PLL Hosts Educator Playdate “PLAYfest: A Day of Wonder”

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

On August 14, the Playful Learning Lab (PLL) hosted PLAYfest: A Day of Wonder. What started as a tweet from PLL’s AnnMarie Thomas blossomed into a daylong, virtual gathering for educators of all kinds, free of cost.

PLAYfest gave attendees an opportunity to gather together through playful learning and interact with new ideas and new people.  Inspired by the four principles of the Playful Learning Lab, the speaker sessions were based around joy, whimsy, new friends, and surprise. 2020 speakers ranged from flying trapeze artists to professors to a puppet named Lee.  PLAYfest also offered two sessions of workshops for attendees, many of which can also be used as inspiration for distance learning. 2020 workshops included interactive activities surrounding topics such as social entrepreneurship, candy making, cardboard animals, and CAD.  The day started and ended with virtual “coffee rooms” where attendees could converse and network.

Even though attendees couldn’t gather in person, the virtual conference format seemed to be an advantage.  PLL member Carli Lund said, “My favorite part of PLAYfest was being able to connect with so many knowledgeable, talented, and inspiring people that I probably would have never crossed paths with.” PLAYfest saw over 500 people registered from around the world.

PLAYfest received lots of positive feedback and was a day of inspiration for many (see #PLAYfest on social media).  “It was so great!” said attendee Shelly Sharp, an elementary science and art teacher in Quebec.  “Gave me a lot of wind in my sails for such an uncertain time.”

Educators are now brainstorming how to use what they learned at PLAYfest in their own teaching.  Rachel Van Hazinga, a K-8 STEAM teacher and an adjunct professor at Antioch University, wants to bring the joy she felt at PLAYfest back to her classroom.  “I do want my students to feel the way I did at the end of the day--hungry to learn more and explore all the amazing people and ideas around us that are grounded in exploration, curiosity, and wonder!” she said. “The organization and planning of the Playful Learning Lab team delivered a program that was so completely engaging that I didn’t want it to end.  I will be the first one in line to sign up when they offer #PLAYfest 2021!”

Thomas has had the idea in the back of her head of hosting a conference for some time.  “I always wanted the Playful Learning Lab to one day hold a big gathering for educators, but it was always something for the far off future. The isolation and anxiety that COVID has created for so many of us was a great impetus to create this event as a way to bring people together and celebrate new ideas. I’m absolutely thrilled with how it went and so thankful to everyone who made the day possible,” Thomas said.  “Maybe virtual conferences will be part of our new normal.”  Thomas and the PLL are overflowing with gratitude to everyone who was part of the day and helped make PLAYfest a huge success.