Researching the Effectiveness of Playful Learning in Higher Education (RE:PLAY)

RE:PLAY is a three-year ESRC-funded project that aims to explore how playful approaches to teaching and learning are currently being used in UK higher education and evidence what works, and why. We believe that traditional higher education teaching and assessment methods, such as lectures and examinations, are not appropriate for a more diverse student population and that the growing use of playful learning approaches presents an opportunity to explore alternative approaches and better equip graduates to tackle the complex problems they will face in the future. Researchers argue that play can enhance higher-level learning, increase intrinsic motivation, combat fear of failure, improve sense of belonging, and enhance creativity. However, there isn’t yet a robust evidence base to show what works, and why: RE:PLAY will fill this gap.

The project aims to change attitudes towards play in universities by encouraging leaders to be more confident in endorsing play, developing academics’ skills and confidence to use playful learning approaches, and supporting students to learn from play.