PlayScience INplay 2012 - PLAY Across Platforms

Play Across Platforms Translating Play Patterns

J. Alison Bryant, Ph.D.

We  research  &  develop    PLAY  in  all  forms    

to  posi8vely  impact    kids  and  families.  

Our Approach to Designing Cross-Platform Play

Prioritizing Play

Why Play is Important

Play is !safe failure!

Play is !learning !by doing!

Play is !exploring !

what I can be!

Play lets us attune to

others !Play !

teaches rules !

Play !“lights up” !our brain !

Play !fosters

creativity!

Play for 21st Century Skills

•  Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

•  Creativity & Innovation

•  Communication, Collaboration, & Conflict Resolution

•  Information/Media Literacy

Play is Universal

[A]ll children in all societies appear to engage in activities that would fulfill some of the criteria of play … That is, children explore and pretend as a way of engaging with the world. More importantly, play everywhere is an ‘enculturing’ process – that is, a means through which children learn about their cultures. (Hyder, 2005, p.21)

Understanding Play as “Glocal”

Global!

Local!

Pretend Play

Object Use

Parental Co-Play

Play Instigation

Play Themes

Locus of Play Play as

Development

Play Cessation

Toy/ Device-

based Play

Play as Discovery

Role Play

Play (n.) Play (v.)

Play…

Adapted from Johan Huizinga’s (1938) Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture

…is  voluntary  

…is  neither  

inherently  good  nor  

bad  

…has  no  material  

consequences  

…has  rules  (and  can  handle  disorder)  

…promotes  social  

cohesion  

Play in All Forms

Play  

Structured Un-structured Semi-­‐Structured  (Scaffolded  Play)  

Sweet Spot

Platform-Agnostic Play

Construct   Imagine  

Create   Move  

Playing Across

Platforms

Play Today

Borrowed from Laura Seargeant Richardson and Alis Cambol (frog design, http://www.fastcodesign.com/1662667/the-gleeve-turns-game-design-into-childs-play)

“Gamification” does not always mean an increase in engagement and learning.

Extrinsic Motivation Intrinsic Motivation

The Digital “Play” Continuum

Play  

Structured Un-structured Semi-­‐Structured  (Scaffolded  Play)  

Building Play for Tomorrow

Construct   Imagine  

Create   Move  

Play  

Structured Un-structured Semi-­‐Structured  (Scaffolded  Play)  

Learning  

Construct   Imagine  

Create   Move  

And Always Remember…

Play is not only for kids!

Thank You!

Let’s  Play!    

J.  Alison  Bryant  alison@playsciencelab.com  www.playsciencelab.com  

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