Toy Based Learning

Amid Modi's continued push for yoga, it's surprising that India has not yet emerged as a producer of yoga dolls.

Originally published in the Wire https://thewire.in/society/as-modi-dreams-of-becoming-worlds-yoga-guru-where-are-indias-yoga-dolls
It is a short extract from a larger peer-reviewed book chapter.

McCartney, Patrick, and Diego Lourenço. forthcoming. "‘Non-human gurus’: Yoga dolls, online avatars, and meaningful narratives." In Gurus and Media, edited by Jacob Copeman, Arkotong Longkumer and Koonal Duggal. London: UCL Press.

The blog for the project is: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/gurusandmedia/about-the-exhibition/

The Internet of Toys (IoToys) as an emerging type of edutainment presents a new research area, especially in the context of learning. This study investigates four connected toys played with in the preschool context. By turning to preschool-aged children and their educators observed and interviewed during and after a play test and group interview session, we study how the educational value of IoToys is actualized in a play situation in an early learning environment. In order for IoToys to work as tools in toy-based learning in the preschool context, we suggest that educators acknowledge the engagement with these toys as a form of transmedia play which demands transmedia literacy skills.

The Internet of Toys (IoToys) as an emerging type of edutainment presents a new research area, especially in the context of learning. This study investigates four connected toys played with in the preschool context. By turning to preschool-aged children and their educators observed and interviewed during and after a play test and group interview session, we study how the educational value of IoToys is actualized in a play situation in an early learning environment. In order for IoToys to work as tools in toy-based learning in the preschool context, we suggest that educators acknowledge the engagement with these toys as a form of transmedia play which demands transmedia literacy skills.

The Internet of Toys (IoToys) as an emerging type of edutainment presents a new research area, especially in the context of learning. This study investigates four connected toys played with in the preschool context. By turning to preschool-aged children and their educators observed and interviewed during and after a play test and group interview session, we study how the educational value of IoToys is actualized in a play situation in an early learning environment. In order for IoToys to work as tools in toy-based learning in the preschool context, we suggest that educators acknowledge the engagement with these toys as a form of transmedia play which demands transmedia literacy skills.

This study explores the relation between preschool children and smart, connected toys, which show educational promises regarding the Internet of Toys (IoToys). Smart environments, such as educational environments, when combined with networked wireless toys interacting with each other, computers, mobile phones, smart objects, and online communities, offer opportunities for unique entertainment and learning experiences (Collins et al., 2010).
When considering the IoToys, learning is expected to happen in play through physical and digital manipulation of the toys’ affordances. Our study employs four IoToys: Hatchimals, CogniToys Dino, Fisher-Price’s Smart Toy Bear, and Wonder Workshop’s Dash Robot. The purpose of the paper is to investigate what kind of play patterns may be detected in the connected toys included in our case study. One of the main goals is to explore which educational needs these toys cater to by investigating their educational promises through three perspectives: an analysis of the toy makers’ ideas on the affordances and educational value of the toys; a survey concerning parental views on the educational potential of digitally-enhanced toys; and finally, group interviews and play tests regarding preschool-aged children’s own responses about possible learning experiences related to the toys.

The Internet of Toys (IoToys) as an emerging type of edutainment presents a new research area, especially in the context of learning. This study investigates four connected toys played with in the preschool context. By turning to preschool-aged children and their educators observed and interviewed during and after a play test and group interview session, we study how the educational value of IoToys is actualized in a play situation in an early learning environment. In order for IoToys to work as tools in toy-based learning in the preschool context, we suggest that educators acknowledge the engagement with these toys as a form of transmedia play which demands transmedia literacy skills.

This chapter conducts an empirical study on the Internet of Toys (IoToys) with preschool-aged children in Finland, focusing on the strategies that contemporary character toymakers use to persuade players to nurture, connect and take part in social play. Four English-speaking IoToys were chosen based on their supposed innovativeness, popularity and availability on Amazon.com at the time of the research (September–October 2017) and were playtested with preschoolers who were 5–6 years of age. The study focuses on the variety of play affordances of the hybrid toys, which are both educational and entertaining, and investigates how these features are employed in play. By studying potential play patterns related to these toys, this study highlights preschoolers’ own responses to the affordances of the chosen IoToys.

This chapter conducts an empirical study on the Internet of Toys (IoToys) with preschool-aged children in Finland, focusing on the strategies that contemporary character toymakers use to persuade players to nurture, connect and take part in social play. Four English-speaking IoToys were chosen based on their supposed innovativeness, popularity and availability on Amazon.com at the time of the research (September–October 2017) and were playtested with preschoolers who were 5–6 years of age. The study focuses on the variety of play affordances of the hybrid toys, which are both educational and entertaining, and investigates how these features are employed in play. By studying potential play patterns related to these toys, this study highlights preschoolers’ own responses to the affordances of the chosen IoToys.