With the rise of data-driven instruction in classrooms across the US, learning is becoming increasingly test-oriented. Students are asked to complete worksheets, quizzes, tests, and other assignments regularly so that schools can collect data to assess their ‘mastery’. While these efforts are leading to higher test scores, is data-driven instruction really leading to meaningful learning experiences?
For many students, that answer is no. A 2015 Gallup poll reported that only 55% of 7th grade students feel engaged in school, with that number dropping to 33% for 10th grade students. Studies have connected low classroom engagement to chronic absenteeism and low academic performance. We need to re-engage our students in the classroom to keep them showing up and performing their best. One way that we can do this is through incorporating more play-based learning experiences in the classroom.
When we say play, we mean don’t just mean any type of play. Play-based learning experiences have four components: peers, play, projects, and passion. In play-based learning experiences, students explore topics and content areas together through projects. Students have agency over what they are making or building, which leads to a deeper engagement in the work and, furthermore, deeper learning experiences.
At Werklehrer Education, we believe in weaving play into the fabric of all of our learning experiences. To see an example of how we do this, preview the online-portion of our robotics workshop on our home page. This workshop is for middle school students and begins on May 28th in Westwood, MA.