All Work and No Play Makes an Adult a Dull Learner

Kuan Chen Tsai

doi:10.5296/jet.v2i1.6979

Abstract

In educational contexts, the attributes of play and fun should be taken into consideration program design and content delivery, as these attributes can stimulate better learning results. This article proposes that playing with ideas and maintaining a playful attitude while constructing knowledge should be encouraged in adult classrooms. We begin with a review of the necessity of play for adult learners from the perspective of psychology. Then, we examine the relationship among creativity, imagination, and play. Finally, we look at the concept of play as it exists in practice in the adult classroom, and discuss its implications for adult educators.

Highlights

The characteristics of flexibility in creative people has been well documented in the personality literature (Barron & Harrington, 1981)
This article proposes that playing with ideas and maintaining a playful attitude while constructing knowledge should be encouraged in adult classrooms
We look at the concept of play as it exists in practice in the adult classroom, and discuss its implications for adult educators

Summary

Introduction

The characteristics of flexibility in creative people has been well documented in the personality literature (Barron & Harrington, 1981). It is widely believed that a central element of creativity is flexible thinking (Feist, 1998; Meneely & Portillo, 2005), which allows creative people to play with different ideas on the way to a better solution. In this sense, the concept of play seems to function as a mediating variable between an individual’s emotion and his/her creative performance. Rubenson and Runco (1992) propose a psychoeconomic theory of creativity and focus on the problem of loss of creativity in older adults They explain that people over 50 have invested large amounts of time and resources in formulating their routines and personal paradigms, and become less flexible when facing new challenges, especially ones susceptible to creative solutions. We look at the concept of play as it exists in practice in the adult classroom, and discuss its implications for adult educators

Why Do Adult Learners Need Play?

Creativity and Play

The Practice of Play in Adult Learning

Conclusions