Blog Archive
#WePlayChat
by David Thomas Lisa and I had a chance to particiapte in a Twitter chat hosted by the US Play Coaltion. You can enjoy the results here: If you missed the latest #WePlayChat on #Play & Fun in #highered with @PlayProfessors you can follow the whole thread and still...
Precursors to a Playful Pedagogy
by Lisa Forbes Fred Hanna was a faculty member who trained me in my masters and doctoral work. This man was playful in his own way. He had a self-deprecating humor and never took himself too seriously. One time, I accidentally dropped some popcorn on the floor in the...
Gameful Learning
Whether you call it "gamification", game-based learning or something else, there's an attraction to using playful pedogogies. University of Michigan calls it "gameful learning" and in this video Dr. Mika LaVaque-Mant, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor & Director of the...
Decolonizing Higher Ed
Did you miss "Who Makes The Rules? Who is Getting Played? Games, Play and Decolonising Ed" by Luca Moroni? Good news! We have the recording so you can dig into this fanstastic presentation on this important topic. Also, you can access Luca's interactive slides...
The Future is Fun
by David Thomas What is holding you back from playing? In our experience, lots of professors want to play. But many don't because they are held back by their fears. During the 2021 Shaping EDU conference, Lisa and I explored the things that hold us back from...
A 2020 Reflection
Here’s to Hoping 2020 Leaves a Playful Residue by Lisa Forbes “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was...
Wholehearted People Play
Vulnerability and Play by Lisa Forbes What does vulnerability have to do with play? Well, lots. Let me explain. In this post - it’s twofold. The First Fold Brene Brown’s work on vulnerability and shame have a loads of value for education. Both teaching and...
The Problem with Prizes
by David Thomas So, want to use a game in your classroom. And you want to give prizes to the winners. Great idea! But before you go out and buy those trophies and Starbucks gift cards, let’s take a moment to consider the problem with prizes. What problem, you ask?...
Thinking Your Way to PLAY!
By Lisa Forbes 2020 has been quite a year. Many would probably like to pretend that 2020 never happened. It’s been extremely stressful and exhausting for me too for several reasons but one amazing thing that has happened in 2020 was the creation of Professors at Play....
Tiny Dancer
by Amy Nichols, M.A. Ed., Guest Author I remember an illustration I was once told. In the story, a group of kindergartners are asked, “who is a good dancer”. All hands fly into the air, students jumping out of their seats to demonstrate their dance moves. Okay,...