Bring Play Back to the Classroom

Laurie Guyon's profile photo
Instructor: Laurie Guyon
Rediscover the joy of teaching through play with a fresh approach that energizes both educators and students. Explore hands-on, often offline activities designed to spark communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. Learn how to harness the power of AI to generate ideas and resources that support playful learning across all subjects. Leave equipped with transformational strategies that boost engagement and keep students motivated to learn.

Course information

For teachers
Duration: 12 hours
4 sessions
Live peer-to-peer learning

The methodology

Teachers will learn in small groups of 2-5 colleagues, meeting once a week for 4 weeks. Sessions are 1.5 hours and can be in-person or online.

Course syllabus

Session 1: Playing Foundations: Setting the Stage for Joyful Learning

  • • Explore research-based benefits of play
  • • Design engaging and innovative classroom environments
  • • Facilitate playful learning experiences for any subject and grade level

Session 2: Connecting through Play: Activities for Collaborative Learning

  • • Discover digital playful activities
  • • Enhance communication and foster collaborative learning
  • • Promote inclusive learning environments for all students

Session 3: Embrace the Spark: Create Dynamic Learning Opportunities

  • • Unleash critical thinking and creativity through simple games
  • • Use playful activities to create fun learning experiences
  • • Engage students dynamically

Session 4: Playful Integration: Keeping the Focus on Your Learning Objectives

  • • Design play-based activities for diverse students
  • • Teach ethical use of AI
  • • Explore other emerging technologies

Instructor

Laurie Guyon's profile photo

Laurie Guyon

Laurie Guyon is the Lead Coordinator for Instructional Technology Programs at WSWHE BOCES, a trainer and Capital Region Director for NYSCATE, and an adjunct professor at Manhattanville University, where she teaches methods of teaching computer science. She authored SMILE Learning: Leveraging the Power of Educational Technology, co-hosts the SMILE Factor podcast, and co-authored ArchiTech: Laying the Foundation for EdTech Coaching. Laurie has received multiple awards, including the 2023 SAANYS Leader in Digital Education Award, ISTE’s “20 to Watch,” Tech & Learning’s Best Overall Implementation of Technology (2022), and the Digital Citizenship Institute’s Global Impactor Award (2022). She was also named a CoSN NextGen Emerging EdTech Leader in 2020. A contributor to the NYSED Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards, Laurie leads statewide workshops and coaching cohorts. She is an ISTE Certified Educator and Trainer, Google Cloud Certified, Google Trainer and Innovator, and serves as an ambassador for numerous edtech platforms, including Common Sense, Seesaw, Nearpod, Lumio, Book Creator, Hapara, MagicSchool AI, and SchoolAI.

How it works

You will join a group of 2 to 5 colleagues, and as a group, you will meet 4 times, either in person or online, at a time you all agree on.

1

Join a circle

Organize your study group with colleagues. You'll have 3 days to "match," from January 2 to January 5.

2

Agree on a schedule

Decide the most convenient time for your sessions, online or in person.

3

Join and collaborate

When the session arrives, connect with your colleagues and complete the activities together.

All courses

Select a period