EDL1250 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Sensemaking, Lev Vygotsky, Cognitive Development
29 May 2018
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WEEK!11!
Play,!development!and!learning.!
“Play&is&something&which&humans&of&all&ages&from&diverse&cultures&engage&in,&although&the&
purpose&for&the&type&of&play&may&be&different&across&ages&and&cultures”&
&
Play&
Play&is&an&act,&something&that&we&can&do,&we&can&play&with&objects,&play&a&game,&play&
football,&or&play&the&piano.&Play&must&be&intrinsically&motivated,&one&must&be&free&to&play&(it&
has&no&utilitarian&function)&the&outcome&is¬&known,&it&is&outside&one’s&ordinary&life&and&it&
should&be&fun.&&
&
Playfulness&
Is¬&an&act,&but&rather&something&that&we&are.&Its&inherited,&its&in&our&nature&to&be&playful.&
Playfulness&is&a&positive&mood&state,&from&where&the&act&of&playful&play&starts.&This&mood&
state&is&seen&in&young&children&more&often&than&in&adults,&who&are&told&to&act&serious&instead&
of&playful.&
&
Playful!learning&&
Playful&learning&is&a&means&to&reach&a&desired&goal.&This&in&itself&seems&to&contradict&the&idea&
that&you&don't&know&the&outcome&of&play.&In&educational&settings,&learning&experiences&and&
games&are&designed&to&meet&certain&learning&objectives.&So&play&in&itself&it¬&the&goal,&but&
the&learning&objective&is.&&&
&
**Playing(is(central&to&children’s&physical,&mental,&social&and&emotional&health&and&
wellbeing.&Through&play,&children&develop&resilience&and&flexibility,&contributing&to&physical&
and&emotional&wellbeing.&&
&
Attributes!and!importance!of!play:!
• Spontaneous&and&an&active&process&
• Free&to&be&inventive&and&creative&
• imagination&and&free&flow&thinking&&
• flexible&
• free&from&external&goals&&
• satisfying&
• play&is&important&to&all&children&no&matter&what&their&impairments&or&behaviour.&&
&
Why!students!learn!better!in!a!playful!environment&&
Pressure&to&perform&well&interferes&with&new&learning,&pressure&to&be&creative&interferes&
with&creativity,&inducing&a&playful&mood&improves&creativity&and&insightful&problem&solving,&a&
playful&state&of&mind&enables&young&children&to&solve&logic&problems.&&
&
Piagets!theory!of!cognitive!development:!!
Cognitive&development&occurs&in&stages.&The&stages&are&associated&with&biological&
maturation.&Interaction&with&the&physical&and&social&environment&influence&cognitive&
development.&Learning&is&an&active&process;&children&construct&knowledge&based&on&their&
experiences.&Children&learn&by&forming&schema,&based&upon&assimilation&and&
accommodation.&&
&
&
Document Summary
Play is something which humans of all ages from diverse cultures engage in, although the purpose for the type of play may be different across ages and cultures . Play is an act, something that we can do, we can play with objects, play a game, play football, or play the piano. Play must be intrinsically motivated, one must be free to play (it has no utilitarian function) the outcome is not known, it is outside one"s ordinary life and it should be fun. Is not an act, but rather something that we are. Its inherited, its in our nature to be playful. Playfulness is a positive mood state, from where the act of playful play starts. This mood state is seen in young children more often than in adults, who are told to act serious instead of playful. Playful learning is a means to reach a desired goal.
