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Unit Paper Four: Play & Choice-Based & Learner-Directed

Play is hugely important to children and their development. According to Szekely (2011),

momentary playdevelops future notions of art (p. 64). To encourage play in art and learning,

we focused on choice-based and learner-directed learning. This way encourages children to

pursue what interests them and decide for themselves how to pursue and explore that interest.

This also encourages play by letting them choose materials and even sometimes lesson plans.

This is something that is difficult for many educators to understand, both because play seems far

removed for an adult and also because learner-directed learning and instruction is a semi to full

relinquishing of power for a teacher. These concepts are echoed by Freyermuth (2012), if adults

who guide children could better understand the process for engaging the whole child through

artistic pursuit, perhaps there would be more encouragement of childrens inner creative

necessities (pg. 51).

The whole point of learner-directed teaching is to not walk in with a defined plan.

However, with a population of high school science students, this could definitely work with

some assignments. Assigning the task of learning about something weve discussed over the year

however they want, whether it be preparing a PowerPoint or writing a paper allows a student to

teach themselves responsibility and how they learn best. Perhaps even exploring science in a way

that it relates to them. This would encourage students to relate science to their real lives and find

the ways in which it influences them. Some students will be excited and pursue further

knowledge and if/when they need help, thats where I come in. These same concepts could apply

to high school English students just as easily. Exploring a form of writing (i.e. poetry, creative,

journalistic) and allowing them to present or create a portfolio with the only grading criteria

being effort shown in the creation of the assignment as well as the execution.
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References
Freyermuth, V. K. (2012). One art teachers search for a holistic approach. In L. H.

Campbell & S. Simmons III (Eds.), The heart of education: Holistic approaches (pp. 266-269).

Reston, VA: National Art Education Association.

Szekely, G. (2011). Testing the world through play and art. In D. B. Jaquith & N. E.

Hathaway (Eds.), The learner directed classroom: Developing creative thinking skills through art

(pp. 64-76). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.