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.
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!
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.
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
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
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
Time
slot
09:00 am - 11:00 am CEST
(11:00 am -11:30 am optional reflection groups)
09:00 am - 11:00 am CAT
09:00 am - 09:15 am CEST
09:00 am - 09:15 am CAT
PLENARY
09:15 am - 09:55 am CEST
09:15 am - 09:55 am CAT
WORKSHOP SESSION
CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
09:55 am - 10:35 am CEST
09:55 am - 10:35 am CAT
ROUNDTABLE
Join session
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
Daniela Gissara / The Perkins School for the Blind, Massachusetts, US In English
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
Join session
11:00 am - 11:30 am CEST
11:00 am - 11:30 am CAT
OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS
Wrap up day 1
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila
Time to reflect and connect
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila In English
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
Join session
Welcome back!
Relaunch and plan for the day.
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
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
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
10:15 am - 10:55 am CEST
10:15 am - 10:55 am CAT
WORKSHOP SESSIONS
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:
Experiental ways of using play in a learning context
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
Mario will introduce experimental ways of using play in music learning.
Mario Casas / International School of Billund, Denmark
In English
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
Time slot 1: Day 2 - Play with a purpose
Research how play supports learning, shared in an engaging manner
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
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 11:00 am - 11:30 am CEST 11:00 am - 11:30 am CAT
OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila
Time to reflect and connect
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila In English
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
Join session
09:15 am - 09:50 am CEST 09:15 am - 09:50 am CAT ROUNDTABLE
(Pre-recorded session)
Join session
09:50 am - 10:25 am CEST 09:50 am - 10:25 am CAT
WORKSHOP SESSIONS
Join workshop
Welcome back!
Relaunch and plan for the day.
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila
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.
CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:
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
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
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
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
Time slot 1: Day 3 - Play to change the world
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
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
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
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
10:25 am - 10:50 am CEST 10:25 am - 10:50 am CAT
PLENARY
Join session
“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
Join
11:00 am - 11:30 am CEST
11:00 am - 11:30 am CAT
OPTIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila
Time to reflect and connect
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila
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.
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.
for day 2
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
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)
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila
CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS:
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
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
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
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
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
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
Time slot 2: Day 1 - More than one way to play
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
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
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
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
04:55 pm - 05:35 pm CEST
04:55 pm - 05:35 pm CAT
08:55 am - 09:35 am CST
ROUNDTABLE
Join session
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:
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
Daniela Gissara / The Perkins School for the Blind, Massachusetts, US In English
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 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
Wrap up day 1
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila
Time to reflect and connect
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi, Gabriela Salas Davila In English
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
pm
04:15 pm
Welcome back!
Relaunch and plan for the day.
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila
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
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.
05:15 pm - 05:55 pm CEST
05:15 pm - 05:55 pm CAT
09:15 am - 09:55 am CST WORKSHOP SESSIONS
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:
Experiental ways of using play in a learning context
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
Mario will introduce experimental ways of using play in music learning.
Mario Casas / International School of Billund, Denmark
In Spanish with autogenerated English subtitles
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
Research how play supports learning, shared in an engaging manner
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
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
Wrap up day 2
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila
Time to reflect and connect
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila In English
04:00
Welcome back!
Relaunch and plan for the day.
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila
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:
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila
Time to reflect and connect
Hosted by: Benjamin Mardell, Tanvi Sethi and Gabriela Salas Davila In English
