What springs to your mind when you think of the word ‘play’? A quick online search for the word produces the definition that it is ‘an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose’, which is perhaps the most common understanding. Yet this definition wildly underestimates the impact that play has for…
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Learning and play is one of our key themes, so it’s always exciting to see support and initiatives blossoming in this all-important aspect of child development. Particularly interesting here is the urban angle. iOi is based in London so the challenges around creating space for children in cities’ adult-focused environment are part of our driving…
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Learning and play is one of our central themes and covers such a broad range of exciting ideas. However, this piece from The Conversation places it as fundamental to all human development, not merely a child’s learning. Behaviour can be copied and learned, but that’s just imitation. Play, on the other hand, allows for imagination…
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Learning and Play is one of our key themes at iOi, and these discoveries take that concept one further. While the idea of children hunting and working might not be appropriate for today’s society, the potential for increasing motor skills and proficiency at practical tasks is fascinating. Archaeologists at the University of Alberta have been…
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What’s interesting about this article on phones is what we don’t need to see in order to draw a conclusion. As its author, University of New England lecturer Jo Bird, says, this research isn’t looking at screen time as such. It reveals what we can learn about ourselves, as reflected by children. Screens are everywhere,…
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Playing and spending time outdoors is a practice we’re more used to seeing being promoted in Scandinavia or Canada. However, with increasing research and reports, it’s gaining more traction in the UK. What struck us about this exploration into outdoor play is it being about confidence – requiring and boosting it. Additionally, we love the…
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We’re excited to bring you this piece on robot-learning on WIRED. It cites Alison Gopnik, a UC Berkeley professor and one of iOi’s champions. She delivered our inaugural lecture and spoke about child development. Here her work is taken a step further into applying those methods of child development to robots. Robots, who are by…
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Last week we brought you a paper and original introduction from Dr Naomi Thompson on the potential of storytelling for teaching about youth work. This article expands that theory into STEM teaching. The key for us is in making the content relatable and fostering an emotional connection. We love how that’s explored here in terms…
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At the iOi, promoting qualitative ways of working with young people is among our driving forces, with learning and play one of our key themes. We’re excited to share this paper on assessing youth work through story-telling. Below is an introduction for our readers from Dr Naomi Thompson, senior lecturer in youth and community work at…
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Learning and play is one of our central themes at IM, so for us the link between the two is a cause we always champion. However, one could still see one-player video games as the antithesis to positive personal and social development. What we really love about educational gaming is that it acknowledges that learning…
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At the Institute of Imagination (iOi), we are often asked what the difference is between imagination and creativity. We answer by referencing our Institute of Imagination champion Sir Ken Robinson’s definition: creativity is the application of imagination. Is There A Difference Between Imagination And Creativity? Through imagination we can step outside of our current context, revisit…
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