How PlayBuild is Re-imagining Learning
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The document discusses challenges in education, including lack of applied skills in students and cuts to play-based learning activities. It proposes helping low-income, inner-city children develop 21st century skills like creativity and problem-solving through play. One approach is PlayBuild Nola, which transforms vacant urban lots into playspaces with tools, toys and activities to support self-directed learning for children ages 4-12.
How PlayBuild is Re-imagining Learning
- 1. Re-Imagine Learning Ashoka Discovery Framework #Play2Learn #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild
- 2. Nationwide educational assessment reports repeatedly indicate that future generations entering the workforce are clearly lacking the applied skills necessary in the 21st century global economy. Teamwork Problem-solving Communication #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild
- 3. Problem Framing Play-based and artistic educational activities are being slashed across the country due to constrained school budgets, in spite of their importance in developing creative thinking, concentration and cognitive control. How might we enable low-income, inner-city, and under-served children develop critical 21st century skills of “creativity, imaginative problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, and inspiration?” Growing equity and educational gap between students of differing socioeconomic backgrounds, which is most stark within inner-city neighborhoods #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild
- 4. Framing Question ? How might we help low-income, inner-city, and under-served children develop critical 21st century skills of “creativity, imaginative problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, and inspiration?” #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild
- 5. PlayBuild Nola Transforms vacant land in urban neighborhoods... into safe playspaces with architecture and design themed programming, free and guided construction play and a variety of tools, toys, games and learning activities for kids 4-12 #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild
- 6. Barriers and Problem Trends Schools teach mainly for the three R’s: arithmetic, reading and writing. In New Orleans, an increasing achievement gap between under-served minority groups and affluent, white students. Neighborhoods in New Orleans are experiencing rapid demographic changes, while still retaining numerous vacant properties. Teachers lack the tools and/or capacity to integrate creative activities and play-based learning into their lesson plans. Schools employ one-size-fits-all models in order to meet the demands of strict standardized testing metrics. #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild
- 7. Promising Strategies Children in Charge Recent studies have shown that children often learn best when they are given the tools to structure their own playtime, thereby developing the capacity for collaboration, negotia-tion, teamwork, while also sharpening the cognitive tools of mental focus. Many promising solutions start with the child, and create solutions that support self-directed learning and playing. Wired for Learning Often called “digital natives,” today’s students are increasingly connected to the world through electronics and social media. Change-making solutions are increasingly tapping the power of social networks and digital tools to not just complement traditional learning, but fully rethink the how knowledge is produced through peer-to-peer networks. “Tap The City” Low-income families in urban neighborhoods face many other barriers in finding safe spaces and places to have play-based learning. However, a slew of organizations are looking to the resources and spaces of the city as a site of play and learning. Solutions have implemented programs and structures to integrate a culture of experimentation, play and learning in cost-effective ways. Teachers as Change Agents Solutions and strategies have to also design with the teacher, giving them the capacity to deliver play-based and creative learning environments. Those that also see all community members as teachers in whole-child development and life skills are creating approaches that can give anyone the capacity to be effective teachers. #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild
- 8. In the Landscape of Changemakers Challenge Entrants, PlayBuild Employs Three Promising Strategies for Fostering Learning Through Play promising strategies Children in Charge Tap the City Wired for Learning Teachers as Change Agents Shining Hope for Communities Pop-Up Play Building our City Building as Learning Aid Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory All-Stars Project Dream Playground Gang PlayBuild The Creative Street Junkspaces Micro-Entrepreneur Project PlayBuild Littlebits Space Kit Kiddify Jeepneed's Lab In a Box Creative Classrooms Through Inspired Teachers We Share the Same Sky Playground Ideas REM Learning Center Adventure Playgrounds: City x Project BrainBoosters NPC Tinker Camp Early Childhood Development Institute The Plug-In Studio Changing The Game Recess Project PlayBuild #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild
- 10. In Summary How kids play contribute to their ability to solve “divergent” problems. The complexity of block play predicted kids’ mathematics achievements in high school. Safe, unstructured and open-ended play environments allows children to experiment with creative thinking and problem-solving. Children develop interrelated skills of empathy, teamwork and collaboration by practicing both verbal and nonverbal communication capacities; through play that enables the negotiation of roles, gaining access to ongoing play, and appreciating the feelings of others. #play2learn www.playbuild.org #playbuild