Research Article
Blocks as Symbolic Tools for Children’s Playful Collaboration
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-319-76908-0_40, author={Cristina Sylla and Eva Brooks and Lisa T\'{y}mmler}, title={Blocks as Symbolic Tools for Children’s Playful Collaboration}, proceedings={Interactivity, Game Creation, Design, Learning, and Innovation. 6th International Conference, ArtsIT 2017, and Second International Conference, DLI 2017, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, October 30--31, 2017, Proceedings}, proceedings_a={ARTSIT \& DLI}, year={2018}, month={3}, keywords={Children Digital manipulatives Co-discovery analysis Collaboration Designs for play and learning Pedagogy}, doi={10.1007/978-3-319-76908-0_40} }- Cristina Sylla
Eva Brooks
Lisa Tümmler
Year: 2018
Blocks as Symbolic Tools for Children’s Playful Collaboration
ARTSIT & DLI
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-76908-0_40
Abstract
This paper reports on two intervention studies conducted in two Danish kindergartens where a Digital Manipulative (DM) was investigated in relation to children’s interactions, experiences and playful processes. The DM, in the form of physical blocks was developed following a user-centred design approach. Research indicated how children’s interaction with the physical blocks generated a democratic collaboration between their peers, which triggered engagement and sustained children’s attention for a long time. Children’s play with the blocks unfolded two levels of articulation; one level where they used the blocks to create visual narratives and a second level where they used the blocks as construction material. This double function was analysed as fostering playful learning processes indicating that the design conveyed potentials to function as a pedagogical resource.
