Teachers' Voices Episode 9

Join educational researcher Nina Alonso for this podcast series as she shares powerful stories from teachers around the world, talking in their own words about their own experiences. 

Over the last 18 months teachers have had to find innovative ways to not only teach, but engage with students. For many, they’ve relied on technology to help them educate their students. But how do technology and play contribute to learning?

In today’s episode, Nina explores the intersection between learning through play and technology. First she discusses with Bo Stjerne Thomsen, Chair of Learning Through Play and the Vice-President of the Lego Foundation, the increasing role technology has in learning through play.

“When we look at how technologies are used in playful ways, where they test and try out things, they engage in collaborative activity, they use it to integrate and explore the environment. There’s huge opportunities both for development and for learning.” 

We also hear firsthand accounts from two inspiring teachers from two very different contexts, about the impact technology has had on enabling their students to learn through play.

First we hear from Patrizia in Monterrey, Mexico who works with all ages, but tells us about early teenagers’ use of video games in a learning context.

“Once they start working and learning through game-based learning, they are constantly learning, connecting, involving with their environment through positive experiences in games.” 

And second, we hear from Pamela, near Johannesburg in South Africa, who shares with us her experience of how her primary school students learned to play via distance learning during COVID-19 school closures.

“​​For the children, I think the rewarding outcome for them is when they grasp that concept, when they have understood that skill, it is a pure joy that they feel. And I know that once I’ve taught through play, that knowledge will stick.” 

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