The Playful Learning SIG is no longer active. This page remains as an archive only. Visit the Playful Learning Association.
The ALT Playful Learning SIG (PLSIG) was established in October 2010 as the Games and Learning SIG and after growing in reach and numbers the Playful Learning SIG founded the Playful Learning Association in July 2019. The Playful Learning SIG has thus transitioned to the new Association on 5 August 2019.
We changed our name in September 2016 to highlight our shift in thinking from games to play.The group is interested in the design, use and evaluation of games in practice, and the academic study of play and player communities and their potential contributions to learning. We also hope to provide opportunities for members to experiment with play-based techniques as part of the SIG activity.
The group meets online six times a year, and face-to-face twice. We are also involved in ongoing writing, development and research projects.
All those with an interest in play and games for adult learning (including Higher and Further Education, workplace learning, informal learning) are welcome to join.
Aims
The aims of the Special Interest Group in Playful Learning are:
To share research evidence and experiential practice in the area of play, games and learning.
To provide a forum for discussion and collaboration to support the development of outputs such as journal articles, practitioner guidance, seminars, and research proposals.
To create a supportive community for new practitioners and researchers in the field as well as those who are more established.
Scope
The primary areas of interest of the Special Interest Group are:
The use of all types of games, digital and traditional, online and real world.
The practice, as well as the theory, of play and learning.
The use of playful appraoches with adults, in formal and informal contexts.
Joining the SIG
The ALT Playful Learning Special Interest Group is open to anyone who shares our aims and areas of interest. You can join at https://altc.alt.ac.uk/groups/plsig/
We do ask, however, that you are a member of the Association for Learning Technology (Individual Membership is £54 p.a., Associate Membership is free if you are a staff member at an Organisational or Sponsoring Member).
You can join ALT here.
For further information, or if you have any questions, please contact Nicola Whitton or Alex Moseley.