MECS Matters

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The Importance of Play in Learning

The R in our TRANSFORMATIONAL EDUCATION framework for Christian Education at MECS, stands for Rich Learning. “Rich Learning in the Christian school is broad, deep, expansive, varied, reflective, playful and engaging, catering for the varied needs and interests of each student”.  (Burggraaf 2014, p. 25). 

 

There is a rich history of using play as a learning tool. Theorists such as John Dewey (1859 – 1952), Rudolf Steiner (1861 – 1925), Maria Montessori (1869 – 1952), Lev Vygotsky (1896 – 1934) and Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980) demonstrated that rather than being simply  frivolous, fun, or undirected, play is a rich learning tool. A learning tool that promotes the development of the skills a 21st Century learner requires:

  • Thinking skills
    • Reasoning
    • Perspective taking
    • Problem solving
    • Lateral thinking
    • Divergent thinking
  • Oral language skills
  • Mathematical understandings and experiences
  • Literacy
  • Self-regulation and self-expression
  • Responsibility 
  • Questioning
  • Reflecting
  • Resilience 

The role of the teacher remains a vital one as children learn through play.  During the learning day, play is only one type of approach to learning experiences for children. The teacher plans learning intentions and success criteria, provides a range of materials and equipment to support a variety of learning opportunities, scaffolds learning experiences as they observe and participate, extends, intervenes skills and understandings, assesses skills and understanding and feeds this information forward into the process of planning for future learning.

 

As well as play as a learning tool, a rich learning classroom will include discrete times for formal teaching and assessment of the concepts, skills and understandings of the Victorian Curriculum. There will be times when the teacher directs learning and other times when the child takes the lead. 

 

Janet Anderson

Assistant Principal - Primary

 

References

Burggraaf, H. (ed). Transformational Education MECS, 2014

Walker, K. Play Matters ACER Press, 2011