The participants of the Playing Perspectives workshop at the Onderwijsfestival at Utrecht University are fully engaged in conversation. The striking photo on the table is what they’re talking about. Because what do you see in this photo? What stands out and what is your interpretation? This turns out to be quite different for each participant. “And that is exactly what this learning activity is all about,” says Jasper van Vught, lecturer at Media & Performance Studies. “Students design a game in three steps, which they ultimately can play themselves. During the design process, they think about their own perspective, but also about the perspectives of others.”
Creative Methods and Arts
Playing Perspectives in your education?
The game design assignment Playing Perspectives is still in development. Currently pilots are ongoing at various departments. Are you interested in trying Playing Perspectives in your course? Contact Jasper van Vught.
Playing Perspectives was developed as part of the interdisciplinary Comenius education innovation project ‘Fostering an open mind’. In addition to perspective taking, art and creative methods such as games and game design are central to this project. Prof.dr. Gönül Dilaver, professor of Inclusive Education and one of the project leaders, previously emphasized in an interview with DUB how art and creative methods can work well to exchange perspectives: “I’ve noticed that art is a very good conversation starter, also in my personal life. Take a painting with a blue square, for example. You could either think ‘How stupid, anyone could paint that’ or ‘How beautiful’. But why do you think it’s stupid or beautiful? Simply by asking that question, you can see how everyone looks at things differently.”
Inspiring Teachers
The teachers in the workshop are enthusiastic. Still talking, they quickly move on to the next session to get inspired about other educational innovations. “The great thing about this Playing Perspectives is that it can be used in every program and every course. We provide everything a teacher needs, including the materials and teacher’s manual,” explains Jasper. “And even more important: being open to other perspectives and exchanging these is relevant to every student. Because that’s how new ideas, knowledge and innovation come about. It is not without reason that this is also strongly reflected in the new UU Education Model.”
More Information
The Teaching & Learning Collection of the CAT contains more information about the Open Mind project and the other learning activities that have been developed in this project.
