Creative and playful learning: learning through game co-creation and game play in a playful learning environment

This paper reports on a pilot study in which children aged 7–12 (N= 68) had an opportunity to study in a novel formal and informal learning setting. The learning activities were extended from the classroom to the playful learning environment (PLE), an innovative playground enriched by technological tools. Curriculum-based learning was intertwined with game co-creation, play, and computer games in the PLE. The results indicate that the children considered learning in groups, through co-creation and turning fact into fiction, to be a rewarding way to learn, practice group work and use their imagination for a common goal. Teachers felt their role was important and challenging, especially in terms of the amount of tutoring and lesson planning. The study shows that one way to foster activity, creativity, imagination, and group work skills-along with academic achievement-is to integrate fact and fiction and a playful learning environment in teaching, studying and learning.