Media mention: Cahnmann-Taylor quoted in Education Week column on learning games
Melisa “Misha” Cahnmann-Taylor, a professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, spoke on the value of playing “getting to know you games” with students in a recent column in Education Week.
According to Cahnmann-Taylor, repeatedly playing theater and improv games with different prompts can help students learn more than just their peers’ names and help them hone in on different information.
“By using it at the beginning of any class or semester, teachers gather a great deal of information about who is in the room, including how comfortable and familiar each student is with performance, as well as information about any limitations or concerns students may bring to these embodied practices,” she said. “The information garnered from these games, including students’ individual needs, strengths, and limitations, will assure greater trust and success in play and language learning throughout your group’s time together.”