Fun and Games: Enhancing Learning Through Playful Pedagogy

Evolutionarily speaking, we are built to enjoy learning. Neuroscientists (and those of us who spend time with young children) know this to be true—but institutionalized education tends to dim the joy of learning or even squelch it altogether. How do we restore enjoyment in our courses? In Teach Students How to Learn, Saundra McGuire offers several evidence-based strategies for enhancing enjoyment (and engagement) in college classrooms: 

Switch days

Teaching others is one of the most effective forms of learning, so putting students in the position of teachers can help deepen their understanding of course material—and their motivation to go beyond superficial, grade-oriented study. Adding an element of roleplay (creating scenarios, assigning personas, asking students to dress the part, etc.) can help mitigate anxieties associated with public speaking, and unleash students’ creative potential. When students teach one another, both sides benefit from the exchange: the student in the learner role is likely to learn better from a fellow novice who, unlike the professor or expert, still understands the challenge of grasping the material; the student in the teacher role develops a deeper and longer-lasting relationship with the material by processing and “translating” it for their peers.

Game shows

Most students enjoy playful competition and will readily participate in learning activities modelled on popular gameshows like Jeopardy! or Family Feud. Setting up class game shows can be a great way to revise material before an assessment, build team cohesion in advance of a group project, or energize the class during a mid-term slump. Competitive reality shows like Chopped or Project Runway offer another model for playful learning, challenging students to create course-relevant deliverables out of “ingredients” provided by the professor. Students can also take on the role of jurors, honing their skills of evaluation and analysis. 

Questions and puzzles

Starting class with a question, puzzle, or challenge that students will need to answer or solve at the end of the session can spark curiosity, galvanize student attention, and direct focus to the central purpose of the class. To add an extra incentive, end-of-class answers/solutions can be entered into a competition for points or prizes. 

Playful classroom activities such as puzzles, games, and role-reversals harness the power of curiosity, social connection, and peer-instruction to enhance student learning. Such strategies are especially helpful in reviewing material at the end of a term or unit, as encountering course content in a new context allows students to learn it more thoroughly. And, the positive emotions associated with play can help ease exam anxiety, increase confidence, and restore at least some of our innate joy of learning.