Exploring Play: The Importance of Play in Everyday Life

Online Course

The University of Sheffield

Future Learn

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Exploring Play: The Importance of Play in Everyday Life

What is the course about?
Prerequisites & Facts
Cost, Certificate & Degree
Reviews & Experiences

What is the course about?

Exploring Play: The Importance of Play in Everyday Life

The course Exploring Play: The Importance of Play in Everyday Life is an online class provided by The University of Sheffield through Future Learn. It may be possible to receive a verified certification or use the course to prepare for a degree.

Understanding the nature and value of play through the course of our lives, across cultures and communities.

Course description

7 weeks

This course from the School of Education at the University of Sheffield will encourage you to think differently about play.
We’ll discuss definitions of play and current debates about how the nature of play changes. Does play help us to learn? Can it prepare young people to be successful in the adult world? Are all forms of play good for us?

The history and diversity of play.
Definitions and rhetorics of play.
Play across lifespan, cultures and contexts.
Play in outdoor and indoor environments.
Emotion, gender and play.
Trauma and play.
Disability and play.
Teenagers, adults and play.
Intergenerational play.
Modern technology and play.
The relationship between virtual play and the outside world.
Play, curiosity, creativity and innovation.

Describe Brian Sutton-Smith’s seven rhetorics of play.
Explore the history of toys and games.
Identify continuity and change in play across centuries.
Compare play activities across cultures.
Debate the impact of modern technology on play.
Investigate where children and teenagers play in your neighborhood.
Discuss the provision and exclusion of play spaces in society.
Explore the role of emotion and gender in children’s play.
Evaluate the role of play during times of illness, trauma or accident.
Investigate types of play in virtual worlds.
Summarise the experiences of activists, practitioners and parents in relation to disability and play.
Demonstrate an understanding of serious play through playful missions.
Reflect on the relationship between play, creativity and innovation in the workplace.

Play is a fundamental part of innovation and creativity across a whole range of subjects, careers, disciplines and industries, from fashion and engineering to teaching and business.
This course will be of interest to you if you wish to work or study in the fields of psychology, playwork, childhood studies, play therapy, hospital play, teaching, childcare, or if you just want to better understand your relationship with the children in your life and your own play.

The University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is one of the world’s top 100 universities with a reputation for teaching and research excellence.

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Prerequisites & Facts

Exploring Play: The Importance of Play in Everyday Life

Course Topic

Mindfulness and Wellbeing, Primary Education Teaching, Professional Development for Teachers, Psychology & Mental Health, Secondary Education Teaching, Teaching

University, College, Institution

The University of Sheffield

Course Skill Level

see course summary

Course Language

English

Place of class

Online, self-paced (see curriculum for more information)

Degree

Certificate

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Degree & Cost

Exploring Play: The Importance of Play in Everyday Life

To obtain a verified certificate from Future Learn / The University of Sheffield you have to finish this course or the latest version of it, if there is a new edition. The class may be free of charge, but there could be some cost to receive a verified certificate or to access the learning materials. The specifics of the course may have been changed, please consult the provider to get the latest quotes and news.

The University of Sheffield

Exploring Play: The Importance of Play in Everyday Life

provided by Future Learn

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