Learning through play
HOW DO I KNOW THIS? For some time now, Kate Brown, our Head of Junior School, and I have shared deeply the ideals and research of Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle. Since the publication of his book in 2019, Sahlberg relocated to Australia to become Professor of Education Policy and Deputy Director of the Gonski Institute at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. In a recent interview with ABC’s Sarah Kanowski (2020), Sahlberg reiterates through his personal experience, and the more recent experience of online learning during a world pandemic, that educators and schools need to lean in and listen to the powerful way play enables children to learn at their best. Sahlberg (Kanowski, 2020) implores educators to make time and space for play to take centre stage in learning and in our schools rather than depriving our children of the outdoors. He encourages us as educators to get children off screens or, if using screens, use them to get students involved in design and construction, as the technology can be a
“I love that we have freedom because that makes us able to learn in the way we do it best”. YEAR 6 STUDENT
tool to bring learning to life. He suggests children have more regular breaks amidst blocks of teaching instruction to help children and teachers to stay fresh and
Guided Play. Year 4 entry event for the Term 3 Inquiry into Being a Sustainable
creative. Sahlberg predicts that learning
Change Maker. The girls were given an experience by teachers to ignite empathy
and health outcomes can only improve
and curiosity for the environment. Senses were employed through what they could
by taking more regular breaks. He also
see, smell, hear and feel. They were guided to explore photos, video and objects that
encourages Australian educators to apply
pose environmental concerns and solutions. Teachers reflected on how engaged the
our gorgeous, relaxed Aussie attitude
girls were as they looked at the items through the different lenses of empathy, as a
to schooling. Sahlberg’s experience has
scientist and as an historian. They were surprised at the connections students were
been that Australian schooling is serious
already making between objects and its environmental element. Another teacher
and high stakes and more pressured than
commented on how the multi-disciplinary approach made the entry event accessible
his experience in Finland.
to all students.
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Illuminate Research and Innovation
