Let's Play! Teaching Strategies for Playful Learning

Play is central to how children learn. Yet incorporating play into a formal school setting can be challenging because the nature of play and the nature of school are often at odds. This course introduces core principles and practices of playful learning—and gives you the opportunity to design and try out a playful learning approach in your own context.

Drawing on teacher-researcher practices developed through PZ's Pedagogy of Play research initiative (funded by The LEGO Foundation) and partnering educators in Denmark and South Africa, this course considers the complexity of play and its potential to promote deeper learning. In this course, you will engage in the following learning experiences:

• consider the opportunities and challenges of incorporating play into the classroom;
• explore ways to bring more playful learning into your contexts through hands-on activities, illustrations from classroom and online practice, and experimenting with playful learning and teaching tools both online and in-person (when possible);
• develop your own Indicators of Playful Learning;
• design (or redesign) a part of your practice, looking for ways to make it more playful and get feedback from your team;
• try out your designed/redesigned activity, then reflect and share with your team about how it went and possible next steps for improvement.

Who Should Participate

The Pedagogy of Play ideas are primarily designed for early childhood, elementary/primary, and middle school educators. There has been some adaptation in high school/secondary grade levels. This course would work well for:

• teachers, teacher leaders, and school administrators and leaders from early childhood through the end of middle school grade levels;
• museum educators and educators working in informal learning environments;
• facilitators of early childhood through middle school grades.

Time Commitment

You should anticipate a workload of 2.5 - 3 hours per week for 4 weeks. The course provides 12 total hours of professional learning. During each session:

• Team meeting: 1-hour live, synchronous team meeting every week, scheduled and facilitated by the team members with PZ-designed agenda.
• Reading, Practice, and Assignments: Remaining time for reading and individual reflections/assignments. If you are not currently working in a school or educational organization, you will need a classroom context or a consistent group of students with whom you can try out/practice the ideas you are learning throughout the course.

Schedule

Each weekly session opens on a Monday and ends on a Sunday. Participants decide when to work on the course material and when to schedule their team meetings within each session.

• Session 1 - April 5 - April 11, 2027
• Session 2 - April 12 - April 18, 2027
• Session 3 - April 19 - April 25, 2027
• Session 4 - April 26 - May 2, 2027

Tuition, Discounts, and Financial Aid

For mini courses (4 sessions, 4 weeks), the tuition is:

• $355 for educators joining as part of a team (3-6 members from the same organization)
• $385 for educators joining as part of a team of 2 (from the same organization) who will be placed on a virtual team with other teams of 2 (as attendance allows)
• $399 for educators joining as individuals to be placed on a virtual team

Financial aid is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and typically covers 50-70% of a course's tuition for eligible educators. Applications must be submitted and accepted prior to registration. Review our financial aid criteria.

Questions?

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions / FAQs page for more information on PZ online courses, or email pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu.