by Lisa Forbes

Here’s the thing…I believe that play equals love. I know this might seem a little too hippie-ish for some people, but stay with me here. I’m not talking about the mushy gushy romantic love, that’s love in some settings but in terms of higher education the kind of love I’m referring to is more about the positive energy that exists between people when there’s a connection or positive interaction. If you haven’t read the book Love 2.0 yet, do yourself a favor and get a copy – you will never look at love in the same way again. You’re welcome in advance. 

I wonder if “love” can give us educators some guidance in being more effective in the classroom. In Love 2.0 Barbara Fredrickson talks about “love” being broader and more inclusive than we usually think of it (i.e., usually as only existing within romantic or familial relationships). She says love is the energy between any two people within a positive interaction – she calls it “positive resonance.” The interaction can be with a lover but it can also be with a friend, a colleague, a random stranger at the grocery store. The entire time I was reading Love 2.0 and whenever she talked about love, I was totally taken back by the descriptions of love being a mirror for the descriptions of fun and play. In that book, you could substitute the word “fun” in place of “love” and it would all still be true. 

So, I’ve decided that fun equals love and play is fun so: play = fun = love. 

I swear I have a point that’s relevant to teaching. Here it is…I think the best way to get students inspired to learn and in turn induce longer lasting learning is for the learning to be more engaging. There are many ways to do this but I think harnessing the power of play in learning is the key. 

I see “play” as an umbrella construct and within play there is playfulness, there’s games, and there’s fun. I think when people are having fun, they are laughing and enjoying themselves, when they enjoy themselves, they begin to build a sense of community, when there is a better sense of community, people feel more at ease and are more willing to be vulnerable. If people are more willing to be vulnerable, they are more likely to open themselves up to learning and making mistakes. When people are open to learning and making mistakes, they are learning more. And, that sense of community and belonging also increases positive resonance, thus, there’s love involved. Play = fun. Fun = love. Love = enhanced learning. 

Try viewing your attempts in the classroom through the lens of love (positive resonance). I wonder how it might shift things for you and your students. It did mine.