Blog Archive
Sir Ken Robinson (1950 – 2020)
Farewell by David Thomas The first time I saw Ken Robinson speak was at an academic tech conference--probably an eCollege gathering. Like the rest of the attendess, I wandered into the keynote to hear a speech by an affiable Brit that I had never heard of. Robinson...
Wacky Covid
By David Thomas If you listen to the dire warnings from the finance office, the gnashing of teeth of faculty and rending of cloth across higher education, you’d get the idea that the COVID pandemic has really put a strain on higher education. And, of course, it has....
Relevant Research
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...
I Heart Stickers
I ♥ Stickers by Lisa Forbes Sometimes simply playing games in a higher education class is all it takes to increase engagement. But sometimes you might need to provide a little incentive to get students actually invested in games and play. If you can spark engagement...
A Reminder …
We all need a reminder sometimes. You want to play. You believe in the power of play. But the day gets away from you and you forget to play or you tell yourself you will play later. Well, just remember. It's OK to Play. Bring a smile to someone's face. Reignite their...
The Power of Play
The Power of Play in Higher Education: Creativity in Tertiary Learning Edited by Alison James and Chrissi Nerantzi by Lisa Forbes If you value play in higher education, you need to read this book. If you don’t value play in higher education, you need to read this...
Still Searching for the Meaning of Life?
by Lisa Forbes I’m sitting here trying to think about how to write this blog without coming off too dramatic. However, I can’t figure out how to do that when talking about the book Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by...
Play Matters: Book Mini-review
Play Matters A book I found meaningful in my study of play and fun in teaching is Play Matters by Miguel Sicart. I began this teaching adventure by trying to make classes more “fun.” After I read Sicart’s book, my understanding of “fun” in teaching expanded. I...
Virtual Symposium Announced!
Professors at Play Online Symposium Please hold the date for a virtual Symposium on Friday, November 6th, 2020 between 8 - 4 MST (10-6 EST, 7-3 PDT). We envision a single-track Zoom conference, with all of the sessions recorded and put on YouTube. We will set up a...
Playfulness Matters
“Playfulness matters because it brings the essential qualities of freedom and personal expression to the world outside of play. Miguel Sicart, Play Matters p.30