Playful Learner

Play-based Learning

What is play-based learning and how can it support learning in my habitat?  

This question is at the forefront of my mind at the moment.   Having spent the past four weeks at the beginning of Term 1 to get to know the Learners and construct routines within the habitat, I'm now ready to get to the bottom of what play-based learning is and how learning can happen through play. Can the play provide interest and discovery for the Learner, while at the same time, enable movement through the curriculum and meet the needs of each Learner's next steps.

Through the Mind Lab postgrad, I learned about how Finland encourages play up until the age of 7 or 8 years.   I'm interested to learn more about what the early years of education look like for these Learners.   

Here's some links to articles and videos that I'm bookmarking for reading and viewing:

I'm not sure how and what this will look like in LH2.   I'm not even sure what to expect from Learners who come from such a different cultural background to mine.   How do they play?  How do they perceive play?  Will they accept to be challenged through play so that learning takes place?

These are some of the questions -  and yes, there are many.   One of the first steps will be to sit down with my colleagues in LH2 to share our visions of what play-based learning could look like for our Learners.  What are our goals?  Where do we start?  What materials and resources do we need?  

.... I just have to keep reminding myself that I can't eat a whole elephant at once.   Instead, just a nibble at a time.     

Sources:  www.keepcalmposters,com