2025-26 Playful Pedagogy Fellowship

Exploring and Applying Arts-Based Activities in Undergraduate Courses across Disciplines

2025-26 Playful Pedagogy Fellowship

The Duke University Language, Arts, and Media Program (LAMP), in association with the Thompson Writing Program (TWP), is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 Playful Pedagogy Fellowship. This fellowship offers a small group of faculty from across disciplines a year-long opportunity to deepen and broaden the practice of applying the arts to a variety of learning outcomes pertinent to their courses. Fellows will explore how activities based on improvisation, theater games, creative writing, art, movement, and music can enhance their courses and curricula. Fellows can also expect to enjoy the energizing and restorative effects of creative play as they exchange creative strategies.

Infusing arts- and play-based pedagogy into courses, across disciplines, can:

• Increase critical thinking and deepen intellectual inquiry.
• Enhance retention of course material.
• Help faculty and students navigate sensitive topics.
• Communicate concepts more clearly.
• Aid connection, collaboration, and community building.
• Help faculty assess student understanding.
• Encourage risk-taking for students and faculty.
• Frame feedback in more productive ways.
• Promote emotional resilience for students and faculty.
• Increase students’ ability to focus.
• Enliven and energize classroom dynamics.

Dr. Nan Mullenneaux, TWP Senior Program Coordinator for LAMP, will facilitate:

• six in-person interactive workshops from August 2025 through January 2026. Applicants must be able to attend all workshops in person.
• through Duke Box, reports and reflections on activities fellows have used in their classrooms between workshops.
• monthly meetings in February and March 2026 fellows to design and facilitate an original Playful Pedagogy workshop in April. This workshop, led by fellows, will be open to all Trinity faculty and serve as a showcase for fellows’ creativity.

No arts or performance background is needed. All activities are geared for the beginner as well as the experienced “artist.”  
 

Each Fellow will receive a $1000 honorarium paid into their discretionary account contingent upon full participation in workshops and the workshop showcase.

Application:

Please send a 250-word statement of interest to Michelle Gregersen, TWP Program Coordinator, that includes your title, department/unit, and undergraduate teaching plan for 2025-26, and which describes:

• any creative activities you already use or would consider using in your undergraduate courses;
• how the Playful Pedagogy Fellowship might address any course/pedagogical problems/challenges; and
• how the Playful Pedagogy Fellowship might support your undergraduate teaching goals and teaching philosophy.

Application Deadline: 27, April 2025, 5:00 p.m. 

Eligibility: Duke faculty of any rank who are teaching one or more undergraduate classes during the 2025-26 academic year.