Rebecca Ewing, Lecturing Fellow of Romance Studies

The playful pedagogy workshop reminded me that learning is fun and dynamic and that there are many ways to reach our learning outcomes.  I found myself incorporating playful pedagogy tactics frequently in my Spanish classes, employing mainly activities focused on active listening, representation of ideas and opinions through the arts, and games to make your peers look and feel good to lower students' affective filters.  

My students reflected during their mid-semester and final reflections that some of the most memorable parts of the class were when I had incorporated play in some of the content, using materials to attune the five senses and multiple pedagogical games and activities for our chapter on emotions.  One student was pleasantly surprised by an activity where students were asked to draw what the weather was like in their head that day.  She could not believe how much she actually had to say about her thoughts and feelings and that she was able to express those emotions in class.  I plan to continue incorporating the principles of play and improvisation in my teaching at all levels.  

Finally, I am reminded that in an age of AI where machines can convey a plethora of course content, in play, we still find solidarity, joy, discovery, discomfort, and growth in the classroom.

IMAGE CREDIT: Rebecca Ewing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Ewing