Playful pedagogy: what play has to do with future-ready skills and learning loss

Empowering opportunities for skill-building and life-long learning

Examples of playful learning in action can be seen in both digital and non-digital activities.

For instance, in a video game learners might take on the role of a spy or a scientist (or both!) and experiment within a simulated world to solve problems and manage uncertainty. Or, in a hands-on maker project learners might take risks using new materials and tools, going through a design process to build something that solves a real problem in their community. In both of these cases, learners get the freedom to play around, explore their curiosity, and practice skills like emotion regulationand critical thinking.

So we see that playful pedagogies are not simply child's play, but can be empowering opportunities for skill-building and life-long learning.

When it comes to back to school time, one thing on everyone's mind this year is of course: learning loss. We all know it will have to be addressed, and teachers will do their best with tools they have like formative assessment and differentiation.

But we don't want to forget about future-ready skills here-learners have been through many iterations of how school works, and had new responsibilities added at home too, which means they have had real-life practice with utilizing new technologies, creating new routines, and communicating in unfamiliar ways - all transferable skills to future study and careers.

Digging deeper at the Kahoot! EDU Meetup: fall edition

Recognizing and celebrating this learning helps us take a more strengths-based perspective on learning gains, beyond focusing only on the learning we've lost. Circling back to playful learning, using playful pedagogies is one way to take some of the pressure off of coming back to the classroom in these stressful times.

A playful activity can make students comfortable reflecting on and sharing about the challenges they've faced. And it can also provide meaningful opportunities to continue building identities as independent, adaptive learners.

Kahoot!is one playful tool that can be used to prompt reflection on the growth that has happened in the past 18 months, with new content and features coming that will help us connect, explore, share, and play in even more ways. At the upcoming Kahoot! EDU Meetup, I'll go more in-depth about how playful learning, future-ready skills, and learning loss fit together, and share some ideas for infusing playful pedagogies into your classroom.

Sign up for the EDU Meetup: fall edition to hear more pedagogical insights from Louisa.

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