Abstract
Play is well-established as central to the learning processes of young children and is included in UK state legislation. This exploration will counter the assumption that play-based learning is of value only to Early Years teaching and learning by outlining how it has been used to develop and carry out research within a Higher Education postgraduate programme. By outlining a number of benefits of play-based approaches to teaching, learning and wider curriculum development at postgraduate level, this chapter demonstrates how a play-based approach to postgraduate programmes can enable programme teams to create transformative learning environments that enable risk-taking and innovation, enhancing the creative practice of learners and meet the changing needs of a contemporary workplace.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Anning, A. (2015). Play and the Legislated Curriculum. In J. Moyles (Ed.), The Excellence of Play. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Biggs, M., & Karlsson, H. (2011). The Routledge Companion to Research in the Arts. Abingdon: Routledge.
Chazan, S. (2002). Profiles of Play. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Department for Education. (2017). Statutory Framework for Early Years Foundation Stage. London: Department for Education.
Dyrssen, C. (2011). Navigating in Heterogeneity: Architectural Thinking and Art-Based Research. In M. Biggs & H. Karlsson (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to Research in the Arts. Abingdon: Routledge.
Gray, P. (2013). Free to Learn. New York: Basic Books.
Hutt, C., Tyler, S., Hutt, C., & Christopherson, H. (1989). Play, Exploration and Learning. London: Routledge.
Moyles, J. (Ed.). (2015). The Excellence of Play. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Murray, J. (2015). Young Children as Researchers in Play. In J. Moyles (Ed.), The Excellence of Play. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Smith, H., & Dean, R. T. (Eds.). (2011). Practice-Led Research, Research-Led Practice in the Creative Arts. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Wood, E., & Attfield, J. (2005). Play, Learning and the Early Childhood Curriculum. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Smith, S. (2019). Exploration: Play in Practice—Innovation Through Play in the Postgraduate Curriculum. In: James, A., Nerantzi, C. (eds) The Power of Play in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95780-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95780-7_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-95779-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-95780-7
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)