Playspace
Encyclopedia
Playspace describes the space adults co-create, largely in organizational settings, for the play of new ideas, for people to play new roles, for more play in the system (flexibility and agility) and for improvised play. The concept contrasts with terms such as workplace
or workspace, that are most often used to describe the physical space. Playspace refers to the social/relational space that adults create in the present moment, in the midst of solo or collaborative creativity, learning and engagement.
Scholar-practitioner, Pamela Meyer, developed the concept based on her research on adults’ experiences learning to improvise. Many participants attributed their experience of significant learning and transformation, not to the improvisation skills they learned, but to the space they co-created with their colleagues that enabled them to step out of their comfort zones, be more playful, experiment with new identities and develop new capacities.
The playspace model includes five dimensions:
Relational: makes room for the development of social bonds
Generative: generates energy and engagement
Safe: for people to bring their whole selves and fresh perspectives
Timeful: fully engages people in the present moment, while honoring the boundaries of the clock and deadlines
Provocative: stretches familiar ways of thinking and being
to describe the design of playspaces for children.
Donald Winnicott
Used the term “play space” to describe the transitional space, or developmental space between mother and child, in which the child is free to play with emerging aspects of the self. While not using the term playspace, Harvard psychologist, Robert Kegan
, expanded on Winnicott (1965), for application to adult learning and development, calling this space a “holding environment” in which learners experience confirmation, contradiction, and continuity.
Martin Livingston extended the use of Winnecott’s playspace for use in adult psychotherapy.
Play (Activity) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_%28activity%29
Improvisation < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisation>
Transformative Learning < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformational_learning>
Meyer, Pamela (2010) Workplace to Playspace: A Mindset Shift, TEDxPeachtree
Workplace
The workplace is a place where someone works.*Toxic workplace*Workplace aggression: A specific type of aggression that occurs in the workplace....
or workspace, that are most often used to describe the physical space. Playspace refers to the social/relational space that adults create in the present moment, in the midst of solo or collaborative creativity, learning and engagement.
Scholar-practitioner, Pamela Meyer, developed the concept based on her research on adults’ experiences learning to improvise. Many participants attributed their experience of significant learning and transformation, not to the improvisation skills they learned, but to the space they co-created with their colleagues that enabled them to step out of their comfort zones, be more playful, experiment with new identities and develop new capacities.
The playspace model includes five dimensions:
Relational: makes room for the development of social bonds
Generative: generates energy and engagement
Safe: for people to bring their whole selves and fresh perspectives
Timeful: fully engages people in the present moment, while honoring the boundaries of the clock and deadlines
Provocative: stretches familiar ways of thinking and being
Related Concepts and Usage
The term playspace is also used to describe physical spaces for children to play, and PlayscapePlayscape
Playscape is the term used by landscape architects and designers who specialize in designing and building playspaces that look and feel like a natural environment....
to describe the design of playspaces for children.
Donald Winnicott
Donald Winnicott
Donald Woods Winnicott was an English paediatrician and psychoanalyst who was especially influential in the field of object relations theory. He was a leading member of the British Independent Group of the British Psychoanalytic Society, and a close associate of Marion Milner...
Used the term “play space” to describe the transitional space, or developmental space between mother and child, in which the child is free to play with emerging aspects of the self. While not using the term playspace, Harvard psychologist, Robert Kegan
Robert Kegan
Robert Kegan is the William and Miriam Meehan Professor in Adult Learning and Professional Development at Harvard University. Additionally he is the Educational Chair for the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education and the Co-director for the Change Leadership Group...
, expanded on Winnicott (1965), for application to adult learning and development, calling this space a “holding environment” in which learners experience confirmation, contradiction, and continuity.
Martin Livingston extended the use of Winnecott’s playspace for use in adult psychotherapy.
See also
Creativity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CreativityPlay (Activity) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_%28activity%29
Improvisation < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisation>
Transformative Learning < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformational_learning>
External links
Brown, Stuart (2008) Why Play is More Than Fun, TEDtalks, TED.comMeyer, Pamela (2010) Workplace to Playspace: A Mindset Shift, TEDxPeachtree