Flexibility and Playful Learning as Strategies for a Transformative Pedagogy in Higher Education
Keywords:
Transformative Pedagogy, Flexible Learning, Playful Learning, Social Justice, Higher EducationSynopsis
This essay explores how flexibility and playful learning address the current challenges in higher education, aligned with the principles of transformative pedagogy. This pedagogical approach views the university as an inclusive and adaptable space, where teaching aligns with students’ realities and needs, promoting accessibility, engagement, and holistic development.
Flexibility enables students to manage their learning in a personalised manner, adapting to their individual paces, schedules, and environments (whether in-person or virtual), fostering autonomy and a better balance between personal and academic responsibilities. Playful learning, in turn, introduces methodologies that, through curiosity and enjoyment, enhance creativity, intrinsic motivation, and critical thinking. These approaches not only make the learning process relevant and enriching for students but also provide a more satisfying and motivating teaching experience for educators.
The intersection of flexibility, playful learning, and social justice offers a framework for transformative pedagogy that advances equity and nurtures critical citizenship. The essay includes practical examples of these methodologies in action, as well as a review of the weaknesses and challenges faced in their implementation within academic settings. Ultimately, it proposes a model of higher education that not only imparts knowledge but also equips both students and educators to become active, resilient agents in a dynamic global context.
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