Exploring Play/playfulness and Learning in the Adult and Higher Education Classroom
by David J. Tanis
Professor at Play Kevin Kelly posted a link in our Google Group to David Tanins’ 2012 disseration discussing play in higher educaton.
While I have not had a chance to read the dis, the abstract is compelling and on point:
“The findings revealed that educators associated the following elements with play and playfulness: fun, spontaneity, relationship and connection, silliness or goofiness, creativity and imagination. Furthermore, play and playfulness were most frequently manifested in the classroom through risk taking, storytelling, and physical activities. Students identified cognitive gains in terms of engagement, retention, and understanding. More significantly, students indicated that play and playfulness created a unique learning environment that felt safe and encouraged risk taking. Additionally, play and playfulness iv created positive affect such as fun, enjoyment, and laughter in the classroom environment.”
Wow.
One goal we have for the Professors at Play site and group is start collecting this kind of research in one discoverable place. We are seeking a critical mass of reviewed evidence that fun in higher education, is fundament!
— David