Playful Schools Conference 2023 - Programme

The programme March 27-28-29 2023

The Playful Schools Conference 2023 is a free online conference organized by the LEGO Foundation, the International School of Billund, and Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

The conference is designed for educators with varying levels of knowledge and experience with playful learning and offers insights into science and practice.

Find out when and how to join on the following pages.

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

Join us from wherever you are, at the time you prefer

To make joining from different time zones and with different schedules a little more convenient, we’ll host the conference during two time slots.

Time slot 1 Takes place between 09:00 am - 11:30 am CEST, 09:00 am - 11:30 am CAT and 01:00 am - 03:30 am CST on all three conference days.

Time slot 2 We then repeat the same programme, but at 04:00 pm - 06:30 pm CEST, 04:00 pm - 06:30 pm CAT and 08:00 am - 10:30 am CST. Remember that just a day before most countries enter summer time!

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How to join The following progamme is divided into a section for the Programme Time slot 1 and Programme Time slot 2. Pick your most convenient time slot and browse the inspiring conversations and workshops that await you.

The free conference takes place on Microsoft Teams. Latest five days before the conference, this programme will be automatically updated with a hyperlink to the Teams call for each session.

This way all you have to do is come back to the programme on the day of the event, and click ‘Join’ for the desired session.

Follow this link to view the speakers’ biographies and info.

Joining the Watch Party?

Follow this link to find the Watch Party guide.

Joining the Optional Reflections Groups?

Follow this link to find the Optional Reflection Group guide.

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

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Time slot 1 Day 1 - Monday 27 March 09:00 am - 11:00 am CEST (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 11:00 am CAT (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

We’ll start the day with a heartfelt welcome and introduction to your hosts. Then we’ll hear from fellow education practitioners from around the world about their learnings and experiences about playful learning in the classroom in different cultural contexts, age groups and domains of learning. After that it’s time for meeting other participants and workshopping one of 11 different topics. We’ll end the day with a roundtable conversation about assessment and how it may be perceived as a barrier to playful learning.

Join the main room for day 1

Day 2 - Tuesday 28 March 09:00 am - 11:00 am CEST (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 11:00 am CAT (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

On day 2 we take a step back from classrooms and schools, and instead turn the focus on you. We’ll engage in play ourselves to explore its value as a strategy for learning. You will also hear from artists and designers how they use play in their work.

Lastly we’ll take a quick dive into the research around learning through play.

Join the main room for day 2

4

Day 3 -Wednesday 29 March 09:00 am - 11:00 am CEST (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 11:00 am CAT (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

For the final day of the conference, we return to classrooms and schools with a day focused on SDG#4 target 7 - Education for sustainable development and global citizenship. We explore how playful learning can promote cultures of peace and nonviolence, global citizenship and an appreciation of cultural diversity, sustainable development and lifestyles, gender equity, and human rights.

Join the main room for day 3

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

5

Time slot 1

Day 1 - Monday 27 March More than one way to play 09:00 am - 11:00 am CEST (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 11:00 am CAT (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 09:15 am CEST 09:00 am - 09:15 am CAT PLENARY

Let’s play - Welcome Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila

Join session 09:15 am - 09:55 am CEST 09:15 am - 09:55 am CAT

Inspiration from innovative practices

WORKSHOP SESSION

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:

Join workshop

Wonder week - When playful learning ideas and students take over middle school

What have you always wondered about? What are you curious about? In this session, Tue will share how using tools and pedagogical thinking from Pedagogy of Play can spark project-oriented ways of working and help prepare students for their future.

Tue Rabenhøj/ International School of Billund, Denmark In English

Join workshop

We want to play too

What is the role of play in a special education context? Why does the field of special education often not embrace play pedagogy?

Examples of play at Metro Deaf School will be shared in addition to discussing how play provides rigour for students from early childhood to adolescence.

Susan Lane-Outlaw / Metro Deaf School, St. Paul, Minnesota, US In English

6

Join workshop

Learning what really matters

Wings Agora is a highschool/secondary school where children get to follow their own learning route and find answers to the questions “who am I, what am I, and what am I able to do?”. In this workshop, Rob will share how Wings Agora designs its education, their success stories as well as the challenges ahead.

Rob Perrée / Wings Agora School, The Netherlands In English

Join workshop

Playful contaminations

How can a non-formal educational context be an epistemological bridge in encouraging a playful approach to learning at school?

This workshop will focus on challenges and outcomes in codesigning, co-conducting and documenting playful curriculum-based activities with primary school teachers.

Maria Barbara Donnici / Fondazione Reggio Children - Centro Loris Malaguzzi, Italy In English

Join workshop

Playful learning in a South African classroom

Ntombifuthi Chiloane will talk about planning and implementing playful learning experiences within the contexts of the South African government curriculum.

Ntombifuthi Chiloane / Christ Word Worshippers Ministries, South Africa In English

Join workshop

Playful pedagogical values

Cheng Xueqin will talk about the experience of educators, children, families and communities in Anji County and China, who have embraced love, risk, joy, engagement, and reflection as their primary pedagogical values.

Cheng Xueqin / Anji Childhood Education Research Center, China Pre-recorded in Mandarin. Autogenerated English subtitles available

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

7

Time slot 1: Day 1 - More than one way to play

Join workshop

Board-based learning – Skateboarding in the playful learning journey Why can skateboarding play a key role in lifelong learning? When used intentionally and skillfully, skateboarding creates a learning environment for social skills, self-regulation, perseverance and cognitive competency. Come experience a Skateistan session to learn how to create a safe, fun and failing-forward environment for anyone.

Cyndi Mendoza / Skateistan, Afghanistan In English

Join workshop

Outdoor education and play

The session will focus on the unique three-pillar approach of Forest School Singapore and bring attention to how outdoor education and play is one of the avenues that alleviates the tension between journey and result.

Quek Zhisheng Darren / Forest School Singapore, Singapore In English

Join workshop

PLAY. Just a piece of paper away. A workshop to promote playful experiences between parents and children

How many play opportunities can we encounter in our daily lives and routines? How many in a piece of paper? In this session, Nehyi will invite teachers to figure out new ways to promote parents engage in playful learning with their children and understand the potential of articulating play into their daily lives.

Nehyi Quintero / aeioTu, Colombia In English

CANCELLED

The value of listening, presence and reflection

Jesse Coffino will share videos of true play recorded at Anji Play programs in different parts of the world and introduce a simple reflection protocol to learn more about children, play, pedagogy, and the value of listening, presence and reflection. This session should challenge participants to revisit and question many of their assumptions about children, play, and the project of “teaching.”

Jesse Coffino / Stichting True Play Foundation, China In English

8

09:55 am - 10:35 am CEST 09:55 am - 10:35 am CAT ROUNDTABLE

Join session

Making assessment meaningful and joyful Educators from Colombia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Uganda share some of their assessment practices that make learning more joyful and meaningful for students and educators, and discuss the support teachers need to deploy these practices.

Moderator: Bo Stjerne Thomsen / The LEGO Foundation, Denmark Panellists: Pablo Jaramillo Quintero, Rob Houben, Camilla Uhre Fog, Mauro Giacomazzi In English

10:35 am - 10:55 am CEST 10:35 am - 10:55 am CAT PLENARY (Pre-recorded)

Join session

Lightning session In this practical session you get the chance to hear about four examples of playful learning in classrooms from around the world.

We’ll touch on the following themes:

Play & Literacy - Supporting math and literacy development in playful ways through nature Loretta Fernardo-Smith / Frankfurt International School, Germany In English

The playfulness of math thinking: Humanistic Math Education in Taiwan Ying Shih, Frances Chiu and Yvonne Liu-Constant / Project Zero, Harvard University, US and Humanistic Education Foundation, Taiwan In English

Learning outdoors: Building playgrounds around the world Jon Racek / Play360, Indiana, US In English

Playful Professionals Learning - Playful learning for children with disabilities Daniela Gissara / The Perkins School for the Blind, Massachusetts, US In English For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

9

Time slot 1: Day 1 - More than one way to play

10:55 am - 11:00 am CEST 10:55 am - 11:00 am CAT PLENARY

Wrap up day 1 Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila

Join session

11:00 am - 11:30 am CEST 11:00 am - 11:30 am CAT OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS

10

Time to reflect and connect Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

11

Time slot 1

Day 2- Tuesday 28 March Play with a purpose 09:00 am - 11:00 am CEST (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 11:00 am CAT (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 09:15 am CEST 09:00 am - 09:15 am CAT

Welcome back!

PLENARY

Relaunch and plan for the day.

Join session

Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila

09:15 am - 10:05 am CEST 09:15 am - 10:05 am CAT ROUNDTABLE

Join session

Play is one of my strategies for learning A group of play enthusiasts shares with us how play contributes to their work today. They will also look back, sharing memories of their own childhood and education journey and how a playful mindset and approach supported their learning.

If you’ve enjoyed the roundtable in Day 2 with Idah, Carol, Rohan and Morten, you might like to download the nip napper game that they’ve used. Play it with your colleague, friends and family. Have fun!

Moderator: Idah Khan O’Neill / International School of Billund, Denmark Panelists: Carol Tang, Morten P. Meldal and Rohan Chakravarty In English

10:05 am - 10:15 am CEST 10:05 am - 10:15 am CAT PLENARY

Join session

A playful learner you know To reflect on today’s panel, the moderators will lead you through an exercise in which you’ll be encouraged to identify someone you know who uses play as a strategy for learning.

Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell

12

10:15 am - 10:55 am CEST 10:15 am - 10:55 am CAT WORKSHOP SESSIONS

Practical or theoretical workshops Again today you can choose from a range of workshops according to what interests you most. You can choose between workshops focusing on practice or theory.

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:

P RAC TICE Experiental ways of using play in a learning context

Join workshop

The relationship between play and learning

This session focuses on the relationship between play and learning, and it’s designed as a playful activity to reflect on how play supports your learning. NOTE: Please bring a second device (smart phone, laptop) to participate in the activity.

Jan Christensen / The LEGO Foundation, Denmark In English

Join workshop

Enabling students to express themselves through music

Mario will introduce experimental ways of using play in music learning.

Mario Casas / International School of Billund, Denmark In English

Join workshop

Playing together at a distance

In this workshop we’ll play together using a very simple browserbased digital play area. We’ll explore how schoolyard games can adapt to new contexts and invent new ways to play together.

You will need access to a web browser (such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari), and a mouse or trackpad to control your cursor.

Liam Nilsen / JoyLabz, Denmark In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

13

Time slot 1: Day 2 - Play with a purpose

THEORY Research how play supports learning, shared in an engaging manner

Join workshop

The power of play - A crucial experience for children’s development and learning

Play is the signature of childhood. It’s a living, visible manifestation of imagination and learning in action. The goal of this session is to generate reflective and shared understandings about play as young children’s primary tool to make sense of the world, and play as a context where children develop a key set of skills that help them become self-regulated learners.

This session is for educators who are new to the topic. Make sure you have pen, paper and at least eight things from your kitchen ready before joining online!

Anne van Dam / The Learning Square, The Netherlands In English

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A deeper look into ideas on play

In this session, participants familiar with how play supports learning, will gain deeper insight into current theories and research.

Savhannah Schulz / Pedagogy af Play and Interacting Minds Centre, Denmark In English

10:55 am - 11:00 am CEST 10:55 am - 11:00 am CAT PLENARY

Wrap up day 2 Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila

Join session

11:00 am - 11:30 am CEST 11:00 am - 11:30 am CAT OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS

14

Time to reflect and connect Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

15

Time slot 1

Day 3 - Wednesday 29 March Play to change the world 09:00 am - 11:00 am CEST (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 11:00 am CAT (11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)

09:00 am - 09:15 am CEST 09:00 am - 09:15 am CAT

Welcome back!

PLENARY

Relaunch and plan for the day.

Join session

Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila

09:15 am - 09:50 am CEST 09:15 am - 09:50 am CAT

Play, learning, and the future: The perspective of young people

ROUNDTABLE (Pre-recorded session)

Join session

09:50 am - 10:25 am CEST 09:50 am - 10:25 am CAT WORKSHOP SESSIONS

Students from Denmark, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States talk about how playful learning — where they lead, explore, and find joy — helps them learn with and from others and imagine new possibilities when exploring the complex issues of global citizenship, cultural diversity, and sustainable development.

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:

Join workshop

Preparing ourselves for playful learning

Playful Schools inspire and support an approach to learning that is animated by the unique gifts of childhood: Imagination, empathy, curiosity, a sense of wonder, and possibility. Using stories from the classroom, we’ll consider ways that adults can prepare experiences and environments that are intentional about opening the door to collaborative, compassionate, playful schools in solidarity with children.

Susan Harris MacKay / Center for Playful Inquiry, Oregon, US Pre-recorded in English

16

Join workshop

Walking in another’s shoes: Middle school math projects that playfully explore social justice

Liz Caffrey will provide examples of how she teaches social justice in math through playful, empathic experiences where students imagine themselves in another’s shoes.

Liz Caffrey / Atrium School, Watertown, Massachusetts, US In English

Join workshop

Bringing different voices into the curriculum

This session will focus on the opportunities presented by working with local teachers and students from diverse backgrounds that allows different perspectives to be given voice in the Humanities classroom. The session will share how to build opportunities into the curriculum by sharing examples of planning process and activities across different contexts.

Natasha Haque / Aga Khan Academies, Kenya In English

Join workshop

Reimagining school through play and nature

Due to gradual shifts within society, the context for raising and teaching children has changed. Most noticeably, a deficit of play and nature is impacting healthy child development and motivation for learning.

David’s presentation will unpack strategies and practices required to successfully adopt and sustain a school philosophy and culture to embrace outdoor learning (even in a Canadian winter).

The presentation is relevant for any classroom teacher, school principal or school board director who would like to enhance student engagement by learning through play and nature.

David McFall / Western Quebec School Board, Canada In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

17

Time slot 1: Day 3 - Play to change the world

Join workshop

Creating an anti-racist classroom

This workshop will focus on ways teachers can take a real-world issue or in-school incident and create a conversation about anti-racism, equality, and values. Chereen Rain hopes to discourage the ‘fear of saying the wrong thing’ and encourage classroom conversations that foster pupil agency and teacher confidence.

Chereen Rain / Education Scotland, Scotland In English

Join workshop

Transitioning to playful learning

In 2019 Vorbasse School started a collaboration with the LEGO Foundation and Imagine IF to transform teaching using a playful approach. They have chosen Project-based learning as a method.

Students (age 14) will explain what it looks and feels like from their perspective and share the pros and cons for this way of teaching.

They will also share a current project with you.

Anna Merete Vester Jørgensen / Vorbasse School, Denmark Josefine Carstensen 14 years old, Daniela Dvelyte 14 years old Ella Dencker Sloth Andresen 14 years old In English

Join workshop

Designing inclusive art experiences

This workshop will share Superhero Me’s practice and considerations when designing quality inclusive art experiences. Rooted in Superhero Me’s work, which spans visual arts, music, theatre and multi-disciplinary experiences, Jean will share specific case studies that illustrate actionable steps across the areas of staff development, programme accessibility and the arts as advocacy to actively enable stronger social mixing among children and families from diverse backgrounds.

Jean Loo / Superhero Me, Singapore Pre-recorded in English

Join workshop

Possibilities, playful tools, and the curriculum: lessons from educators in rural schools of South Africa

Ms. Kgopotso Khumalo will provide a brief overview of Care for Education’s learning through play programs, including the number of teachers, learners, schools and districts reached. She will also provide an overview of how they continue to support educators to adopt and implement play-based pedagogies. Finally, she will facilitate a few activities which focus on the curriculum.

Kgopotso Khumalo / Care for Education, South Africa In English 18

10:25 am - 10:50 am CEST 10:25 am - 10:50 am CAT PLENARY

Join session

A playful welcome: A journey of interculturality and new narratives between Venezuelan children and families in Colombia “My house is very, very small and cold” … in recent years more than 2 million children and their families have moved from Venezuela to Colombia. Join 2022 LEGO Prize winner María Adelaida to reflect on how we can give new meanings to life moving from place to place while promoting a culture of peace, appreciation, and empathy. In this session you will find out about playful ways to learn with children and families understand how to embrace uncertainty and everyday life as a bridge for countless experiences while making sense of complex, human situations.

Hosted by: María Adelaida López / aeioTU, Colombia In English

10:50 am - 11:00 am CEST 10:50 am - 11:00 am CAT PLENARY

Thanks and next steps Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila

Join session 11:00 am - 11:30 am CEST 11:00 am - 11:30 am CAT OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS

Time to reflect and connect Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

19

Time slot 2 Day 1 - Monday 27 March 04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CEST (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CAT (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

08:00 am - 10:00 am CST (10:00 am -10:30 am optional reflection groups)

We’ll start the day with a heartfelt welcome and introduction to your hosts. Then we’ll hear from fellow education practitioners from around the world about their learnings and experiences about playful learning in the classroom in different cultural contexts, age groups and domains of learning. After that it’s time for meeting other participants and workshopping one of 11 different topics. We’ll end the day with a roundtable conversation about assessment and how it may be perceived as a barrier to playful learning.

Join the main room for day 1

Day 2 - Tuesday 28 March 04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CEST (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CAT (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

08:00 am - 10:00 am CST (10:00 am -10:30 am optional reflection groups)

On day 2 we take a step back from classrooms and schools, and instead turn the focus on you. We’ll engage in play ourselves to explore its value as a strategy for learning. You will also hear from artists and designers how they use play in their work.

Lastly we’ll take a quick dive into the research around learning through play.

Join the main room for day 2 20

Day 3- Wednesday 29 March 04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CEST (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CAT (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

08:00 am - 10:00 am CST (10:00 am -10:30 am optional reflection groups)

For the final day of the conference, we return to classrooms and schools with a day focused on SDG#4 target 7 - Education for sustainable development and global citizenship. We explore how playful learning can promote cultures of peace and nonviolence, global citizenship and an appreciation of cultural diversity, sustainable development and lifestyles, gender equity, and human rights.

Join the main room for day 3

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

21

Time slot 2

Day 1- Monday 27 March More than one way to play 04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CEST (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CAT (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

08:00 am - 10:00 am CST (10:00 am -10:30 am optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 04:15 pm CEST 04:00 pm - 04:15 pm CAT 08:00 am - 08:15 am CST

Let’s play - Welcome Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila

PLENARY

Join session 04:15 pm - 04:55 pm CEST 04:15 pm - 04:55 pm CAT 08:15 am - 08:55 am CST

Inspiration from innovative practices CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:

WORKSHOP SESSION

Join workshop

Wonder week - When playful learning ideas and students take over middle school

What have you always wondered about? What are you curious about? In this session, Tue will share how using tools and pedagogical thinking from Pedagogy of Play can spark project-oriented ways of working and help prepare students for their future.

Tue Rabenhøj/ International School of Billund, Denmark In English

Join workshop

We want to play too

What is the role of play in a special education context? Why does the field of special education often not embrace play pedagogy?

Examples of play at Metro Deaf School will be shared in addition to discussing how play provides rigour for students from early childhood to adolescence.

Susan Lane-Outlaw / Metro Deaf School, St. Paul, Minnesota, US In English

22

Join workshop

Learning what really matters

Wings Agora is a high school/secondary school where children get to follow their own learning route and find answers to the questions “who am I, what am I, and what am I able to do?”. In this workshop, Rob will share how Wings Agora designs its education, their success stories as well as the challenges ahead.

Rob Perrée / Wings Agora School, The Netherlands In English

Join workshop

Playful contaminations

How can a non-formal educational context be an epistemological bridge in encouraging a playful approach to learning at school?

This workshop will focus on challenges and outcomes in codesigning, co-conducting and documenting playful curriculum-based activities with primary school teachers.

Maria Barbara Donnici / Fondazione Reggio Children - Centro Loris Malaguzzi, Italy In English

Join workshop

Playful learning in a South African classroom

Ntombifuthi Chiloane will talk about planning and implementing playful learning experiences within the contexts of the South African government curriculum.

Ntombifuthi Chiloane / Christ Word Worshippers Ministries, South Africa In English

Join workshop

Playful pedagogical values

Cheng Xueqin will talk about the experience of educators, children, families and communities in Anji County and China, who have embraced love, risk, joy, engagement, and reflection as their primary pedagogical values.

Cheng Xueqin / Anji Childhood Education Research Center, China Pre-recorded in Mandarin. Autogenerated English subtitles available

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

23

Time slot 2: Day 1 - More than one way to play

Join workshop

Board-based learning – Skateboarding in the playful learning journey Why can skateboarding play a key role in lifelong learning? When used intentionally and skillfully, skateboarding creates a learning environment for social skills, self-regulation, perseverance and cognitive competency. Come experience a Skateistan session to learn how to create a safe, fun and failing-forward environment for anyone.

Cyndi Mendoza / Skateistan, Afghanistan In English

Join workshop

Outdoor education and play

The session will focus on the unique three-pillar approach of Forest School Singapore and bring attention to how outdoor education and play is one of the avenues that alleviates the tension between journey and result.

Quek Zhisheng Darren / Forest School Singapore, Singapore In English

Join workshop

PLAY. Just a piece of paper away. A workshop to promote playful experiences between parents and children

How many play opportunities can we encounter in our daily lives and routines? How many in a piece of paper? In this session, Nehyi will invite teachers to figure out new ways to promote parents engage in playful learning with their children and understand the potential of articulating play into their daily lives.

Nehyi Quintero / aeioTu, Colombia In English

CANCELLED

The value of listening, presence and reflection

Jesse Coffino will share videos of true play recorded at Anji Play programs in different parts of the world and introduce a simple reflection protocol to learn more about children, play, pedagogy, and the value of listening, presence and reflection. This session should challenge participants to revisit and question many of their assumptions about children, play, and the project of “teaching.”

Jesse Coffino / Stichting True Play Foundation, China In English

24

04:55 pm - 05:35 pm CEST 04:55 pm - 05:35 pm CAT 08:55 am - 09:35 am CST ROUNDTABLE

Join session

Making assessment meaningful and joyful Educators from Colombia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Uganda share some of their assessment practices that make learning more joyful and meaningful for students and educators, and discuss the support teachers need to deploy these practices.

Moderator: Bo Stjerne Thomsen / The LEGO Foundation, Denmark Panellists: Pablo Jaramillo Quintero, Rob Houben, Camilla Uhre Fog, Mauro Giacomazzi In English

05:35 pm - 05:55 pm CEST 05:35 pm - 05:55 pm CAT 09:35 am - 09:55 am CST PLENARY (Pre-recorded)

Join session

Lightning session In this practical session you get the chance to hear about four examples of playful learning in classrooms from around the world.

We’ll touch on the following themes:

Play & Literacy - Supporting math and literacy development in playful ways through nature Loretta Fernardo-Smith / Frankfurt International School, Germany In English

The playfulness of math thinking: Humanistic Math Education in Taiwan Ying Shih, Frances Chiu and Yvonne Liu-Constant / Project Zero, Harvard University, US and Humanistic Education Foundation, Taiwan In English

Learning outdoors: Building playgrounds around the world Jon Racek / Play360, Indiana, US In English

Playful Professionals Learning - Playful learning for children with disabilities Daniela Gissara / The Perkins School for the Blind, Massachusetts, US In English For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

25

Time slot 2: Day 1 - More than one way to play

05:55 pm - 06:00 pm CEST 05:55 pm - 06:00 pm CAT 09:55 am - 10:00 am CST

Wrap up day 1 Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila

PLENARY

Join session

06:00 pm - 06:30 pm CEST 06:00 pm - 06:30 pm CAT 10:00 am - 10:30 am CST OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS

26

Time to reflect and connect Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

27

Time slot 2

Day 2 - Tuesday 28 March Play with a purpose 04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CEST (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CAT (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

08:00 am - 10:00 am CST (10:00 am -10:30 am optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 04:15 pm CEST 04:00 pm - 04:15 pm CAT 08:00 am - 08:15 am CST

Welcome back!

Relaunch and plan for the day.

PLENARY

Join session

04:15 pm - 05:05 pm CEST 04:15 pm - 05:05 pm CAT 08:15 am - 09:05 am CST ROUNDTABLE

Join session

Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila

Play is one of my strategies for learning A group of play enthusiasts shares with us how play contributes to their work today. They will also look back, sharing memories of their own childhood and education journey and how a playful mindset and approach supported their learning.

If you’ve enjoyed the roundtable in Day 2 with Idah, Carol, Rohan and Morten, you might like to download the nip napper game that they’ve used. Play it with your colleague, friends and family. Have fun!

Moderator: Idah Khan O’Neill / International School of Billund, Denmark Panelists: Carol Tang, Morten P. Meldal and Rohan Chakravarty In English

05:05 pm - 05:15 pm CEST 05:05 pm - 05:15 pm CAT 09:05 am - 09:15 am CST PLENARY

Join session 28

A playful learner you know To reflect on today’s panel, the moderators will lead you through an exercise in which you’ll be encouraged to identify someone you know who uses play as a strategy for learning.

Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell

05:15 pm - 05:55 pm CEST 05:15 pm - 05:55 pm CAT 09:15 am - 09:55 am CST WORKSHOP SESSIONS

Practical or theoretical workshops Again today you can choose from a range of workshops according to what interests you most. You can choose between workshops focusing on practice or theory.

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:

P RAC TICE Experiental ways of using play in a learning context

Join workshop

The relationship between play and learning

This session focuses on the relationship between play and learning, and it’s designed as a playful activity to reflect on how play supports your learning. NOTE: Please bring a second device (smart phone, laptop) to participate in the activity.

Jan Christensen / The LEGO Foundation, Denmark In English

Join workshop

Enabling students to express themselves through music

Mario will introduce experimental ways of using play in music learning.

Mario Casas / International School of Billund, Denmark In Spanish with autogenerated English subtitles

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Playing together at a distance

In this workshop we’ll play together using a very simple browserbased digital play area. We’ll explore how schoolyard games can adapt to new contexts and invent new ways to play together.

You will need access to a web browser (such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari), and a mouse or trackpad to control your cursor.

Liam Nilsen / JoyLabz, Denmark In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

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Time slot 2: Day 2 - Play with a purpose

THEORY Research how play supports learning, shared in an engaging manner

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The power of play - A crucial experience for children’s development and learning

Play is the signature of childhood. It’s a living, visible manifestation of imagination and learning in action. The goal of this session is to generate reflective and shared understandings about play as young children’s primary tool to make sense of the world, and play as a context where children develop a key set of skills that help them become self-regulated learners.

This session is for educators who are new to the topic. Make sure you have pen, paper and at least eight things from your kitchen ready before joining online!

Anne van Dam / The Learning Square, The Netherlands In English

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A deeper look into ideas on play

In this session, participants familiar with how play supports learning, will gain deeper insight into current theories and research.

Savhannah Schulz / Pedagogy af Play and Interacting Minds Centre, Denmark In English

05:55 pm - 06:00 pm CEST 05:55 pm - 06:00 pm CAT 09:55 am - 10:00 am CST

Wrap up day 2 Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila

PLENARY

Join session 06:00 pm - 06:30 pm CEST 06:00 pm - 06:30 pm CAT 10:00 am - 10:30 am CST OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS

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Time to reflect and connect Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

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Time slot 2

Day 3 - Wednesday 29 March Play to change the world 04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CEST (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 06:00 pm CAT (06:00 pm -06:30 pm optional reflection groups)

08:00 am - 10:00 am CST (10:00 am -10:30 am optional reflection groups)

04:00 pm - 04:15 pm CEST 04:00 pm - 04:15 pm CAT 08:00 am - 08:15 am CST

Welcome back!

Relaunch and plan for the day.

PLENARY

Join session 04:15 pm - 04:50 pm CEST 04:15 pm - 04:50 pm CAT 08:15 am - 08:50 am CST ROUNDTABLE (Pre-recorded session)

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04:50 pm - 05:25 pm CEST 04:50 pm - 05:25 pm CAT 08:50 am - 09:25 am CST WORKSHOP SESSIONS

Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila

Play, learning, and the future: The perspective of young people Students from Denmark, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States talk about how playful learning — where they lead, explore, and find joy — helps them learn with and from others and imagine new possibilities when exploring the complex issues of global citizenship, cultural diversity, and sustainable development.

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:

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Preparing ourselves for playful learning

Playful Schools inspire and support an approach to learning that is animated by the unique gifts of childhood: Imagination, empathy, curiosity, a sense of wonder, and possibility. Using stories from the classroom, we’ll consider ways that adults can prepare experiences and environments that are intentional about opening the door to collaborative, compassionate, playful schools in solidarity with children.

Susan Harris MacKay / Center for Playful Inquiry, Oregon, US Pre-recorded in English

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Walking in another’s shoes: Middle school math projects that playfully explore social justice

Liz Caffrey will provide examples of how she teaches social justice in math through playful, empathic experiences where students imagine themselves in another’s shoes.

Liz Caffrey / Atrium School, Watertown, Massachusetts, US In English

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Bringing different voices into the curriculum

This session will focus on the opportunities presented by working with local teachers and students from diverse backgrounds that allows different perspectives to be given voice in the Humanities classroom. The session will share how to build opportunities into the curriculum by sharing examples of planning process and activities across different contexts.

Natasha Haque / Aga Khan Academies, Kenya In English

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Reimagining school through play and nature

Due to gradual shifts within society, the context for raising and teaching children has changed. Most noticeably, a deficit of play and nature is impacting healthy child development and motivation for learning.

David’s presentation will unpack strategies and practices required to successfully adopt and sustain a school philosophy and culture to embrace outdoor learning (even in a Canadian winter).

The presentation is relevant for any classroom teacher, school principal or school board director who would like to enhance student engagement by learning through play and nature.

David McFall / Western Quebec School Board, Canada In English

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Creating an anti-racist classroom

This workshop will focus on ways teachers can take a real-world issue or in-school incident and create a conversation about anti-racism, equality, and values. Chereen Rain hopes to discourage the ‘fear of saying the wrong thing’ and encourage classroom conversations that foster pupil agency and teacher confidence.

Chereen Rain / Education Scotland, Scotland In English For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

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Time slot 2: Day 3 - Play to change the world

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Transitioning to playful learning

In 2019 Vorbasse School started a collaboration with the LEGO Foundation and Imagine IF to transform teaching using a playful approach. They have chosen Project-based learning as a method.

Students (age 14) will explain what it looks and feels like from their perspective and share the pros and cons for this way of teaching.

They will also share a current project with you.

Anna Merete Vester Jørgensen / Vorbasse School, Denmark Josefine Carstensen 14 years old, Daniela Dvelyte 14 years old Ella Dencker Sloth Andresen 14 years old In English

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Designing inclusive art experiences

This workshop will share Superhero Me’s practice and considerations when designing quality inclusive art experiences. Rooted in Superhero Me’s work, which spans visual arts, music, theatre and multi-disciplinary experiences, Jean will share specific case studies that illustrate actionable steps across the areas of staff development, programme accessibility and the arts as advocacy to actively enable stronger social mixing among children and families from diverse backgrounds.

Jean Loo / Superhero Me, Singapore Pre-recorded in English

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Possibilities, playful tools, and the curriculum: lessons from educators in rural schools of South Africa

Ms. Kgopotso Khumalo will provide a brief overview of Care for Education’s learning through play programs, including the number of teachers, learners, schools and districts reached. She will also provide an overview of how they continue to support educators to adopt and implement play-based pedagogies. Finally, she will facilitate a few activities which focus on the curriculum.

Kgopotso Khumalo / Care for Education, South Africa In English

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05:25 pm - 05:50 pm CEST 05:25 pm - 05:50 pm CAT 09:25 am - 09:50 am CST PLENARY

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A playful welcome: A journey of interculturality and new narratives between Venezuelan children and families in Colombia “My house is very, very small and cold” … in recent years more than 2 million children and their families have moved from Venezuela to Colombia. Join 2022 LEGO Prize winner María Adelaida to reflect on how we can give new meanings to life moving from place to place while promoting a culture of peace, appreciation, and empathy. In this session you will find out about playful ways to learn with children and families understand how to embrace uncertainty and everyday life as a bridge for countless experiences while making sense of complex, human situations.

Hosted by: María Adelaida López / aeioTU, Colombia In English

05:50 pm - 06:00 pm CEST 05:50 pm - 06:00 pm CAT 09:50 am - 10:00 am CST

Thanks and next steps Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila

PLENARY

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06:00 pm - 06:30 pm CEST 06:00 pm - 06:30 pm CAT 10:00 am - 10:30 am CST OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS

Time to reflect and connect Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila In English

For further information visit learningthroughplay.com

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