Development of 21st Century Skills through Unstructured Play – Going Beyond Teachable Moments
Pedagogy & Curriculum
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice
Hong Kong 2023
Physical activity plays a vital role in the holistic development of children aged 7 to 12. Research has consistently shown that engaging in unstructured play during recess not only promotes physical health but also fosters the development of 21st-century competencies. These competencies, as outlined in the 21st Century Competency Framework, include critical and inventive thinking, effective communication, collaboration, and social and emotional skills. The intentional development of these 21st-century skills is essential for students to thrive in a rapidly changing world, where they will need to navigate complex challenges and opportunities. Unstructured play during recess presents a unique and authentic context for students to naturally develop and apply these skills while engaging in enjoyable and self-directed physical activities. The presentation will highlight the infrastructure, planning and practices that enables the intentional development of 21CC in students through unstructured play, garnered through an exploratory study of Singapore schools via observations, focus-group discussions with key stakeholders and surveys. It is hoped that the ideas shared would allow participants to adopt them in their schools to better leverage the opportunity to develop 21CC in informal but authentic settings such as recess time. Tools and resources will be shared with participants.
Conference Edition:
Hong Kong 2023
Hong Kong 2023
Job Role Applicability:
- Athletic Directors
- Health Teachers
- PE Teachers
Tags:
- Action Research
- Health & Wellness
- Positive Education
- Student Voice
Type of Session:
Presentation
Presentation
Most applicable to educators working in the following areas:
- Lower Elementary [Age 4 - 6]
- Upper Elementary [Age 8 - 10]
- Middle School [Age 11 - 13]
