Do you remember your days at kindergarten? My memories fondly recall learning stations where I mixed two colours to make a brand new one and played with buddies to see who could build the tallest block tower. Although I wasn’t mindful of it at the time, I probably experienced some of my best learning in those first days of my long academic journey. Why is this so? I am reading a fascinating book by Mitchel Resnick, a professor who heads up the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab and who believes passionately in play-based learning (PBL), the type many of us did in kindergarten. Resnick advocates for a play based approach beyond just kindergarten as one of the best ways to help learners develop as creative thinkers. The tenants of the approach focus on the 4Ps (projects, peers, passion and play). Here is a short video summarizing Resnick’s thoughts. We in the Library’s Makerspace share these ideas and want to provide opportunities for the UTSC community to become creative thinkers through play-based learning. We have the equipment and expertise to inspire play and creativity. Reach out for a consultation to brainstorm ideas and possibilities.

Front page image by wImage by Juraj Varga from Pixabay