The primary aim of this training activity is to create an opportunity for teachers to learn from and share with their colleagues how to integrate play into the teaching process. By sharing real-life experiences, teachers can develop their own practices through peer learning. Ultimately, the session aims to provide positive reinforcement and inspire an “Aha!” feeling regarding the implementation of the game and play in teaching practices.
Learning objective to be achieved
- to be aware of how colleagues integrate games and play into their teaching practice
- to be able to develop their own practice based on the experiences of others
- to provide positive reinforcement and an “Aha!” feeling to teachers regarding the use of games
Activity/exercise in details
Form groups of four, and each group member will describe the game they last played in class. Participants have a maximum of 5 minutes to share their experience and present the game.
During the group discussion, participants should address the following:
- What was the game?
- How was the game chosen?
- Did the game have a specific objective, or was it free play?
- Did only the children play, or did the teacher play with them as well?
- How did you find time for the game?
- How were they able to ensure inclusive participation?
- Did you link the game to a specific subject or lesson content?
- What skills do you think can be developed through the game?
The list above can be freely adapted to reflect the group dynamics and the interests of the participants, but it must focus on sharing experiences and discussing the question of “how the game can be integrated into everyday teaching/learning in school”. It is recommended to print out the questions in as many copies as the number of groups and place one on each group table.
Teachers who have not played games recently should explain why they were unable or unwilling to let the children play. For them, the group members who regularly engage in play in the classroom should give ideas on how to create conditions for play during instruction. In this way, the opportunity to learn from one another is created.
As a conclusion to the group discussion, the group should select the three most important thoughts from the conversation and share them with the other groups in a plenary session.
It is recommended that the trainer records the main findings of the plenary discussion on another flipchart. This flip-chart – similar to the one created during Activity 1 – is left up until the end of the training. While the flipchart from Activity 1 collects answers to “why” questions, this one gathers and highlights answers to “how” questions regarding the integration of games into school teaching and learning practices!
Timing
- Group discussion: 20 minutes
- Plenary group discussion: 15 minutes
In total – 35–40 minutes
Materials
Post-its, presentation paper, flip-charts and a colour marker, stationery.
Handouts
No specific handouts are required to carry out the activity
Pay attention
The moderator should ensure that everyone in the group has an equal opportunity to speak, and that those who initially said that they have not played recently do not become passive observers.
It is very important that the task be precisely formulated so that it is clear to all participants that the task focuses on the “how” question. This prevents participants from feeling that the task is almost identical to Activity 1