EDF4029 - Play in lifelong learning - 2017

This unit focuses on the potential of playful activity to enhance the learning process and contribute to development throughout our lifetime. Playfulness allows 'possibility thinking', creative freedom, and intellectual curiosity, all vital characteristics of learning and development at all ages. Throughout this unit, students explore their own playfulness in order to increase confidence and develop their own skills in creating and leading playful learning environments. Students investigate a range of learning contexts to examine the presence and absence of playful activity, critically challenging common assumptions of who, how, where and when people play and how this affects their learning and development. Students draw upon insights from their own research, along with critical analysis of contemporary theoretical perspectives of play, to formulate personal theorisations of the role of play in both teaching and learning. They investigate and design new pedagogical and research-based approaches to playful learning with an emphasis on diverse learning contexts.

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. demonstrate advanced understanding of play as a complex pedagogical construct that contributes to lifelong learning and development
2. critically analyse the assumptions and research base underpinning a range of theoretical perspectives of play from local, national and global perspectives
3. investigate and design new pedagogical research-based approaches to playful learning in diverse learning contexts.

Research assignment (2000 word equivalent, 50%)

Pedagogical design task (2000 word equivalent, 50%)

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for on-campus students:
   • 2 hours per week
2. Requirements for on-campus block City-based students:
   • one intensive weekend block
   • at least 4 hours of active online engagement in Moodle activities per term
3. Additional requirements:
   • independent study to make up the minimum required hours, including readings, completion of set tasks and self-directed learning

See also Unit timetable information

Dr Liang Li

Early years education