Comments on: The (Fun) Work of Transformational Play: Shifting Mindsets one Family at a Time http://questatlantisblog.org/2009/11/the-fun-work-of-transformational-play-shifting-mindsets-one-family-at-a-time/ The Official Quest Atlantis Blog Thu, 04 Aug 2011 03:23:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: dstevens http://questatlantisblog.org/2009/11/the-fun-work-of-transformational-play-shifting-mindsets-one-family-at-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-54 dstevens Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:52:32 +0000 http://questatlantisblog.org/?p=489#comment-54 I think this is an interesting observation, Steve, made all the more interesting when comparing children's use of QA in other countries. We've noted an interesting shift from some U.S. children who, when they begin QA say they think it's "play," but after using QA for some time, change their description, sharing that they feel it is "work" but work they enjoy doing. Anna Arici's research using the Taiga Unit often yielded interesting comments such as these. In both cases, their exploration of the game has allowed some transformation or recontextualizing of the experience (of both learning and of playing) that have meaningful consequences for our learners and for education as a whole. I think this is an interesting observation, Steve, made all the more interesting when comparing children’s use of QA in other countries. We’ve noted an interesting shift from some U.S. children who, when they begin QA say they think it’s “play,” but after using QA for some time, change their description, sharing that they feel it is “work” but work they enjoy doing. Anna Arici’s research using the Taiga Unit often yielded interesting comments such as these. In both cases, their exploration of the game has allowed some transformation or recontextualizing of the experience (of both learning and of playing) that have meaningful consequences for our learners and for education as a whole.

]]> By: Afidah Haron http://questatlantisblog.org/2009/11/the-fun-work-of-transformational-play-shifting-mindsets-one-family-at-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Afidah Haron Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:28:04 +0000 http://questatlantisblog.org/?p=489#comment-53 My children are in Primary 5 and Secondary 1 from reputable schools. Unfortunately, 'teach less learn more' is just 'lip service.' How do you bring our children brains out of the box if it's always close by the demands of A* grades? As my Sec 1 son puts it 'Learning is a joy while studying is a pain'. With lots of joy, he managed 4As in his PSLE. Education in Singapore is about shifting the mindsets of school principals and parents. If only teachers know how to teach what to teach, than our kids will have fun learning. And, if principals are less competitive and appreciates the values of learning and growing, sadly, many of our children brains will be left in the box. My children are in Primary 5 and Secondary 1 from reputable schools. Unfortunately, ‘teach less learn more’ is just ‘lip service.’ How do you bring our children brains out of the box if it’s always close by the demands of A* grades? As my Sec 1 son puts it ‘Learning is a joy while studying is a pain’. With lots of joy, he managed 4As in his PSLE.

Education in Singapore is about shifting the mindsets of school principals and parents. If only teachers know how to teach what to teach, than our kids will have fun learning. And, if principals are less competitive and appreciates the values of learning and growing, sadly, many of our children brains will be left in the box.

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