The Serious Use of Play and Metaphor: Legos and Labyrinths

Alison James and Stephen Brookfield
Additional contact information
Alison James: London College of Fashion, London, UK
Stephen Brookfield: University of St. Thomas, St Paul, MN, USA

International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology (IJAVET), 2013, vol. 4, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: In this paper the authors wish to examine kinesthetic forms of learning involving the body and the physical realm. The authors look at two particular techniques; using Legos to build metaphorical models and living the physical experience of metaphors in the shape of labyrinth-walking and its attendant activities. The authors begin by discussing their experiences using LEGO building bricks as a reflective tool. While LEGO lends itself particularly effectively to metaphorical modeling (not least through its status as a globally known iconic toy and connection to childhood) the process can take place using any set of objects that are used to represent something other than their real nature. This will be apparent to anyone who has sat at in a restaurant and used the salt and pepper cellars to describe a relationship, car maneuver, choice between two options, altercation or offside rule in Soccer. Buttons, sticks, candles, pots, peas, matches, or any other assortment of items which the user finds sufficiently rich to embody their ideas and convey their intentions work just as well. The point is that the user assigns specific meanings to the materials to illustrate some sort of process or relationship.

Date: 2013
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://services.igi-global.com/resolvedoi/resolve. ... 18/ijavet.2013070101 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:igg:javet0:v:4:y:2013:i:3:p:1-12

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology (IJAVET) is currently edited by Viktor Wang

More articles in International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology (IJAVET) from IGI Global
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Journal Editor ().