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11. The role of play in learning

Mindly Team

Created on May 29, 2025

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Transcript

00:15

hello

I am Brainy and I am here to guide you through this activity. First, a small quiz will be offered to discover what you know about the topic we will discuss.

Next, you will watch a video, prepared by experts, which will help you deepen your understanding of the key concepts.

Finally, a second quiz will allow you to check everything you've learned, accompanied by a series of tips to help you implement these educational tools.

Let's get started!

00:15

The role of play in learning

Quiz

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Here are 10 fill-in-the-blank texts to introduce the topic of games in learning, a key subject that is often underestimated in child development.

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AFTER

Here is a 10-question quiz based on the video you just watched.

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summary

Neuroscience and Game

Role of the Game

Collaborative Games

Assessment and Game

Classroom Game

TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Start Small and Simple

Align Games with Learning Objectives

Foster an Inclusive Environment

Monitor and Adapt

Here are five recommendations for education professionals who want to integrate play into their teaching practice, along with the potential risks involved:

Debrief and Reflect

ONLINE RESOURCES

“The importance of play in children's learning and development” - Starting Blocks

“Stanislas Dehaene's research on learning and the brain” - Wise Channel

"The Role of Play in Learning" - (NAEYC)

"Embracing Learning Through Play" - Harvard Graduate School of Education

"Learning Through Play: A Review of the Evidence" - The LEGO Foundation

WELL

DONE

See you soon for new challenges!

“Stanislas Dehaene's research on learning and the brain” - Wise Channel

Cognitive psychology and neuroscience have started to unravel the neural mechanisms behind literacy through brain imaging methods. When children learn to read, their brains repurpose existing visual and auditory regions, adapting them to recognize letters and sounds. This process, known as “neuronal recycling,” sheds light on why many children face challenges during reading acquisition. As our knowledge of the developing brain expands, it has significant implications for how educational practices should be designed to better support learning.

"Learning Through Play: A Review of the Evidence" - The LEGO Foundation

This comprehensive report presents research on the benefits of learning through play, highlighting various educational approaches and the positive impacts on children's cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Promote an Inclusive Environment

Recommendation : Select games that encourage teamwork and collaboration, ensuring that all students can participate regardless of their abilities. Adapt the rules to accommodate different skills. Risk : Exclusive or overly competitive games can alienate some students, leading to feelings of inadequacy or exclusion.

Align Games with Learning Objectives

Recommendation : Choose games that reinforce specific educational goals. For example, use math games to practice arithmetic or role-playing games for language skills. Risk : If the games are not related to the learning objectives, students may perceive them as distractions rather than meaningful learning opportunities.

"The Role of Play in Learning" - National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

This article discusses the importance of play in early childhood education, emphasizing how play facilitates learning and development across various domains. It provides insights into best practices for integrating play into the classroom.

Collaborative games

Collaborative games promote social learning by strengthening skills like communication and conflict resolution.

"Embracing Learning Through Play" - Harvard Graduate School of Education

This resource written by Elizabeth M. Ross outlines the critical role of play in children's learning processes, backed by research findings. It offers practical strategies for educators to foster a playful learning environment in their classrooms.

Start Small and Simple

Recommendation : First incorporate short, structured games or activities that align with your program. This can serve as an icebreaker or transition between lessons. Risk : Introducing too complex games too quickly can lead to confusion or disengagement. Start with easy-to-explain and manage activities.

Neuroscience and Play

Neuroscience shows that play stimulates areas of the brain related to memory, creativity, and problem-solving. Play encourages children to find solutions to challenges, develop strategies, and collaborate, which enhances their ability to solve problems. Neuroscience studies, including those conducted by Stanislas Dehaene, emphasize the importance of playful interaction in cognitive development.

Debrief and Reflect

Recommendation : After the game, take the time to discuss what the students learned and how they can apply it. This helps reinforce the educational value of the activity. Risk : Omitting the debriefing can leave students unclear about the purpose of the game, thus reducing its effectiveness as a learning tool.

“The importance of play in children's learning and development” - StartingBlocks.gov.au

Play is essential for children’s overall development. Through play, children enhance their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills. It allows them to explore, imagine, solve problems, and naturally learn basic language and math concepts in a fun way. Encouraging play every day supports effective learning and children’s well-being.

Monitor and Adapt

Recommendation : Be attentive during the game. If some games do not engage students or cause disruptions, be ready to adjust or try new activities. Risk : Rigidly sticking to a game that does not work can lead to frustration for the professional and the young people. Flexibility is essential to ensure successful integration of the game into learning.

Evaluation and play

Assessment of learning through play can be done using methods such as formative assessment or self-assessment.Formative assessment - This involves using playful activities to continuously evaluate students' skills, allowing them to improve gradually. Self-assessment - This method encourages students to reflect on their own learning and performance, often using games or playful activities to facilitate this reflection.

Role of play

Important in cognitive development.Play allows children to develop their symbolic thinking through imaginative activities and social roles. It is essential for cognitive improvement, enabling children to test and adapt their hypotheses about the world.

The game in the classroom

The game allows for a natural adaptation of activities based on students' levels, thus facilitating pedagogical differentiation.One of the benefits of the game in the classroom is that it strengthens students' intrinsic motivation. The role of the teacher in a playful context is to support students while setting objectives to guide learning through the game.