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Perceptions of Play: Using Play-Doh to Enhance the Student Experience in Bioscience Higher Education

Perceptions of Play: Using Play-Doh to Enhance the Student Experience in Bioscience Higher Education

Gemma Lace-Costigan
Copyright: © 2017 |Volume: 7 |Issue: 3 |Pages: 12
ISSN: 2155-6849|EISSN: 2155-6857|EISBN13: 9781522514510|DOI: 10.4018/IJGBL.2017070103
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MLA

Lace-Costigan, Gemma. "Perceptions of Play: Using Play-Doh to Enhance the Student Experience in Bioscience Higher Education." IJGBL vol.7, no.3 2017: pp.26-37. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJGBL.2017070103

APA

Lace-Costigan, G. (2017). Perceptions of Play: Using Play-Doh to Enhance the Student Experience in Bioscience Higher Education. International Journal of Game-Based Learning (IJGBL), 7(3), 26-37. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJGBL.2017070103

Chicago

Lace-Costigan, Gemma. "Perceptions of Play: Using Play-Doh to Enhance the Student Experience in Bioscience Higher Education," International Journal of Game-Based Learning (IJGBL) 7, no.3: 26-37. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJGBL.2017070103

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Abstract

Playful and kinaesthetic learning approaches are used in numerous early years (birth to 5 years old) learning environments, however studies in HE STEM disciplines are uncommon. This study aimed to explore the use of Play-Doh in an undergraduate anatomy module as a method of enhancing engagement. 63 students attended the ‘kinaesthetic play' lecture, where students worked in teams to make a variety of epithelial cell types using Play-Doh. Before and after the activity, students were asked to ‘choose one word to describe how you feel'. Before the activity, 48.3% of responses were negative (E.g. confused, worried, childish). However, after the activity not a single negative response was recorded. 98% of students reported that they enjoyed the activity and 84% reported that the activity increased their understanding. This data suggests a utility for kinaesthetic playful practice in STEM teaching. Overcoming initial student perceptions towards alternative teaching practices is a challenge to be considered during session design.

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