Let's Get Ludic

The presenters distinguish between "ludic objects" (materials designed for play like games, role-plays, and creative activities) and "bringing out the ludic in you" (teacher playfulness applied to traditional materials). They advocate for students needing "SPACE" to play: Safety, Participation, Agency, Critical thinking, and meaningful Experiences. The session emphasizes practical, low-tech approaches over expensive educational technology, suggesting teachers can create playful learning environments through creative use of analog tools, constraints, and community-building activities.

"Play is freedom with constraint... it's the free movement within a more rigid structure... we need to find out what is that rigid structure that is not oppressing us but what are the constraints that we face as teachers."

"Students need space to play... you need a safe place... participation... agency... critical... challenge things be reflective be interdisciplinary be purposeful and then the experiences."

"The idea here is that if we make our classrooms... our classrooms are already kind of games in a way they're shitty games... whereas if we make them as playgrounds it opens up that opportunity for participation, collaboration... working together and meaningful experiences."

‍

• The presenters argue that understanding constraints enables creative play rather than limiting it. How might this perspective help educators who feel restricted by standardized curricula or testing requirements? What's the difference between constraints that enable creativity and those that stifle it?
• Despite being language teachers in a technology-rich environment, the presenters emphasize low-tech, frugal approaches over expensive educational technology. What does this suggest about the relationship between innovation and resources in education? When might high-tech solutions be necessary versus when might they distract from learning objectives?