Writing to inspire action
I write and contribute to reports, articles, blog posts, and research papers that simplify complex scientific ideas into innovative and practical suggestions. The work I’ve done over the years focuses on the importance of creativity, play, and learning across the lifespan, in education and at work, to reshape how we think about and engage optimistically with our changing world.
Article, World Economic Forum, May 2023
Learning through Play at School
A review of playful integrated pedagogies that fosters children’s holistic skills development in the primary school classroom.
The report highlights the significant benefits of learning through play in schools, showing that such an approach, which is joyful, meaningful, actively engaging, iterative, and socially interactive, supports the development of a broad range of skills in children, including cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and creative abilities. This approach is being increasingly recognized and adopted in various educational systems worldwide, which are shifting towards more integrated pedagogies, child-centered and holistic learning methods.
Rachel Parker & Bo Stjerne Thomsen, 2021
Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, 1.
Wright, C. A., Pasek, J., Lee, J. Y., Masters, A. S., Golinkoff, R. M., Thomsen, B. S., & Hirsh-Pasek, K. (2023)
This report encourages parents to integrate playful learning into daily interactions, emphasizing that such engagement not only aids in a child’s development but also brings joy and fulfillment to parenting. This approach doesn’t require expensive tools or structured activities; instead, it highlights the value of natural, everyday moments for fostering learning and joy.
Charlotte Anne Wright, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek & Bo Stjerne Thomsen, 2022
Article: WISE blog post, Dec 2020
Learning through play represents the best long-term value for helping kids, regardless of background
Article: World Economic Forum, May 2021
Learning through Digital Play – summary
The Educational Power of Children Making and Sharing Digital Creations
The report highlights the educational potential of digital technologies like Scratch, Minecraft, and LEGO MINDSTORMS, demonstrating how, when used creatively, these platforms can significantly enhance children’s holistic skill development, subject knowledge, and technological literacy through engaging, playful, and self-directed learning experiences.
James H. Gray & Bo Stjerne Thomsen, 2021
Article: World Economic Forum, May 2021
The report emphasizes the significant impact of learning through play in early childhood, highlighting its potential to address educational inequalities and enhance children’s development by considering their individual backgrounds and needs.
Amy Jo Dowd and Bo Stjerne Thomsen, 2021
Article: Hechinger Report, May 2021
Interview by Polina Lulu for Medium, August 2023
The paper emphasizes the importance of learning through play as a strategy to enhance student engagement, inclusion, and holistic skills development beyond preschool, addressing the gap between education policy and practice. However, challenges exist in implementing this approach in formal schooling due to semantic difficulties in defining play and its perception as non-serious or only suitable for preschool. The study proposes a new framework to overcome these challenges and assesses the role and impact of playful learning in enhancing children’s holistic skills in formal education settings.
Frontiers in Education, 17
Rachel Parker, Bo Stjerne Thomsen and Amy Berry, 2022
The report emphasizes the integral role of play and creativity in learning, advocating for an approach where engaging in playful exploration and hands-on activities, fosters a continuous cycle of innovation, curiosity, and collaborative learning.
David Gauntlett, Edith Ackermann, David Whitebread, Thomas Wolbers, Cecilia Weckstrom and Bo Stjerne Thomsen, 2011
Article: World Economic Forum, May 2022
Article EdTechX, March 2023
Article from interview with Nafez Dakkak
The report examines the multifaceted relationship between children’s use of technology, play, and learning, emphasizing the holistic benefits of digital play across various contexts and the vital role of adults in facilitating this, particularly in enhancing creativity, knowledge, and overall well-being.
Jackie Marsh, Karin Murris, Bo Stjerne Thomsen, a.o., 2020
This report underscores the essential role of nurturing creative mindsets through play, making, and sharing within diverse cultural contexts, emphasizing the need for stimulating environments and supportive communities to maintain and foster creativity in both children and adults.
David Gauntlett & Bo Stjerne Thomsen, 2013
The report emphasizes the crucial role of fostering innovative networks between research and practice to enhance learning and educational outcomes.
The LEGO Foundation, 2014
BERA, Volume 11, Issue 2, August 2023;
Elizabeth M. Byrne, Hanne Jensen, Bo Stjerne Thomsen, Paul G. Ramchandani
The report emphasizes the vital role of play in urban environments, highlighting its integral part in cultural and societal evolution and its overwhelming benefits for children’s development in various skills. It advocates for expanding learning through play beyond traditional playgrounds and playrooms to include the whole urban landscape, such as infrastructure and cultural institutions, to enhance children’s learning and engagement.
The Real Play Coalition, 2021
Where Global Science Meets Playful Learning
Implications for Home, School, Cities and Digital Spaces
The report underscores the transformative potential of playful learning in diverse environments such as schools, homes, digital platforms, and child-friendly cities, emphasizing its key role in adapting to global changes and enhancing learning opportunities across these settings.
Kathy Hirsh-Pasek a.o. for the LEGO Foundation, 2022
Interview: Paragon One Impact Report, June 2023
Article: Digital Futures Commission, Dec 2020
Article: OECD Forum, August 2020
Article: WISE blog post, August 2020
Article: Joan Ganz Cooney Centre, June 2020
The PhD project “Performative Environments” explores the role of performativity in architecture and design, emphasizing the intricate interplay between objects, subjects, and technology in increasingly complex urban environments. It proposes a novel framework that integrates pervasive computing, advanced sensor technologies, and mobile networks within architectural design, redefining the dynamics of space creation and social interactions.
Bo Stjerne Thomsen, PhD project, Aalborg University, 2009