"All meaningful, organic, and foundational learning is at heart playful and ludic." —Marcelo Suarez-Orozco
Marcelo Suarez-Orozco's use of ludic above (showing spontaneous and undirected playfulness) reflects his extensive work on the importance of play in learning.
He argues that playfulness and a sense of joy are essential components of deep and lasting learning. He notes that traditional education often misses the mark by focusing too heavily on rote memorization and testing, and that a more holistic approach that incorporates play and exploration is needed.
Yes, Suarez-Orozco believes that when students are allowed to explore, create, and experiment in a playful and ludic way, they are more likely to develop a deep understanding of the material and to be more engaged in their learning.
Let's take on student mindset and experiment in a playful and ludic way today. Through the mind's eye, see if you can turn imaginary spaces into real places 'down under' where Christmastime has no snow. Pack your bag and let's go!
By Heather Blakey
Get out your coloured pencils and spend some time carefully colouring in this image of a Kangaroo and her Joey setting up a Christmas tree in Possum Creek, an imaginary place in Australia.
Bear in mind that in Australia, Christmas comes at the beginning of the summer holidays. Children have their summer holidays from mid-December to early February, so some people go camping at the beach at Christmas and celebrate Christmas with big groups.
The average temperature in Australia during the month of December is 38C (100F), and many take advantage of the good weather by going outdoors for the festivities.
During this time of summer vacation combined with the celebration of Christmas, many families and friends commemorate the occasion with feasts, gatherings, musical events, outdoor activities, camping or trips to the seashore.
Check online and identify where in Australia you think Possum Creek might be. Make notes about the bush setting and the house she lives in. Draw Kangaroo's place.
Check out some of the other birds and animals who might live at Possum Creek. For example, there may be a rather noisy white Cockatoo, a Platypus, a Koala and a Wombat who are all coming to Kangaroo's place for Christmas dinner. Find some images of these birds and animals and draw them getting dressed, ready for Christmas.
Give your characters names and decide what sort of personalities they have and how they relate to one another.
Draw more pictures to depict Kangaroos place and her friends arriving with their gifts. Perhaps draw the Christmas table and consider what presents they will give each other.
Try writing a story, a poem or a news report about the Kangaroo and her Joey sharing Christmas with their friends at Possum Creek.
The more playful question: Is "imagination" a place?
The word "nation" generally refers to a large group of people who share a common identity, culture, language, history, or political system. but when used in a metaphorical sense, "nation" can refer to the collective imagination of a group of people. The idea is that a nation is not just a physical or political entity, but also a shared set of ideas, values, beliefs, and stories that bind people together to construct a shared identity, culture, and history. Yes, through imagination, we can use storytelling, myth-making, and other forms of cultural expression to create a sense of belonging and community.
Speaking of places, have you ever heard of "Australia" being referred to as "Oz"? The connection between Australia and Oz is a common misconception that dates back to the early 20th century. The term "Oz" as a nickname for Australia is believed to have originated during World War I, when Australian and New Zealand soldiers were known as "ANZACs" (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps). The abbreviation "Aus." for Australia was often written as "Oz" on soldiers' mail and other correspondence, and the term gradually became a popular nickname for the country.
After those lessons, I bet you're wondering just what do kangaroos and wizards have in common?
Is Joey Lawrence reminiscent of a cute, fuzzy Marsupial? You get a break if you think so.