supported. Uninterrupted time to create. The ability to try many times over several days and weeks. Play encourages co-operation and the sharing of ideas. Best of all, play provides an authentic context for students' to learn design.
It is my observation that children are hungry for play. They naturally learn this way. The best thing educators can do is provide opportunities for creativity to happen through the natural ability of play.
Thanks so much, CORE, for a totally brain numbing, fun, creative experience which has left me with lots to think about as an educator.
Post Note: The role of the teacher in Play-based learning is that of a mentor. Taking on the role of mentor as an Educator is very different to how teachers have identified their role in the past. It is this that takes some working through. Teachers have traditionally been the ones with all the answers and leading the way. I was reminded that the real power of mentorship is providing suggestions, in real time when they are needed. Knowing which mentor, when, and how to offer is the key.
