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Summary Sentence: Digital media as both an entertainment and learning environment has generated discussions about the nature and value of play, in particular physical play, in children’s development.
Full Summary: Digital media as both an entertainment and learning environment has generated discussions about the nature and value of play, in particular physical play, in children’s development. Using a historical framework, and focusing on play as represented by material artifacts such as toys and games, I explore play as a form of physical engagement that reflects cultural attitudes about development and learning as these have evolved over time in western culture.
Krystina MadejAbstract:
The increasing use of digital media as both an entertainment and learning environment at ever-younger ages has generated new discussions about the nature and value of play, in particular physical play, in children’s development. Using a historical framework, and focusing on play as represented by material artifacts such as toys and games, I explore play as a form of physical engagement that reflects cultural attitudes about development and learning as these have evolved over time in western culture. Theorists in the twentieth century such as Klein and Winnicott, Huizinga and Callois, Piaget, Bruner and Vygotsy brought different perspectives to our understanding of play’s role in our society. In particular, Vygotsky’s theories about process provide insight into how children attend to learning and assimilate new information. Looking at the trajectory of digital games in contemporary culture I discuss whether these artifacts (whether intended for learning or entertainment) have extended or are curtailing boundaries of physical engagement. Finally, I provide alternative play and game design ideas and, speculate on the future of new media play artifacts.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Krystina Madej has research interests in play and children’s narrative across media (in particular print and digital games), the material culture of communication, interactivity and collaboration in social media, and Disney’s approach to narrative across media. She is currently Professor of Practice with the School of Literature Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech. Prior to returning to academia in 1997, she was a principal in a communication and design firm for 15 years, creating successful brands, products, and exhibits for government, business, industry, and the non-profit sector. Her books include Physical Play and Children’s Digital Games (December 2016), Interactivity, Collaboration, and Authoring in Social Media (January 2016), Disney Stories: Getting to Digital (2012) and Engaging Imagination and Developing Creativity (2010, 2nd edition 2015). She is an Adjunct Professor with the School for Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT), Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada where she teaches summer courses on narrative for the Masters in Digital Media and a Visiting Professor with the Digital Media Program at University of Lower Silesia, Wroclaw, Poland.
